Report points to massive mobile markets in BRIC countries

(AFP PHOTO)

While the world switches its attention onto emerging BRIC markets of Brazil, Russia, India and China, it appears people in those nations are increasingly switching on their mobile phones to help keep up with their countries' rapid development.

A report this week released by the global accounting firm Ernst & Young ( http://www.ey.com/Home) claims there are now more mobile subscribers in BRIC countries than there are users of broadband, internet and television combined.

Thus, the report claims, there is a "huge potential for mobile entertainment" in those countries, which combined have a GDP of US$8.7 trillion (6.4 trillion euros).

Ernst & Young's report - titled "Tune in to emerging entertainment markets: spotlight on Brazil, Russia, India and China'' - focuses on the "industry landscape of individual emerging markets" and was released to coincide with the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) conference being held in the American city of Las Vegas this week.

"Global media and entertainment companies are increasingly focusing on the role emerging markets play in content consumption and creation. Leading global companies that fail to understand and optimize the opportunities in emerging markets may lose out on significant revenue growth,'' John Nendick, global media and entertainment leader for Ernst & Young, said in a press release announcing the report.

The report also found that satellite television subscribers in India now account for 15 percent of the nation's 130 million television sets - and that number is set to double in the next two years.

In China, meanwhile, the country's growing purchasing power is being driven by its youth, who focus their spending on "entertainment-related activities.''

Ernst & Young is Wednesday hosting a "Building with BRICs: How Media & Entertainment Companies Can Succeed In Brazil, Russia, India and China" seminar at the NAB conference ( www.nabshow.com ). The company says the session will look at "how new opportunities bring new challenges, trends in advertising and subscription revenues'' in those nations.

MS