ITV

Category: Sports

  • SPSN rakes in 61 million impressions in India for Euro 2020

    SPSN rakes in 61 million impressions in India for Euro 2020

    Mumbai: A total of 61 million viewers tuned into Sony Pictures Sports Network (SPSN) to watch the entire coverage of UEFA Euro 2020 from 11 June to 12 July. (TG: CS 2+, All India U+R, the cumulative reach of LIVE matches + wraparound shows + highlights + repeats on SPSN), according to Sony Pictures Network India (SPNI).

    All the matches were well received by the Indian audience, with UEFA Euro 2020 attracting more than three times the viewers of UEFA Euro 2016. The live telecast of the Final of Euro 2020 between Italy and England was watched by 4.7 million viewers (TG: CS 2+, All India U+R), the official broadcaster said in a statement on Wednesday.

    Most of the matches in the tournament were simulcast across eight channels Sony Ten 2 SD, Sony Ten 2 HD, Sony Ten 3 SD, Sony Ten 3 HD, Sony Ten 4 SD, and Sony Ten 4 HD. On average, 4.3 million viewers tuned in to watch each match during Euro 2020 – close to 70 per cent growth compared to Euro 2016 (TG: CS 2+, All India U+R).

    The Hindi feed for live matches was watched by 16.6 million viewers across the country (TG: CS 2+, All India U+R), while the Malayalam and Bengali feeds on Sony SIX were watched by 8.7 million viewers across Kerala and West Bengal (TG: CS 2+, Kerala and WB U+R). The Tamil and Telugu feeds on the recently launched Sony Ten 4 contributed 43 per cent of the ratings for the semi-finals and finals in TN/Pondicherry and AP/Telangana (TG: CS 2+, All India U+R).

    Commenting on the setting of a new benchmark, SPNI chief revenue officer, distribution and head – sports business, Rajesh Kaul said, “We at Sony Pictures Sports Network are delighted with the reception UEFA Euro 2020 has received in the Indian subcontinent. For the past three weeks, the country has enjoyed the international football extravaganza presented by the Sony Sports networks, making our channels among the top watched in the sports genre. Our aim is to provide our viewers with the best multi-sport events and the viewership numbers for this tournament prove that there is a demand for quality international sporting content in India. With the ongoing Olympics Games and upcoming India tour of England 2021, sports fans have a lot to look forward to on our network.”

  • Reigning champions MI to take on CSK when IPL 2021 resumes on 19 Sep

    Reigning champions MI to take on CSK when IPL 2021 resumes on 19 Sep

    New Delhi: Defending champions Mumbai Indians will take on Chennai Super Kings on 19 September when the much-awaited edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 resumes in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

    The cricket league was suspended mid-way after a sudden surge in Covid-19 cases breached the bio-bubble, and infected a few players and support staff.

    “The 14th season, which was postponed in May this year in the wake of the pandemic, will resume on 19 September in Dubai with a blockbuster clash between Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians,” said the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) in its latest announcement.

    A total number of 31 matches will be played over a period of 27 days including seven doubles headers (five were held in India). In all, 13 matches will be held in Dubai, 10 in Sharjah and 8 in Abu Dhabi.

    “There will be seven double headers (five matches already played in India – total of 12 matches) with the first match starting at 3:30PM IST (2:00PM Gulf Standard Time). All evening matches will start at 7:30PM IST (6:00PM Gulf Standard Time),” added BCCI.

    This year, the official broadcaster Star Sports had also made arrangements to live broadcast the IPL 2021 in eight different languages, and arranged a new virtual set and a myriad of augmented reality graphics to impress audiences who remained under lockdown when the tournament began in April.

    The final league game will be played between RCB and Delhi Capitals on 8 October.


     

  • SonyLIV unveils its line-up for the Tokyo Olympic Games

    SonyLIV unveils its line-up for the Tokyo Olympic Games

    Mumbai: Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the much-awaited sporting spectacle will bring together the best of athletes from across the globe. The multi-sport global event which comprises 33 sports, 300+ events will go live on SonyLIV starting 23 July. To cater to the varied interests of sports enthusiasts, SonyLIV will have 20 live streams on the platform in Hindi, English, Tamil, and Telugu languages.

