India: partnership between ESPN and Multi Screen Media; Sony Kix channel to be renamed Sony ESPN

The US broadcaster ESPN has joined its Indian counterpart Multi Screen Media (MSM, a subsidiary of Sony) in "a long-term strategic partnership", announced the two companies on 08/10/2015.

ESPN, which had dissolved its joint venture with the pay-TV group Star India in 2012, will bring its portfolio of rights for linear TV and mobile media to MSM's sports channels. While the channel Sony Six has retained its name, the Sony Kix channel will soon be renamed Sony ESPN, and new sports channels run in partnership by both groups will soon be activated in India and other countries in the Indian subcontinent.

MSM notably owns the broadcasting rights, in India and the Indian subcontinent, for Euro 2016, the Emirates FA Cup, Serie A TIM and Liga BBVA, as well as the NBA, NFL and the 2015 Rugby World Cup. ESPN will mainly provide MSM with the broadcasting rights for US college sports (American football, basketball, baseball, football) and the X Games (extreme sports).

• Star India (part of the 21^st Century Fox group), the main competitor of MSM on the sports pay-TV market in India, owns the…