MUMBAI: Espn has reached a 12-year extension with the Pasadena Tournament of Roses, the Big Ten Conference and the Pac-12 Conference, to continue the company?s long-standing relationship with the Rose Bowl Game, one of college football?s most popular events.

The agreement, which begins in January 2015, will include rights to the annual Rose Bowl Game across Espn?s platforms through 2026. Each year, the game will be played 1 January and will feature the champions from the Big Ten and Pac-12.

Whatever is determined to be the exact post-season bowl rotation as part of the future format, Espn will have the rights to the Rose Bowl Game each year. The previous eight-year Rose Bowl deal has two more seasons remaining (2013 Rose Bowl Game, 2014 Rose Bowl Game and 2014 BCS National Championship) within the current post-season structure. Espn (or ABC) has televised the Rose Bowl Game since 1989.

Espn will showcase the Rose Bowl Game on television, Espn Radio, Espn Mobile TV and on smartphones, tablets, online and on Xbox LIVE via WatchEspn. Additionally, Espn has secured rights to distribute the Rose Bowl Game on Espn 3D and around the world through Espn International.

?The Rose Bowl Game is one of sport?s most meaningful and celebrated events. Extending our relationship long term with such a prestigious brand will play a significant role in the way fans continue to define ESPN ? as the leading destination for college football all year long," said Espn President John Skipper.

MUMBAI: The Walt Disney Company and News Corporation have decided to call off their Asian sports broadcasting joint venture ESPN Star Sports 16 years after it was formed on the premise of exploiting opportunities together in a market that was in its infancy.

The two companies have entered into a definitive agreement under which a unit of News Corp will buy ESPN?s 50 per cent equity interest in ESS, which operates 25 television networks and three broadband networks covering 24 markets in Asia, gaining full control of the sports broadcasting entity. Disney, a powerful sports powerhouse in the US, will exit from sports in Asia.

The transaction will allow News Corp units to own and operate all of the ESS businesses while providing ESPN more independence and flexibility in future support of The Walt Disney Company?s overall efforts in Asia, the statement said.

 
 ESS will continue to be jointly managed by two companies till the transaction, which is subject to customary regulatory approvals, closes.

The buyout will also see the exit of ESS MD Manu Sawhney, who will be replaced by Peter Hutton, senior vice-president Sports of Fox International Channels.

Hutton, who has spent 20 years in the international sports television business, will report to the ESS Board.

Sawhney, who joined ESS in 1996, will be staying with the company until 31 August to work with Hutton on a smooth transition.

News Corporation Deputy COO James Murdoch said the buyout of ESPN?s stake was in line with the company?s strategy of consolidating affiliate businesses across the globe.

"News Corporation?s acquisition of the interest of ESS that we did not already own continues the program of simplifying our operating model, consolidating our affiliate ownership structures, and furthers our commitment to delivering incredible sports programming to consumers across the globe, and particularly enhancing our position in sports programming in emerging markets," Jr Murdoch stated.

ESPN President of and Disney Media Networks Co-Chairman John Skipper said the company will continue to be invested in Asia through its digital business which includes ESPNCricinfo, ESPNFC and ESPN Mobile.

"After 16 years jointly managing ESS, we have decided to independently pursue future opportunities in Asia. We are extremely proud of our role in building ESS into what it is today, and now with the growing digital landscape in Asia, we look forward to continuing to serve Asian sports fans through ESPN-branded digital businesses like ESPNCricinfo, the leading digital cricket brand in the world, ESPNFC and ESPN Mobile," Skipper said.

"Peter is a very talented sports media executive, and we believe his extensive experience in sports rights and production will serve ESS well as the business enters into a new phase of development," News Corporation Europe & Asia COO Jan Koeppen and ESPN International EVP & MD Russell Wolff said on Hutton?s appointment.

The disbandment of JV has been on the cards as the two media conglomerates have been competing against each other outside Asia. In UK, ESPN is in direct competition with News Corp-owned pay TV broadcaster BSkyB while News Corp is planning to launch a national sports network in US to take on dominant player ESPN.

