Mumbai: The much-awaited 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 is here and the excitement surrounding it continues to grow. For India, 655 athletes have been selected to represent the country at the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022. With India sending one of their biggest contingents to the Asian Games, it is their best chance yet to take the medal tally into three figures for the first time with the support of a billion hearts.
Eight athletes from the DreamGold program by the Dream Sports Foundation have qualified for the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022. These include: Pranavi Urs (golf), Sreeja Akula (table tennis), Nethra Kumanan (sailing), Ishwariya Ganesh (sailing), Advait Page (swimming), KM Chanda (athletics-800m), Jyothi Surekha Vennam (compound archery) and Bharath Pereira (sport climbing).
Dream Sports Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Dream Sports, India’s leading sports technology company with brands such as Dream11, FanCode and DreamSetGo in its portfolio on Saturday sent their best wishes to the Indian contingent for the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022, Asia’s biggest sporting extravaganza, which kicked-off on Saturday, 23 September, 2023.
Padma Vibhushan & 2012 London Olympic Bronze medalist and advisor to DSF, M.C Mary Kom, said she is confident that the Tricolour will fly at the grand stage. In her message, she said, “I would like to extend my best wishes to the contingent for the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022. I am sure that their hard work and the efforts put in by them over the past years will bear fruit and they will scale new heights and bring back laurels for the country. All of these athletes have had a stellar season in the lead up to the Asian Games and I am looking forward to seeing these young athletes making a name for themselves in their respective event.”
Former Indian football team captain and advisor to DSF Bhaichung Bhutia also wished the contingent as they set to take the stage. He said, “The Asian Games are the pinnacle of sporting excellence in Asia. All of the athletes have put in years of dedication, hard work and it is their continuous perseverance in their sporting journey that has taken them to the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022. I am looking forward to seeing Indian athletes make a mark on the international stage. As they prepare to etch their names in history, my best wishes are with them. Interestingly, 50% of the Indian contingent are women. We should build on this going forward”
Meanwhile, former Indian cricketer and administrator, Dilip Vengsarkar also wished the athletes. He said, “This Asian Games will be especially special for me considering Cricket is coming back after 2014. The entire country is eagerly looking forward to this edition of the Asian Games and will be cheering loudly for you all.”
Dream Sports chief operating officer and co-founder Bhavit Sheth said, “This year, India is sending the biggest contingent ever to the Asian Games. Dream Sports salutes their passion, dedication and perseverance. On behalf of the entire Dream Sports family and Dream Sports Foundation, we wish them the very best. Let their achievements inspire us to becoming a true sporting nation and fuel the dreams of generations to come.”
Mumbai: News18 Network is set to organise its leadership summit – ‘Rising Madhya Pradesh’ in Bhopal on 23 September 2023.
The Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Singh Chauhan will grace the event as the chief guest and will speak extensively on his vision for the state’s progress in the context of the upcoming elections in the state. Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar will also be part of the event and will discuss pressing issues related to farmers.
Top leaders and policymakers including the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Shri Bhupendra Singh, State Unit Chief of BJP – Madhya Pradesh, Shri Vishnu Dutt Sharma, Minister of Medical Education, Shri Vishwas Kailash Sarang, Minister of State for Food Processing Industries, Shri Prahlad Singh Patel, Education Minister, Dr. Mohan Yadav, and opposition leader and former CM Shri Kamal Nath will be seen participating in the discussions at the summit.
Furthermore, film actress Fatima Sana Shaikh and filmmaker Raaj Shaandilyaa will also join the line-up of notable speakers at the ‘Rising Madhya Pradesh summit.
News18 has been at the forefront of driving the discourse on development across the country for many years. An integral part of this effort has been the thought leadership ‘RISING’ series organized in various states. This platform hosts the biggest names from governance, politics, and other strata of society in a substantive discussion on key challenges faced by a region and the roadmap for the future.
News18’s ‘Rising Madhya Pradesh’ summit will aim to discuss key priorities of the state through an open and free dialogue with all stakeholders on the development of Madhya Pradesh.
