MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT: AN EMERGING HOTBED

Prospects of the Indian Media and Entertainment (M&E) sector estimated to grow to about twice its current size of $11.6 billion by 2013 prompted global media and entertainment companies such as The Walt Disney Company, The Warner Group, Viacom, Inc., Sony Pictures Entertainment, Inc., The Financial Times and the Dow Jones & Co. to enter the market that has grown at a sustained pace of about 15% annually during the last five years by either acquiring a stake or partnering with an Indian counterpart.

Among the most recent expansion plans in India, News Corporation, the world's largest media conglomerate by market capitalization, had announced that it will strengthen its presence in the country by investing more than $100 million to launch six new regional television channels last year.

The potential for growth in India’s M&E sector is underscored by the low penetration base. For instance, the print media with low penetration rate of 38% and the cable & satellite penetration in the country of just about 50% offers a large market that remains to be tapped. See our Special Report highlighting the trends in the sector.

Reliance Infra to hire 4,500 in three years

Reliance Infrastructure, part of the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani group (ADAG), will recruit more than 4,500 people in the next three years as the company develops its engineering and construction business as a major growth driver, apart from its existing power operations.

The Economic Times
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/
Jobs/Reliance_Infra_to_hire_4500_in_three_years/
articleshow/3154510.cms

Ford to invest $500 mn for expanding India operations

Global auto major Ford Motor Company (FMC) will invest an additional $500 million over the next two years to expand its Indian operations for manufacturing small car and components for domestic and overseas markets

The Economic Times
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/
Auto/Ford_to_invest_500_mn_for_expanding_India_operations/
articleshow/2882382.cms

Bharti eyes Big Apple as starter for retail feast

Bharti Enterprises, slated to start its retail business in the first quarter next year, may acquire Big Apple — the Delhi-based supermarket chain with 65 stores. Bharti’s acquisition blueprint in the retail sector may be a replay of its telecom business, where the group built up a pan-India mobile presence by acquiring telcos such as JT Mobile in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, Skycell in Chennai and Hexacom in Rajasthan.

The Economic Times
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News_by_Industry/
Bharti_eyes_Big_Apple_as_starter_for_retail_feast/
articleshow/2646207.cms