    With the Games kick-starting, sports fanatics can catch over 12 hours of non-stop action on the platform between 4 am to 8 pm (IST), the channel said. To celebrate and recognise legendary Olympians, SonyLIV rolls out the ‘New Legends Are Coming’ campaign ahead of the games. The channel also brings a plethora of short and long format video content around the multi-sport event for fans to enjoy.

    Drumming up the buzz for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, SonyLIV brings exclusive videos under four sections – ‘India in Action’, ‘Athletes’, ‘Sports’, ‘Schedule and Medal tally’, and ‘Olympic 360’. These sections will include videos of day-wise daily highlights, recaps of the sports, winning moments, athlete interviews, daily match analysis, and specially curated India-specific videos from the event. Building intrigue for the Olympics, SonyLIV gives exclusive access to archival videos from the Rio Games and other yesteryear Olympics.

    “As India enters its 100th year of participation at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, we see a plethora of brands lending their support to the athletes making their way to Tokyo,” said SonyLIV’s SVP & head – ad revenue, Ranjana Mangla. “With the mega sporting event going live on SonyLIV, we are witnessing phenomenal responses from advertisers who want to reach out and engage better with their targeted audience. Many brands have shown support for our athletes through various creatives and campaigns and we’re looking forward to a great event. Sports has always been a key driver for SonyLIV and with the streaming of this global sporting event, we strengthen our promise to reach out to a diverse audience.”

    “With 20 Live streams, Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games coverage on SonyLIV will be unprecedented,” said the head – business operations, digital business, Amogh Dusad. “We have curated dedicated sections within the app to ensure that fans of this multi-sporting event get to choose their own experience. Along with Live streaming action, VODs would be published to highlight day-wise, sports-wise and athlete-wise key moments to ensure that fans do not miss any action. And of course, we will have dedicated showcasing and updates on our Indian athletes at the tournament.”

    “Every Olympics gives us champions but there are some who become legends; because for them Olympics is not an opportunity of a lifetime but their life,” said the head of marketing, digital business, Aman Srivastava. “The entire campaign is designed around such legends and the fact that we intend to bring every moment of this unparalleled event available to every user for a great experience.”

  • Tokyo Olympics: Sony Sports announces Live studio show SPORTS EXTRAAA

    Tokyo Olympics: Sony Sports announces Live studio show SPORTS EXTRAAA

    New Delhi: With two days to go for the start of 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the official broadcaster Sony Sports channels on Wednesday announced their Live wraparound studio show SPORTS EXTRAAA for mega-coverage of the international sports event. The network has also unveiled the eminent line-up of panellists it has on boarded for the show.

    The global event will be broadcast LIVE in four languages: SONY TEN 2 and SONY SIX channels in English, SONY TEN 3 channels in Hindi and in Tamil & Telugu on the newly launched SONY TEN 4 channels from 23 July as well as livestreamed on its on-demand OTT platform SonyLIV.

    The panel will share insights in real-time on the LIVE studio show. It will feature former Olympians and legendary Indian athletes like Vijender Singh, Gagan Narang, Karnam Malleswari, Anjali Bhagwat, Anju Bobby George, Sakshi Malik, Viren Rasquinha, Somdev Devvarman, Trupti Murgunde, Rahul Banerjee, Kripa Shankar and Satish Shivalingam.

    The network has also roped in noted Sprinter and four-time Olympic medalist, Yohan Blake for the special show. “Not only will the viewers in India watch me proudly represent my country at the games but they will also watch me provide insights on the performance of the world’s finest on this grand stage. I am looking forward to adding to my Olympics tally of two gold and three silver. All eyes are on the strong Indian Athletics contingent of 26 athletes who qualified for the games and we are looking forward to their performance at Tokyo,” said Blake.