Tune in to ‘Rising Madhya Pradesh’ on News18 MP/CG on September 23 starting at 2 PM onwards. The same can be viewed online on the channel’s YouTube platform here:
Mumbai: The highly anticipated draws for all Esports titles at the ongoing Asian Games 2022 have been officially announced with India set to commence with its campaign in EA Sports FC Online at the China Hangzhou Esports Centre on 24 September. Esports Federation of India director and Asian Esports Federation (AESF) vice president Lokesh Suji had the privilege of conducting the draws for the Esports titles, alongside AESF general secretary Sebastian Lau and AESF CEO Steve Kim.
The country’s supremely talented EA Sports FC Online athletes Charanjot Singh (Charanjot12_) secured top seed at the South Asia seeding event for the tournament while his equally talented teammate Karman Singh (tikkatown) clinched fifth seed. Due to their seeding advantage, both athletes will kick off their campaigns from the Round of 32 stage with Charanjot squaring off against Liu Jiacheng of China and Karman facing A.A. Faqeehi of Bahrain in the Round of 32.
A total of 36 athletes from 20 countries are participating in the well-renowned EA Sports FC Online title. All matches will be played in the Double Elimination and Best-of-Three (BO3) format
Following the commencement of EA Sports FC Online’s fixtures, two of the country’s most distinguished Street Fighter V: Champion Edition athletes, Mayank Prajapati (MiKeYROG) and Ayan Biswas (AYAN01) will embark on their pursuit for a medal in their respective title on 26 September. In the seeding event for South and East Asia, Prajapati clinched fifth seed and Biswas secured sixth seed and will hence begin their campaign from the Round of 32 stage.
In the Round of 32, Prajapati will go head to head against T.F. Rajikhan of Saudi Arabia while his teammate, Ayan Biswas, will be up against K.H.C Nguyen of Vietnam. The Street Fighter V: Champion Edition title will witness a total of 35 notable athletes from 22 countries battling it out for a historic medal. All matches will be conducted in the best-of-three (BO3) format and the loser bracket final and grand final will be played in a best-of-seven (BO7) format.
The nation’s star-studded League of Legends team which is captained by Akshaj Shenoy (Kai), and comprises Samarth Arvind Trivedi (CrankO), Mihir Ranjan (Lotus), Sanindhya Malik (Deadcorp), Aakash Shandilya (Infi), Aditya Selvaraj (Krow) will begin its campaign on 27 September. As a result of dominating the recently held Central and South Asia seeding event and clinching top seed, the team has gained direct entry into the quarter-finals of the 19th Asian Games.
The squad will face the winner of Group A comprising Japan, Palestine, and Vietnam in its tournament opener. The elimination stages will be played head-to-head in the BO3, single-elimination format. The continent’s 15 leading teams will be competing in League of Legends at the prestigious tournament.
The country’s stellar DOTA 2 team led by Darshan Bata (A35), and comprising Krish Gupta (Krish-), Abhishek Yadav (Abhi-), Ketan Goyal (Evil-Ash), and Shubham Goli (Madness) has been drawn in Group A alongside Kyrgyzstan and Philippines. Both of their group matchups are scheduled to take place in the Best-of-One (BO1) single round robin format on 29 September.
The group winner will take on Nepal in the elimination stages on September 30. All matches in the elimination stage will be contested in the head-to-head, BO3 single elimination format. There will be 14 notable DOTA 2 teams participating in the title.
One of the country’s top sports and Esports communication agencies, Artsmith-Concepts & Visions, will continue its support to the Esports Federation of India as its official communication partner.
Having been featured as a demonstration event in 2018, Esports will be making its full-fledged debut as an official medal sport at the Asian Games 2022 with a total of 476 athletes from 30 different countries competing for gold medals in seven different titles.
Mumbai: The highly acclaimed and awarded Season 01 of ‘Duologue with Barun Das’ now makes its world premiere on connected TVs. This rendezvous of legends or legends in the making is set to enthrall audiences with cerebral exchanges of ideas, theories, and experiences that would challenge conventional wisdom.
After redefining the talk show genre through intellectually stimulating exchanges between the host, TV9 Network MD & CEO Barun Das and his eclectic array of guests – ‘Duologue with Barun Das’ is now available on Connected TVs on News9 Live every night at 10 pm starting 22 September, through 29 September.
