Category: Sports

Virat Kohli drives Star Sports 3 to no. 1 spot, fourth test rules ratings

MUMBAI: When the Indian superstar Virat Kohli was hitting his third double-century for India, he was setting a weekly record off the pitch too. The Test captain helped Star Network in television viewership, replacing Ten 1 as the most viewed channel in Week 49.

For Week 50 of 2016 (10 December to 16 December), Star Sports 3 became the most watched channel in all-India BARC data which takes both the rural and urban market into consideration.

Star Sports 3 got 188045 impressions, about 60,000 more than the second place Star Sports 1, which broadcast the India-England Test series with English commentary and got 124335 impressions. Last week’s pace-setter Ten 1 has fallen to the third spot, garnering just 64287 impressions. Star Sports 2 and Ten 2 finish the list with 26133 and 12322 impressions, respectively.

In the programmes’ bracket, the fourth test swept off the sports’ ratings chart. Star Sports 3 took the first three spots, with a total of 11251 Impressions. The last two spots have been taken by Star Sports 1, which got a total of 5333 Impressions. This comes as a little wake-up call for Sony Network’s Ten, which ruled the roost last week with Ten 1 being the No. 1 channel and WWE TLC leading the programme’s list.

December 23, 2016
Virat Kohli drives Star Sports 3 to no. 1 spot, fourth test rules ratings

MUMBAI: When the Indian superstar Virat Kohli was hitting his third double-century for India, he was setting a weekly record off the pitch too. The Test captain helped Star Network in television viewership, replacing Ten 1 as the most viewed channel in Week 49.

For Week 50 of 2016 (10 December to 16 December), Star Sports 3 became the most watched channel in all-India BARC data which takes both the rural and urban market into consideration.

Star Sports 3 got 188045 impressions, about 60,000 more than the second place Star Sports 1, which broadcast the India-England Test series with English commentary and got 124335 impressions. Last week’s pace-setter Ten 1 has fallen to the third spot, garnering just 64287 impressions. Star Sports 2 and Ten 2 finish the list with 26133 and 12322 impressions, respectively.

In the programmes’ bracket, the fourth test swept off the sports’ ratings chart. Star Sports 3 took the first three spots, with a total of 11251 Impressions. The last two spots have been taken by Star Sports 1, which got a total of 5333 Impressions. This comes as a little wake-up call for Sony Network’s Ten, which ruled the roost last week with Ten 1 being the No. 1 channel and WWE TLC leading the programme’s list.

December 23, 2016
Spectator-friendly PBL III offers game’s highest prize across globe; to air on Star Sports 1, 3 & HD

MUMBAI: The Premier Badminton League Season III is back. The league has got eight Olympians fighting for the title and the format has been made crisper and more exciting to suit the viewers.

The PBL is set to start on 1 January, 2017, with new challenges, excitement and players. The third edition will go on for 15 days, and will have one of the world’s biggest badminton players vying for the throne.

Star Sports 1, 3 and HD1, HD3 will be broadcasting the matches which will take the audience to another journey which has seen the game gain momentum in the country.

The winning team will pocket Rs. 3 crore, the runners-up receiving equivalent to half that bounty — the highest in the world. The teams which finish third and fourth will bag Rs. 75 lakh each. The league will be taking place across India, in state-of-the-art stadia including Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai, New Delhi and Lucknow.

With PV Sindhu winning a silver in the Olympics and the match getting one of the highest views in recent times, the Premier Badminton League organisers are hopeful something similar happens during their games. The Olympic Gold winner has been lapped up by the Hyderabad Hunters for a whopping Rs 61.5 lakh, making her the most expensive player in the league. Danish shuttler Jan O Jorgensen is the costliest male player, going under the hammer for Delhi Acers for Rs 59 lakh.

Among the Indian contingent, Hyderabad’s blue-eyed girl Sindhu is the most expensive female player at Rs 39 lakh, representing Chennai Smashers. The male category is led by Kidambi Srikanth, who’s playing for Awadh Warriors for Rs 51 lakh. Saina Nehwal sustained several injuries in 2016, but will still be one of the costliest Indian players, having been bought over to play for Rs 33 lakh.

Indian badminton national coach Pullela Gopichand said that the spectacular performance of Indian players at the Olympics has added a staggering number of new viewers to the game, and the league would be more exciting and interesting than ever before. Gopichand, the chief advisor of the PBL, also said that the league was trying to bring in certain innovations in the format of the league to make it even more spectator-friendly, like 11-pointer games.

December 21, 2016
Spectator-friendly PBL III offers game’s highest prize across globe; to air on Star Sports 1, 3 & HD

MUMBAI: The Premier Badminton League Season III is back. The league has got eight Olympians fighting for the title and the format has been made crisper and more exciting to suit the viewers.