    SPORTS EXTRAAA will be hosted by Sony Sports’ multi-sport specialists Arpit Sharma, Ridhima Pathak and Raman Bhanot as well as feature sports journalists Ayaz Memon and Gaurav Kalra. It will also invite Parth Jindal, Mustafa Ghouse, Manisha Malhotra, Rushdee Warley and other well-known guests from the sports fraternity to talk about different aspects of high-performance sports like athletic performance management, handling pressure, and share their insights on the performance of athletes in Tokyo. 

    “We have received a tremendous response from advertisers and sponsors who have come on board to voice their support for the Indian contingent. A cutting-edge advertising innovation will feature ‘Split-screen ads’ that will allow premium sponsors to feature much closer to the numerous Live key sporting action and moments,” the network said in a statement.

    Coca-Cola India Pvt Ltd, JSW, MPL, Hero MotoCorp, Amul, Reserve Bank of India, AMFI and other advertisers include Visa, Byju’s, Herbalife Nutrition & Lenovo are some of the sponsors onboard.

    Sony Pictures Networks India, chief revenue officer, distribution and head – sports business, Rajesh Kaul said, Sony Sports is leaving no stone unturned to ensure the country is aware about its athletes. “Our studio show, SPORTS EXTRAAA, will feature a stellar line-up of International and Indian Sporting Greats bringing in their expert analysis on all the key sporting action that our Indian Athletes will feature in at Tokyo. Our broadcast will also feature a huge panel of specialised multi-sporting commentators to call the high-performance Olympic Games’ action in Hindi, English, Tamil and Telugu,” he added.

    The network has also launched a campaign “Hum Honge Kamyab,” to invoke a sense of national pride and galvanise the nation to rally behind the Indian contingent & champion the cause of Indian Athletes for #Tokyo2020. It has also collaborated with the ministry of youth affairs and sports as well as eminent personalities across sectors to catalyse the Olympic momentum in the nation for the landmark event.

    https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLM02DhrrkptNqqRcGH89OoNIV0qCcb6Cn

    The Live coverage of Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 will be available on SONY TEN 2 and SONY SIX channels in English, SONY TEN 3 channels in Hindi, SONY TEN 4 channels in Tamil & Telugu from 23 July to 8 August.

  • HC restrains unauthorised broadcast of Tokyo Olympics by cable operators

    HC restrains unauthorised broadcast of Tokyo Olympics by cable operators

    New Delhi: The Delhi high court has restrained the unauthorised broadcast of the upcoming Tokyo Olympics by several rogue websites, multi-system operators, and local cable operators. The much-awaited international sports extravaganza is set to begin on 23 July and conclude on 8 August.

    The court was hearing a plea filed by Sony Pictures Networks India, which is the official, exclusive broadcaster of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in India.

    According to the SPN, over 40 websites and over 30 multi-system operators, and local cable operators illegally broadcasted pirated content in violation of the copyright act and argued that the new IT Rules of 2021 required an ISP to protect a party’s proprietary rights. In the plea, Sony Pictures has stated that these websites and cable TV operators were habitual defaulters as they have in the past infringed its exclusive rights for the broadcast of certain cricket matches.

    The court thus directed the internet service providers (ISPs) to block access to these websites illegally broadcasting the games on their platforms. The ex-parte interim order will remain in force till the next date of hearing on 29 September, it added.

    The court has asked the government to issue necessary directions/notifications calling upon various ISPs to block access to rogue websites. It has also issued summons in the plea and sought response from the defendants within four weeks.

    Sony Pictures owns and operates the Sony Ten Network of channels which includes Sony Ten 1, Sony Ten 1 HD, Sony Ten 2, Sony Ten 3, Sony Ten 2 HD, Sony Ten 3 HD, Sony ESPN, Sony ESPN HD, Sony Six, Sony Six HD.

    In its agreement with the International Olympics Association, SPN has the exclusive right to broadcast the games over any media platform. The network has also put together a series of ‘Hum Honge Kamyab’ films on-air and on their social media platforms led by eminent personalities sending their best wishes to the Indian contingent for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.