Speaking about the world premiere TV9 editor News9 MediaVerse – English cluster Rakesh Khar said, “Duologue with Barun Das is the perfect blend of an eclectic discussion worthy of prime-time showcase, as well as an OTT series that stands the test of time. With the first season now premiering on Connected TVs, the synergy between News9 Live and News9 Plus truly comes to light. And that’s the convergence model at play at News9 Mediaverse.”
News9 Live deputy managing editor Kartikeya Sharma said, “Duologue is not a typical TV interview, it is a stimulating piece of conversation, which is like a breath of fresh air in a cluttered audio-visual world. The series encompasses distinguished achievers from all walks of life, who have left an indelible mark in their respective fields.”
Along with an updated play out of the News9 Plus season of Duologue, the connected TV and app convergence would truly happen on 29 September with a simulcast of the final episode of Duologue with Barun Das Season 01, featuring celebrated cardiac surgeon and founder of Narayana Health Dr Devi Shetty. This season finale is timed for release on World Heart Day – where the duo discuss the opportunity India has in creating a disruptive health insurance ecosystem that can cater to social security needs for the whole nation.
“Barun has an easy-going and yet razor-sharp conversational style. He got me to open up on subjects I’ve been quiet about, and I’m glad we ‘duologued’ like I haven’t before,” shared Republic Media Network editor-in-chief and chairman Arnab Goswami about his experience being a guest on Duologue.
Industry veteran and The Linus Adventures founder & chief evangelist Sunil Lulla said that the show is “Tantalising and intriguing. Duologue opens new voices and new perspectives.”
News9 Live, which airs Season 01 on connected TVs, can be accessed across the connected TV ecosystem, including live streaming platforms such as Fire TV, Patchwall, Cloud TV, and TCL, as well as aggregator platforms like Distro TV and YuppTV.
Catch one episode every night at 10 pm:
22 September: David Cameron, Former Prime Minister of UK 23 September: Vijay Deverakonda, Actor 24 September: Arnab Goswami, Chairman & Editor-in-Chief, Republic Media Network 25 September: Subhash Chandra, Chairman Emeritus, ZEEL 26 September: Mithali Raj, Former Cricket Captain, India 27 September: Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, Spiritual Guru 28 September: Infosys co-founder NR Narayana Murthy and Author & Philanthropist Sudha Murty 29 September: Devi Shetty, Chairman & Executive Director, Narayana Health
Mumbai: The much-awaited 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 is finally here, and making this edition of the prestigious multi-discipline extravaganza more exciting is the addition of cricket which will see men and women in blue participating for the coveted gold. Sony Sports Network continues to be the premier destination for cricket and multi-sport events and is the official broadcaster for the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games.
Ensuring sports buffs don’t miss the live action from China, Sony Sports Network, will not only bring round-the-clock live and non-live coverage but they will also have an esteemed panel of guests featuring sporting icons and expert panelists which will enrich the experience for viewers with their analysis and comprehensive reportage.
The extensive coverage for the continental sporting spectacle will be broadcast LIVE on Sony Sports Ten 1, Sony Sports Ten 2, Sony Sports Ten 3, Sony Sports Ten 4, and Sony Sports Ten 5 channels (SD & HD) with Hindi and English commentary for the broadcast sports. Additionally, Indian cricket teams’ matches will have commentary in Tamil and Telugu as well. The action will also be live streamed on its on-demand OTT platform Sony LIV.
Aiming to enhance fan engagement and bringing unparalleled viewing experience for audiences across the nation, Sony Sports Network will continue to showcase their flagship wrap around studio show – SPORTS EXTRAAA.
The cricket panel sharing insights and real-time analogies of Indian men and women’s cricket teams’ performance will feature former India skipper and coach Nooshin Al Khadeer, former cricketer and seasoned coach WV Raman, famed wicketkeeper Saba Karim, India internationals Rohan Gavaskar and Aakash Chopra adding flavour to the 19th Asian Games coverage. The impressive line-up of experts for cricket also includes legendary spinner Maninder Singh, Vivek Razdan, and Vidhyut Sivaramakrishnan.
