Star Sports is set to launch two premium high-definition (HD) sports channels, Star Sports Select HD1 and Star Sports Select HD2, which will showcase international sporting properties like the English Premier League (EPL), Bundesliga, F1, Wimbledon and French Open. The new channels will most likely be launched in the first week of August ( likely to be on 5th August).
The significant thing about the move is that the two channels will remain the exclusive home for international sporting events. The international events will be available on the existing SD and HD channels till 31 October after they will be exclusively aired on the two new channels.
The four standard-definition (SD) channels and their mirror HD channels will air cricket (ICC, BCCI, Cricket Australia and England Cricket Board) and local sporting leagues like the Pro Kabaddi League, Indian Super League, Hockey India League and Premier Badminton League, among others.
A tiered sports offering will help Star India to lift its subscription revenues up. Broadcasters realise that subscription revenue is the key to the growth and profitability of the sports business in India.
Advertising revenue on cricketing and traditionally established properties has saturated to a certain extent and organic growth will be less brisk. According to market estimates, subscription income from the Star Sports & Ten Sports together is estimated at around Rs 1,400 crore (Rs 14 billion) a year. Star is also planning to put its international properties behind the pay wall on its video streaming service Hotstar.
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