Cable firms gear up for FIFA rush, announce World Cup channel packs

Kolkata: City football fans anxiously waiting to catch the FIFA World Cup action finally know where to catch Messi, Neymar and Mbappe in action. Cable operators across Kolkata are ready to offer the four channels that will beam the matches from June 11. While at least two MSOs have opened subscription, cable operators are still waiting for more clarity on whether the channels will be paid ones. Kolkata’s largest MSO, SitiCable, however, has already announced the subscription price of the four channels.

The World Cup kicks off with the Mexico-versus-South Africa match in Mexico City. The matches will be beamed on Zee TV’s Unite8 Sports 1 and Unite8 Sports 2 channels. Both will have HD versions. These apart, Zee Bangla Cinema and Zee Cinema, too, will beam the matches. They will also be live-streamed on Zee5 at a subscription charge of more than Rs 700.

“We have started airing the channels and are in the process of letting our operators know about them. They are getting in touch with our interested subscribers. We have also started distributing a rate chart,” said Suresh Sethia, CEO of SitiCable.

He added that a rush was expected once the showpiece event, which has a huge following in Kolkata and Bengal, kicks off. “Sports events usually have a slow response till they begin. We have been flooded with enquiries about the channels that will beam the matches. Since the channels have just been launched, subscription is yet to pick up. But Kolkata is a football-crazy city, so we expect a sudden spike in demand once the first match is played. Cable operators have been alerted to be ready to switch on the channels on demand,” added Sethia.

SitiCable is offering Unite8 Sports 1 and 2 at Rs 3 and Rs 5 per month, respectively. The HD versions will cost Rs 5 and Rs 10, respectively.

MSO GTPL-KCBPL is offering the channels on two of its existing packages. While Unite8 channels are being offered in packages upwards of Rs 350, Zee Bangla Cinema and Zee Cinema are available in packages that cost Rs 225, according to Vijay Agarwal, MD, GTPL-KCBPL. While the standard definition channels are priced at Rs 7 and Rs 8, the HD channels will cost Rs 9 and Rs 11 on GTPL. “Unite8 channels in both HD and standard-definition versions have replaced two other Zee channels — & Flix and Zee Café — in higher-priced packages. So, a significant number of our subscribers already have access to these. But a larger section is not yet aware of the channels. Our operators will start offering them as June 11 approaches. By June 12, we expect a sharp spike in demand. Those subscribed to lower-priced packages will get to see the matches on Zee Bangla Cinema and Zee Cinema at no extra cost,” added Agarwal.

Subscription could be slow initially due to the timing of the matches, most of which will be played after midnight or early morning in India, said some cable operators. “A large section of football fans are youngsters who prefer live-streaming on phone. They will hardly follow the matches on TV. Also, we are yet to receive any official intimation on channel prices from MSOs,” said Tapas Das, convenor of All Bengal Cable TV and Broadband Operators’ United Forum.

DTH operator Airtel will offer the channels in a day or two, said sources.