The star-studded panel also includes Olympian and former India men’s hockey captain Viren Rasquinha, along with Olympian and Asian Games Gold medalist Somdev Devvarman, veteran journalist Ayaz Memon and commentator Siddharth Pandey.
Taking their discipline-specific match analysis up by several notches, Sony Sports Network will also have Olympic bronze medalist and Asian Games gold medalist Vijender Singh for boxing, World Champions bronze medalist and multiple Asian Games medalist Anju Bobby George for athletics, multiple grand slam champion Sania Mirza for tennis, the charismatic striker Robin Singh for football, Olympian Anjali Bhagwat and Joydeep Karmakar for shooting, Olympian Neha Aggarwal for table tennis, former international squash player Ritwik Bhattacharya, Commonwealth Games gold medalist Rahul Banerjee for archery, Arjan for Esports, Rohit Mardappa for rowing, sports commentator Radhakrishnan, coach Kripa Shankar Patel for wrestling and Commonwealth Games medalist Trupti Murgunde for badminton.
SPORTS EXTRAAA will be hosted by Sony Sports Network anchors Suhail Chandhok, Radhakrishnan and Arpit Sharma.
Watch the star-studded Indian contingent vying for top honours, ‘Iss Baar, Sau Paar’, at the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 on Sony Sports Network and Sony LIV starting with the live coverage of the opening ceremony live on Sony Sports Network on 23 September 2023 from 5:30 pm onwards.
Mumbai: A day ahead of the IndianOil Grand Prix of India practice session, top MotoGP riders seemed pretty happy with the Buddh International Circuit. The new circuit on the block has got them curious and raring to go as the action began on Friday.
Some called it interesting, some took the bus checking on the track, some liked the mix of corners, while some saw it as a “fun layout”. Whatever each one has to think, it’s the race enthusiasts and fans who are going to enjoy every bit of it.
“I think the layout of the track is interesting. It’s nice and different compared to a lot of other tracks. So, I think it would be great,” said defending champion and Ducati Lenovo Team rider Francesco Bagnaia.
Jorge Martin of Prima Primac Racing, who finished first at the San Marino Grand Prix two weeks ago, took a bus, rode a bicycle on the track to get the feel of it, commented, “I really like the layout. It will be really interesting. I’m so excited to go on the track, and I think, as Pego (Bagnaia) said, it’s a bit different to what we are used to. So, yeah, we’re looking forward to tomorrow.”
Eight-time world champion Marc Marquez has already been here before. He expects the track to play out as it did on his Repsol Honda. “It’s one of the circuits that from the layout looks really nice. But if the grip is good, then it will be even nicer,” he said.
It’s not just the track that has left the riders impressed, some are more than happy with how things are and Mooney VR46 Racing Team rider Marco Bezzecchi minced no words. “To be honest, I liked it a lot. The padlock is very well organised, the plain is very beautiful, and we will know about the track only after riding on it, but it looks fantastic. A mix of corners that I really like. Of course, the longest plate is impressive because I think it’s very long, maybe more than Texas. I can’t wait to ride my bike. Also, there is a long right corner in banking that looks fantastic,” he commented.
Meanwhile, Brad Binder, the current record holder for highest speed in MotoGP is cautiously eyeing the longest straight on his Red Bull KTM Factory Racing. “I don’t really know where the speed trap is, but also it’s quite downhill, which is cool. But then there’s a big kick on the end, so where it goes uphill there might kill the chances a little bit. But anyway, I think it’s a really long straight. More important than the top speed is stopping for the next corner, that’s where my focus lies,” he said.
The high-pulsating action of the IndianOil Grand Prix of India will be exclusively broadcast on Sports18 and live-streamed on JioCinema in India. Fans can secure their tickets for the exciting event on BookMyShow.
Mumbai: In a first for the sport, the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 world feed match coverage which is supported by Disney Star, will see ICC TV produce an additional vertical video feed, that will revolutionize fans’ viewing experience of the biggest Cricket World Cup ever.
The ICC’s vertical feed will be a first-of-its-kind coverage for the sport across all 48 World Cup matches. The technological innovation will provide fans with an easier and more intuitive viewing experience on mobile phones that allows them to consume content on-the-go in the most convenient handheld position.