    The Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 will be telecast LIVE on SONY TEN 1, SONY TEN 2, SONY TEN 3, SONY TEN 4, and SONY SIX channels from 23 July to 8 August.

  • SPNI, Twitter join hands to bring premium video content to fans

    SPNI, Twitter join hands to bring premium video content to fans

    Mumbai: Twitter and Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) are coming together to bring the best of sporting action to Twitter audiences for India’s cricket tours with Sri Lanka and England starting from 18 July.

    With the sports channels of SPNI’s live coverage of the tours on Twitter, cricket fans will be able to consume real-time video highlights on their timeline. These video highlights, as well as Twitter Moments, will be available for fans across various cricket formats giving them an unparalleled experience, the platform said in a statement on Thursday.

    With this partnership, Twitter Amplify will enable brands to align their ads via pre-rolls or promoted videos to reach sports audiences in real-time, it added.

    “While the sports experience has changed in recent times, the roar of sports fans on Twitter is louder than ever,” said Twitter India’s head-global content partnerships, Amrita Tripathi. “Conversations around cricket leagues in 2020 increased by 23% when compared to those in 2019 – which in itself was a record-breaker with 27 million Tweets. We are delighted to partner with Sony to bring in-match premium cricket video content to people on Twitter in India for the very first time, building on a promising content partnership with one of the top sports broadcasters in the region.”

    “We are excited to partner with Twitter and take our viewer engagement to the next level,” said SPNI’s head-growth and monetisation, digital business, Manish Aggarwal. “It is a pleasure to come together and be able to reach out to cricket enthusiasts with video highlights. Since it is a new and refreshing phenomenon, the viewers will now have one more platform to share/discuss and express their views on the matches.”

    Through the course of this year, Twitter will bring a range of different cricket content from partners, like the sports channels of SPNI, including Twitter Spaces, and behind-the-scenes action with the Twitter #BlueRoom for the upcoming World Cup series and India vs Australia women’s series. 

  • India-Sri Lanka ODI and T20I series set to begin on 18 July

    India-Sri Lanka ODI and T20I series set to begin on 18 July

    Mumbai: The start date for India’s tour of Sri Lanka has been changed ahead of the limited overs series that features three ODIs and three T20s. The first ODI will now take place on 18 July and the tour will conclude with the third T20 on 29 July.

    The series, which was originally scheduled to begin from 13 July, had been postponed after Sri Lanka’s batting coach and data analyst tested positive for COVID-19.

    Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has informed its official broadcast partner SPN that in consultation with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), it has decided to reschedule the dates of the ODI and T20I series as a precautionary measure aimed at providing more time for the Sri Lanka National Players and the Support Staff to complete required health protocols.

    Led by former India captain Rahul Dravid who will step in as coach, Shikhar Dhawan will captain the young side while Bhuvneshwar Kumar will be the vice-captain in the three-match ODI and T20I series against Sri Lanka.

    Revised schedule of India tour of Sri Lanka is as below:

    1st ODI: 18 July
    2nd ODI: 20 July
    3rd ODI: 23 July
    1st T20I: 25 July
    2nd T20I: 27 July
    3rd T20I: 29 July

    Viewers can catch live coverage of the series on 18 July, 2pm onwards on SONY SIX & SONY TEN 1 channels in English, SONY TEN 3 channels in Hindi and SONY TEN 4 channels in Tamil & Telugu on SonyLIV channel as well as on its on-demand OTT platform.

  • EURO 2020 Finals break viewership records in UK

    EURO 2020 Finals break viewership records in UK

    New Delhi: The Sunday-night high-octane clash between Italy and England in UEFA Euro 2020 was watched by over 31 million viewers in the United Kingdom, setting a record for the highest viewership ratings in British broadcasting history.

    According to the BARB figures shared by overnights. tv, an average of 29.85 million watched the entire match which was broadcast on both BBC and ITV. The viewership peaked at 30.95 million during the extra time, when both the teams were trying hard to up their score from 1-1 at London’s Wembley Stadium.

