The global digital ecosystems and communications technology leader’s bullishness on gaming and esports aligns with the global trend, as this segment is experiencing explosive growth. The Tata Group company is actively developing targeted products to address this burgeoning market, Lakshminarayanan said.
The company reported strong revenue growth for the M&E portfolio to Rs 1,235 crore for 2023-24 from Rs 603 crore in 2022-23 and Rs 480 crore in 2021-22, driven by its expanding global footprint.
Tata Communications currently facilitates the recording and broadcasting of 80% of the world’s key sports events, reaching more than two billion viewers across the globe.
Lakshminarayanan outlined major growth areas within the M&E vertical. “We see three significant growth opportunities in the M&E space: enhancing partnerships with international sporting federations through added value and advanced production capabilities, supporting broadcasters in their transition to modern technologies and addressing the rapidly expanding e-gaming and esports markets,” he said.
The first major opportunity identified by the company focuses on strengthening partnerships with international sporting federations such as Formula One, MotoGP, SailGP and World Athletics, which constitute the largest sub-segment in the vertical.The second key focus area involves assisting Indian broadcasters in adopting advanced technologies, including cloud-based and internet protocol (IP)-driven distribution systems. The third is centred around tapping into the expanding e-gaming and esports markets, capitalising on the global rise of competitive gaming and interactive entertainment.A critical shift for Tata Communications has been its move from traditional way of producing live events to cloud-based, remote production. The transformation has helped streamline operations while enhancing content delivery, enabling personalised content tailored to regional preferences.
He emphasised that global sporting federations have partnered with Tata Communications due to its cutting-edge technology, and the expertise of its skilled team.
Tata Communications provided Disney Star with advanced edge broadcast technologies, enabling Star Sports Live to be delivered in 4K for the first time on Indian set-top boxes. Additionally, it supported Disney+ Hotstar in deploying vertical feeds for the 2023 ICC Men’s ODI World Cup.
The innovation underscored the company’s focus on delivering high-quality, real-time coverage, which is of critical importance as live sports remain one of the most consumed forms of video content globally.
Following the Rs 485 crore acquisition of The Switch, a live production and video transmission company, Tata Communications opened a state-of-the-art production facility in Los Angeles which caters to the increasing global demand for live content production, strengthening the company’s position in the live streaming and broadcasting industry.