For fans, this transformative approach to consuming ICC events will provide more access to World Cups than ever before. The vertical feed will provide a special experience with the addition of split-screens in its coverage. With a focus on building more context to the on-field action, the split-screen feature will unlock an additional dimension for the viewers and provide a further sense of proximity to the action and their heroes.
The production will use a carefully curated array of dedicated vertically oriented cameras, whilst utilising the world feed cameras for split screens. The production will also feature match graphics and bespoke production enhancements to enhance the vertically oriented coverage.
The vertical video feed will also make use of traditional technical and editorial storytelling tools to further elevate the coverage. Key features like ball tracking, player tracking and field plot will be tailored to fit the vertical format. The coverage will also have a world-class commentary panel calling the action.
ICC chief commercial officer Anurag Dahiya said, “Cricket fans always look forward to the high-quality broadcast coverage of ICC events. With this in mind, the ICC TV team continuously strives to tailor our coverage to fan preferences. We are very excited to launch cricket’s first-ever vertical video production at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. This game-changing initiative promises to transform the fan viewing experience. It is an innovative approach to cricket coverage that will place fans at the centre of the action bringing them closer to the game than ever before and providing a world-class production to the biggest Cricket World Cup ever.”
Disney Star head – sports Sanjog Gupta said, “Consumers’ preferences and habits are evolving more rapidly than ever before, catalyzing the emergence of new user experiences. Disney Star has always played a pioneering role in taking cricket viewing experiences forward and is now proud to collaborate with the ICC to bring to sports fans for the first-time ever the ‘vertical feed’, on ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. The ‘vertical feed’ aims to deliver to digital users, enhanced convenience, engagement and immersion, beyond the differentiated screen orientation. With its uniquely designed production style entailing cameras, graphics, direction, replays and other enhancements, it promises to change the way cricket is watched.”
The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup kicks off on 5 October with a repeat of the 2019 final as England face New Zealand in Ahmedabad. Across 10 world class venues, 48 matches will be played in 46 days culminating in the Men’s Cricket World Cup Final on 19 November in the biggest cricket stadium in the world.
Mumbai: Star MotoGP riders tested their ability to play cricket on Thursday as they celebrated the spirit of motorsport in the heart of India ahead of the first-ever IndianOil Grand Prix of India, scheduled to be held from 22 – 24 September at the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida.
The enthusiastic and passionate group of riders, including the reigning champion Francesco Bagnaia, Fabio Quartararo, Luca Marini and Pol Espargaro seized the exhilarating opportunity to indulge in a thrilling game of gully cricket at the Buddh International Circuit track. Their fervour and energy reached new heights as they played some fantastic shots and sent the cricket ball far into the stands.
Star Indian cricketer Suresh Raina also joined the riders at the track and played cricket with the fasted man on MotoGP bike Brad Binder of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing.
The riders were also involved in the Flash Mob MotoGP before experiencing the thrill of cricket on track. Marco Bezzecchi, Jack Miller, Aleix Espargaro, Jorge Martin and Alex Marquez were joined by 30 local and talented dancers who performed their hearts out to showcase the ethos and culture of India and radiated the buzz of MotoGP.
“It is great to be here in India and I am ready to race at the Buddh International Circuit in IndianOil Grand Prix of India. The track looks really nice and I will take a close look later on but right now it looks really beautiful. We took part in a flash mob and saw these performers doing the typical Indian dance which has been a fantastic experience. All the dancers were really emotional, so, it’s been really good,” commented Marco Bezzecchi of Mooney VR46 Racing Team (Ducati).
Alex Marquez of Gresini Racing MotoGP (Ducati) stated, “Coming to India is really great for MotoGP™ and fans are also really excited for the race. I am feeling happy to be here for the first time. I loved the track, the layout is really nice and we will do our best to give fans a great showing.”
Organized by FairStreet Sports in collaboration with Dorna Sports, the IndianOil Grand Prix of India promises to be a thrilling spectacle with 41 teams and 82 riders participating in the MotoGP, Moto2, and Moto3 categories, featuring renowned names like Francesco Bagnaia, Marc Marquez, Marco Bezzecchi, Brad Binder, Jack Miller, and Jorge Martin.