    The game went down to the wire and ended with England facing a painful penalty shootout exit, dashing hopes of millions of English fans who were hoping to see the trophy come home for the first time since 1966. However, Italy reigned over the game and clinched the trophy continuing its 34-match winning streak in the game.

    According to BBC, the combined viewership on both BBC One and ITV made the final match one of the biggest TV events in the UK since the funeral of princess Diana in 1997.

    In Italy, the game was broadcast on Radiotelevisione italiana (Rai), the national public broadcasting company of Italy. According to Rai, throughout the match an average of 18 million people tuned in, representing a 73.7 per cent market share, reported Variety.

    In India, the official broadcaster Sony Pictures Sports Network (SPSN) made the most of the football fever that has swept the country over the last few weeks. While the latest viewership numbers are yet to come in, the previous data showed that the 19 June match between Portugal vs Germany was among the most-watched matches in the tournament. The defending champion Portugal led by Cristiano Ronaldo was defeated by 4-2 in the match in the group stage.

  • PCCW’s Now TV partners with VO for ‘Watch Party’ feature

    PCCW’s Now TV partners with VO for ‘Watch Party’ feature

    Mumbai: Viaccess-Orca (VO), a global tech solutions company, announced Friday that Hong Kong-based PCCW Media is using its VO Secure Player to offer an innovative ‘Watch Party’ feature for its Now TV subscribers.

    During the ongoing UEFA Euro 2020 football matches, sports fans can watch live matches while simultaneously interacting with their Watch Party group through video chat, the tech company said in a statement.

    VO Secure Player assures accurate and real-time synchronization of live video across multiple connected devices allowing users to hear comments and see reactions from their Watch Party group, it added.

    “Live sports streaming is a competitive market, and it is critical for service providers to stay on top of emerging trends to drive better viewer engagement,” said PCCW Media’s head of technology Belinda Chan. “With VO Secure Player, we can confidently bring our new Watch Party feature to subscribers, offering them a one-of-a-kind viewing experience. The VO’ Secure Player also enables real-time synchronization of premium content across all connected devices in the Watch Party group for a seamless experience.”

    “Now TV sets a great example of how a media entertainment company can deliver exceptional social experiences to viewers via innovative technology to enhance overall viewing experience during this challenging pandemic period,” said VO’s APAC-VP of sales Dokyung Lee. “The VO Secure Player plays a pivotal role in Now TV’s Watch Party feature, and we are delighted to accompany Now TV on this journey to bring a unique, seamless viewing experience to sports fans.”

  • Mola TV & Harmonic join hands to stream UEFA Euro 2020 in UHD HDR

    Mola TV & Harmonic join hands to stream UEFA Euro 2020 in UHD HDR

    Mumbai: Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT) today announced that Mola TV, Indonesian entertainment network, is using Harmonic’s VOS®360 cloud streaming SaaS for the first-ever live UHD HDR streaming of UEFA Euro 2020 football matches in Indonesia.

    Harmonic’s VOS360 platform ensures the highest level of service reliability and real-time scaling for Mola TV’s streaming service, simplifying the live streaming workflow from source to screen, the company said in a statement.

    Supported by a DevOps team providing 24/7 monitoring and assistance, the Harmonic cloud-based platform provides high availability and reliability that is a must for live sports streaming, it added.

    “We are enormously proud that, for the first time, our viewers can watch live, high-profile sports events in UHD HDR,” said Mola TV’s CEO CP Lee. “Mola TV has always relied on Harmonic cloud streaming solutions for its sports streaming services. As we bring more high-profile sports events such as the UEFA and EPL, Harmonic’s VOS360 SaaS will be instrumental in ensuring the best possible streaming experience for our subscribers.”

    “UHD HDR is a game changer in the live sports streaming environment, where video quality can easily determine the success of a service,” said Tony Berthaud, vice president of sales and video services, APAC, at Harmonic. “Harmonic’s VOS360 platform ensures Mola TV can securely deliver crystal-clear UHD HDR video to a large variety of devices. This assurance is crucial for operators streaming high-demand events like the UEFA Euro Championship.”