Will ad rates go up for sports?

By consolidating the sports broadcasting business, Star will strive to up ad and subscription revenues to keep in line with the high acquisition prices for cricketing properties. The network strength will come into play as it inks deals with media buying agencies, cable networks and DTH service providers.

Says Vivaki Exchange VP Sejal Shah, "The ad rates for sports will surely rise."

Lodestar UN CEO Shashi Sinha feels that the move augurs well for the sports broadcasting genre.

Says Sinha, "It will help their P&L and puts Star in a comfortable position. It makes sense to bring everything under one roof. Distribution revenues will improve. At the same time, in terms of ad sales buying is done on a series to series basis regardless of how many properties a channel has. The key for me is whether Star has a common ad sales force or a separate sales force that looks at the sports business."

Mindshare?s Ravi Rao says that Star could try a clever marketing ploy by using the strength of its network. "At the same time, there will always be a demand and supply equation. The ad industry is growing at a regular rate and clients? budgets are limited. They will continue to evaluate if a property makes sense. They will see if there is a brand fit. The price of a spot will depend on the event."

Nimbus chairman Harish Thawani, however, feels that the Star-ESPN deal will not change the market dynamics as it is not a consolidation in true sense.

"It is not a consolidation as one stakeholder in a JV has bought out another. Consolidation happens when two rivals merge. Then only the benefits follow. Of course, negative consolidation can happen when a channel shuts shop like Imagine."

Platinum Media CEO Basab Datta Chowdhury feels Star will become a much more powerful network from a distribution standpoint. However, it?s not going to be easy to command a premium through consolidation as entry barrier in sports for advertisers is high.

"The price of advertisement, however, will go up if there is increase in viewership," he avers.

No matter what the media buyers may say, Star will weigh options to make gains in ad revenues from sports broadcasting.

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MUMBAI: ESPN Star Sports (ESS) will deliver round-the-clock coverage on the London 2012 Olympic Games from 27 July to 12 August 2012, offering live coverage of the most popular global sporting event to Indian sports fans.

Out of the three channels, ESPN will focus on Indian athletes. The broadcaster expects that the reach for the event will double this year.

Talking about the strategy of covering the event in India, ESPN Software India senior director business development and event management group Rathindra Basu said, "Overall, we have rights to broadcast 240 hours of programming every day for the duration of 15 days which makes it almost 3,600 hours of programming. We will customise our feed especially for the Indian sports fans. The plan is that we will be showcase live broadcast of Olympics on three networks in India - ESPN, Star Sports and ESPN HD."

He explains that ESPN will be more India specific and showcase sports featuring Indian athletes, and those sports which are more popular in India such as Hockey, Shooting, Boxing, Wresting, Tennis and football.

"Star Sports will be showcasing sports like Gymnastics, Equestrian, Volleyball etc. The content of Star Sports will be more pan-regional. ESPN HD will be a blend of above two channels, showcasing many of the Indian athletes as well as best of sporting action from around the Olympics," he said.

The aim, he added, is to offer a complete and comprehensive presentation of the Games, hosted by ESS? studio presentation team in Singapore, as well as a team of reporters on-ground in London to deliver in-depth news updates, interviews and stories.

He highlighted the importance of ESPN having content that will attract Indian audiences. "After all Olympics is about pride, it is about one?s country reaching the pinnacle of sporting excellence in a particular sport/ category. We will showcase events which will involve Indian athletes for the sports fans in India. There is huge expectation from India?s sporting contingent and we will sieve through 3600 hours of live programming that is available to showcase the best possible sporting content for fans in India."

The core target audience for the games remains males, C&S 15+ All India. "I would like to qualify here that Olympics is the biggest sporting event across the planet where countries fight for supremacy in sports categories. We expect that viewers across profiles will tune-in to see live action from London. Olympics should get almost double the reach as compared to last edition," he added.