The PBL is set to start on 1 January, 2017, with new challenges, excitement and players. The third edition will go on for 15 days, and will have one of the world’s biggest badminton players vying for the throne.

Star Sports 1, 3 and HD1, HD3 will be broadcasting the matches which will take the audience to another journey which has seen the game gain momentum in the country.

The winning team will pocket Rs. 3 crore, the runners-up receiving equivalent to half that bounty — the highest in the world. The teams which finish third and fourth will bag Rs. 75 lakh each. The league will be taking place across India, in state-of-the-art stadia including Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai, New Delhi and Lucknow.

With PV Sindhu winning a silver in the Olympics and the match getting one of the highest views in recent times, the Premier Badminton League organisers are hopeful something similar happens during their games. The Olympic Gold winner has been lapped up by the Hyderabad Hunters for a whopping Rs 61.5 lakh, making her the most expensive player in the league. Danish shuttler Jan O Jorgensen is the costliest male player, going under the hammer for Delhi Acers for Rs 59 lakh.

Among the Indian contingent, Hyderabad’s blue-eyed girl Sindhu is the most expensive female player at Rs 39 lakh, representing Chennai Smashers. The male category is led by Kidambi Srikanth, who’s playing for Awadh Warriors for Rs 51 lakh. Saina Nehwal sustained several injuries in 2016, but will still be one of the costliest Indian players, having been bought over to play for Rs 33 lakh.

Indian badminton national coach Pullela Gopichand said that the spectacular performance of Indian players at the Olympics has added a staggering number of new viewers to the game, and the league would be more exciting and interesting than ever before. Gopichand, the chief advisor of the PBL, also said that the league was trying to bring in certain innovations in the format of the league to make it even more spectator-friendly, like 11-pointer games.

December 21, 2016
Bank of Baroda joins hands with AIFF for U-17 World Cup

MUMBAI: Bank of Baroda became the first Indian company to sign up as a national supporter for the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017, the first FIFA Event to be hosted in the Subcontinent ever in the history of the game. As the excitement continues to grow for the tournament next year, India is bracing to ties its laces and have a good run in the World Cup.

All India Football Federation president and chairman of the local organising committee Praful Patel said, “As an organisation that has a long affiliation with sports, Bank of Baroda shares our enthusiasm to develop and strengthen football in India. As president of the AIFF, I am committed to ensuring that football development in India gets the support it deserves.”

Tournament Director Javier Ceppi was not surprised by the keen interest in the National Supporter slots. “This is a landmark event in Indian sport. It is the first ever FIFA tournament to be hosted by India, with the country taking part in it. This is a unique opportunity to be partners in making football history in this country. Joining in at this early stage, Bank of Baroda will have the added advantage of ten months of exposure with the FIFA U-17 World Cup.”

Increasing awareness and participation in sports has become a key focus for the leading state-owned bank which positions itself as India’s International Bank.

“We are highly motivated to promote football across the country and to inspire a new generation of youngsters. Partnering with the FIFA U-17 World Cup India, 2017 was a logical choice for us, as there is no bigger sporting event that the country will see next year. It is truly an Indian crusade to make sure that this tournament succeeds and engages our complete population. We are sure that our strong banking network across the nation will help to make that happen and we are excited about becoming the first National Supporter for the Event,” said Bank of Baroda general manager (marketing, corporate communications & WMS) Rakesh Kumar Bhatia.

With the signature of the agreement, Bank of Baroda has thus become the first of the six National Supporters that the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 can have. The Tournament will be held from October 6th to 28th, 2017.

December 19, 2016
Bank of Baroda joins hands with AIFF for U-17 World Cup

MUMBAI: Bank of Baroda became the first Indian company to sign up as a national supporter for the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017, the first FIFA Event to be hosted in the Subcontinent ever in the history of the game. As the excitement continues to grow for the tournament next year, India is bracing to ties its laces and have a good run in the World Cup.

All India Football Federation president and chairman of the local organising committee Praful Patel said, “As an organisation that has a long affiliation with sports, Bank of Baroda shares our enthusiasm to develop and strengthen football in India. As president of the AIFF, I am committed to ensuring that football development in India gets the support it deserves.”

Tournament Director Javier Ceppi was not surprised by the keen interest in the National Supporter slots. “This is a landmark event in Indian sport. It is the first ever FIFA tournament to be hosted by India, with the country taking part in it. This is a unique opportunity to be partners in making football history in this country. Joining in at this early stage, Bank of Baroda will have the added advantage of ten months of exposure with the FIFA U-17 World Cup.”

Increasing awareness and participation in sports has become a key focus for the leading state-owned bank which positions itself as India’s International Bank.