The high-pulsating action of the IndianOil Grand Prix of India will be exclusively broadcast on Sports18 and live-streamed on JioCinema in India. Fans can secure their tickets for the exciting event on BookMyShow.
Mumbai: Fortifying its library of blockbusters with new additions, Filamchi Bhojpuri, a regional movie channel from the house of IN10 Media Network, will be showcasing 50 World Television Premieres (WTPs) to entertain its audience this festive period.
With meticulous planning and audience-centric focus, the channel is geared up to bring to its viewers a spectacular cinematic experience over the next three months. Each film has been thoughtfully handpicked to cater to the discerning taste of the Bhojpuri audience to spellbound its viewers with an extraordinary line-up of Bhojpuri blockbusters, featuring some of the most renowned actors in the industry.
The titles include super hit films like Farishta, Raja Doli Leke Aaja, Prayagraj featuring stars like Khesari Lal Yadav, Dinesh Lal Yada ‘Nirahua’, Arvind Akela ‘Kallu’, respectively.
On the announcement, FIlamchi Bhojpuri vice president – programming & strategy Rajeev Mishra said, “As the festivities commence, we are thrilled to be a part of the celebrations with these films and beloved actors. We are confident that this continuous stream of films will not only expand our viewer base but also foster even stronger bonds of loyalty with our audience. These films have been hand-picked and curated to coincide with festivals, underlining our commitment to becoming the ultimate destination for Bhojpuri entertainment. We take immense pride in offering a content library that caters to the diverse tastes of our viewers.”
To ensure the audiences doesn’t miss out on these cinematic gems, the channel has devised a comprehensive marketing strategy spanning high-reach TV plans across music, Hindi GEC, and kids genres.
Starting 23 September 2023, the channel will air 50 WTPs every Saturday at 6:00 pm.
Mumbai: Ahead of the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022, official broadcasters, Sony Sports Network, launched the grandest campaign in the history of the Asian Games in India. In order to ensure that the message ‘Iss Baar Sau Paar, Phir se, Hum Hongey Kamyab’ resonates across every corner of India, Sony Sports Network has garnered support from an impressive line-up of influential and iconic figures such as the Union Minister of Sports, Anurag Thakur, Chief of Defence Staff, Lt General Anil Chauhan along with Chiefs of Tri-Services General Manoj Pande, Admiral Radhakrishnan Hari Kumar and Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari who have put their might behind the Indian athletes vying for top honours at the prestigious multi-sporting event.
Recognising the power of collective ambition, the campaign shines a spotlight on the unsung heroes of Indian sports – those who have relentlessly dedicated themselves to their respective disciplines and are on the precipice of donning the national colours at this esteemed multi-sport event.
This vast consortium unites with a singular purpose: to challenge Indian athletes to transcend past records, push boundaries, and ignite a nationwide fervour for sports. The strategy stands clear: a united India, cheering in unison, can inspire its athletes to unprecedented heights.
Indiantelevision.com in a telephonic conversation with Sony Sports Network, SPN, head, marketing & on-air promotions, Neville Bastawalla, on the thought behind the campaign, the strategy to rope in our armed forces to motivate our athletes and much more……
Edited excerpts
On the Asian Games campaign by Sony Sports Network
I worked on a large multi-sporting campaign for the first time during the 2020 Olympics. Our mission was to galvanise the nation. The questions we asked ourselves were: Who are the heroes of the nation and how do you galvanise the nation? The heroes of the nation go beyond Bollywood stars. Starting with the late General Bipin Rawat who was then the Chief of Defence Staff at that time, Sudha Murty, Parth, and Sajjan Jindal of JSW who do a lot for sports in India and so many more who came on board for the campaign. That’s how we built a massive campaign for the Tokyo Olympics, and that expanded our all-data points. Whether it was revenue, ratings, viewership or digital interaction, we went to the next level. Our campaign for the Olympic Games taught us, that we should not give up “hum honge kamyab” however we would make it relevant to the Asian Games.
