 |
| Mouse
company CEO Michael Eisner |
His
two-day India tour will start next week; the first halt
being Delhi. This is part of the Asian leg of the Disney
CEO's tour. And he is being accompanied by his successor
Robert A Iger who is slated to take over the reins at
Disney from 30 September 2005.
Eisner
arrives at a time when the Walt Disney Company is attempting
to widen its business presence in the Indian market.
Though
definite information on Eisner's India agenda is not
yet available -- as it is still being finetuned -- Indiantelevision.com
learns that it would entail calling on senior government
representatives and interacting with select industry
people.
 |
|
India
ahoy: CEO-elect Robert A Iger |
Eisner
is likely to call on prime minister Manmohan Sigh, and
information and broadcasting minister Jaipal Reddy,
apart from some other political and government functionaries,
depending upon their availability as Parliament session
would be on then.
In
Mumbai, Eisner is scheduled to meet up with the CEOs
and the senior executives of media companies. The guest
list for a bash being planned by Disney India would
include representatives of companies like Star India,
Sony Entertainment Television India, Zee Telefilms,
The India Today Group and The Times of India Group.
During his visit, Eisner would not only get a first
hand look of the Rs 250 billion Indian media and entertainment
industry, but also get to know how his company is fairing
in India.
Disney
launched two of its channels; Toon Disney and Disney
Channel in December, which have been making steady headway
in the complex Indian market that is dominated by a
fragmented cable distribution industry.
Indiantelevision.com
learns that a big bang marketing push would go into
full throttle once distribution initiatives are fully
in place.
In
India, Disney is looking at consolidating its TV channel
business before diversifying into other segments of
media and entertainment.
As
part of the long term plan, a Disney theme park in India,
would not be out of place, for which land, reportedly,
has been identified on the outskirts of Delhi.
The
importance of the theme park can be gauged from the
$3.5 billion Hong Kong Disneyland project, which is
a joint venture between Disney and the Hong Kong government.
It is expected to open to the public in 2006.
|