India has won 69 medals in 2018, the maximum tally so far in a single edition of this marquee event. We decided that we would give out a war cry “This time we will cross 100 medals’ and galvanise the athletes as well as the nation. When the Indian contingent returned from Tokyo, we met a few of them. And they told us that our campaign and the whole nation really made them feel very supported. Our Honourable Sports Minister, Shri Anurag Thakur along with a couple of parliamentarians with him went outside the parliament during the Olympics, and he gave out the war cry of “hum honge kamyab” with the victory punch. The campaign actually resonated, and the athletes said this was the first time ever they felt the nation was backing them.
Cricket has always been an appointment viewing while multi sports events were never appointment viewing. Now that is no longer the case; people are actually tuning in to watch multi-sporting events like the Olympics and Asian Games. This makes it destination viewing and this is very important for multi-sporting events, which we are doing this time for the Asian Games. Our line is “Iss baar, sau paar, hum phir se honge kamyab” .
We went to the Srinagar forward base and filmed Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari, taking a sortie in one of our latest aircrafts. We filmed General Pande, Chief of Army Staff in Delhi, General Anil Chauhan in the South Block and Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of Naval Staff on INS Vishakapatnam. The Navy in fact got us access to shoot with a submarine commander. I personally went inside the submarine and was in the helicopter base. The helicopters were dancing in front of us for the camera crew. That kind of show of support from our armed forces for our athletes is unheard of. Then Aamir Khan came on board as a big supporter of the athletes, especially the women athletes. We now have Amitabh Bachchan, Sudha Murthy, John Abraham, Abhishek Bachchan, Kapil Sharma, Sunny Deol, Madhuri Dikshit, Hema Malini and so many more all on board to support our athletes.
On how the campaign was handled
This is serious perseverance by my team. We also reached out to the Chief Commander of the Indian Armed Forces, The President of India. We reached out to our Honourable President and even got an approval from her office that she is on board. However due to the paucity of time, they could not manage to schedule a shoot with her. Each marketeer should have a mission and the belief to do new things or to do things differently or just do something big, If there is that fire in your chest or in your heart, big things will happen.
With regard to Chief of Defence Staff, Lt General Anil Chauhan along with Chiefs of Tri-Services General Manoj Pande, Admiral Radhakrishnan Hari Kumar and Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari: It took us two or three months to contact them and schedule meetings in Delhi followed by multiple conference calls with multiple officers from each of the Armed Forces, explaining to them the concept & storyboard and how we would execute it. Each of the divisions is extremely professional and the knowledge they have of filmmaking is outstanding.
On what makes Sony Sports Network different
We do some outstanding storytelling and we want to do things differently. Tent poles are tent poles but how you market them is in the hands of the team. “We exist to boldly challenge the status quo” – that has been Sony Pictures Network’s philosophy. This is what makes Sony Sports Network different.
Our ideas require a lot of belief, and it’s not easy. Otherwise, most networks will engage a brand ambassador, pay him or her, and film the campaign. However it doesn’t work like that for our Asian Games campaign: this is a campaign that money can’t buy. Also, we cannot pay the Armed Forces for the campaign.
On the marketing plan for the campaign
The digital numbers are astounding in terms of reach, engagement, and the kind of patriotism we have. Our campaign that has been plastered across our network channels and social media platforms, features the armed forces, Indian film industry icons as well as our CEO, Mr NP Singh and more, has evoked a strong emotional response. Even the sports journalists of India joined our mission. And for the first time in the history of the Asian Games, the Indian cricket teams, both men and women
Once you have such a huge digital presence, all the Armed Forces are putting these creatives on their platforms, and it’s automatically multiplied, and a multiplier effect happens when you have these nations’ influencers on board.
On building a national consensus
I am so excited because this is a campaign that every CMO would dream about, and there are no budgets involved. This is an idea-driven campaign. It’s very easy for someone to go and get a celebrity, pay for that contract, and do it. This is money that can’t buy experience, which is moving the nation. In the Navy Chief’s film, he mentions that the athletes have the prayers of 140 crore Indians. My entire team had tears in their eyes, especially when we were on INS Shikra and the helicopter base in Mumbai.We all thought – We are from a sports network so what are we doing here? We all are very humbled by the support that we received from the Armed Forces, the sports journalists of India, Indian Film Icons, sports heroes and the many more for their support for the Indian Contingent.