“We are highly motivated to promote football across the country and to inspire a new generation of youngsters. Partnering with the FIFA U-17 World Cup India, 2017 was a logical choice for us, as there is no bigger sporting event that the country will see next year. It is truly an Indian crusade to make sure that this tournament succeeds and engages our complete population. We are sure that our strong banking network across the nation will help to make that happen and we are excited about becoming the first National Supporter for the Event,” said Bank of Baroda general manager (marketing, corporate communications & WMS) Rakesh Kumar Bhatia.

With the signature of the agreement, Bank of Baroda has thus become the first of the six National Supporters that the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 can have. The Tournament will be held from October 6th to 28th, 2017.

December 19, 2016
Super Fight League will have niche audience: SPNI

MUMBAI: India’s first mixed martial arts promotion, Super Fight League, is being promoted by the British business magnate and sports enthusiast Bill Dosanjh and the British professional boxing sensation and two-time world champion Amir Khan.

SFL announced Sony Pictures Network India (SPNI) as the official broadcast partner for the first-ever MMA league to be hosted in India from 20 January – 25 February 2017. The fights will be broadcast live on Sony ESPN and Sony ESPN HD channels while the opening ceremony will be shown live on Sony MAX.

Dosanjh said, “Sony ESPN is the channel that is synonymous for bringing MMA to the television sets of the Indian audience. We at Super Fight League are really excited about Sony Pictures Networks India coming on board as the broadcast partners for the inaugural edition of the league. Having Sony as the broadcast partner will help us in our endeavor to reach the maximum variety of audience and make Super Fight League a household name for MMA in India.”

Talking to indiantelevision.com, a high-placed source said that marketing strategies were being worked out, and would be in place soon. It’s an experiment which needs time and space to make its presence felt in the niche.

About Sony Pictures’ views on the Super Fight League, the source added, “We’ve seen how WWE and Wrestling leagues have done well, how Vijender and his boxing bouts are getting good traction and we’ve also seen how MMA on our channels have been working well and there seems to be a good niche for it.”

SPNI president, distribution and sports business Rajesh Kaul said, “Having been a forerunner in popularizing MMA, the sports cluster of Sony Pictures Networks India is the premier destination for viewing mixed martial arts. We are pleased to announce the expansion of our MMA portfolio with the addition of the Super Fight League which is India’s first mixed martial arts league on our network.”

As to whether we will see pay-per-view mode of payment in the Super Fight League, on OTT or broadcasting platform, the source added, “We’ve set up a new product and need to make it successful before we get into the various payment modes. The league is still at the embryonic stage and it needs time to grow to have a dedicated audience.”

The franchisee-based league will feature eight teams, and is being organised in association with the All-India Martial Arts Association (AIMMAA). It will commence with the opening ceremony on 20 January 2017 which will be broadcast on Sony MAX. SPN also has the broadcast rights for the league across Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan and Maldives.

The fights in the league will be held over Friday, Saturday and Sunday and will be broadcast from 7-9 PM over the weekend and can also be streamed live on SonyLIV.

December 19, 2016
Super Fight League will have niche audience: SPNI

MUMBAI: India’s first mixed martial arts promotion, Super Fight League, is being promoted by the British business magnate and sports enthusiast Bill Dosanjh and the British professional boxing sensation and two-time world champion Amir Khan.

SFL announced Sony Pictures Network India (SPNI) as the official broadcast partner for the first-ever MMA league to be hosted in India from 20 January – 25 February 2017. The fights will be broadcast live on Sony ESPN and Sony ESPN HD channels while the opening ceremony will be shown live on Sony MAX.

Dosanjh said, “Sony ESPN is the channel that is synonymous for bringing MMA to the television sets of the Indian audience. We at Super Fight League are really excited about Sony Pictures Networks India coming on board as the broadcast partners for the inaugural edition of the league. Having Sony as the broadcast partner will help us in our endeavor to reach the maximum variety of audience and make Super Fight League a household name for MMA in India.”

Talking to indiantelevision.com, a high-placed source said that marketing strategies were being worked out, and would be in place soon. It’s an experiment which needs time and space to make its presence felt in the niche.

About Sony Pictures’ views on the Super Fight League, the source added, “We’ve seen how WWE and Wrestling leagues have done well, how Vijender and his boxing bouts are getting good traction and we’ve also seen how MMA on our channels have been working well and there seems to be a good niche for it.”

SPNI president, distribution and sports business Rajesh Kaul said, “Having been a forerunner in popularizing MMA, the sports cluster of Sony Pictures Networks India is the premier destination for viewing mixed martial arts. We are pleased to announce the expansion of our MMA portfolio with the addition of the Super Fight League which is India’s first mixed martial arts league on our network.”

As to whether we will see pay-per-view mode of payment in the Super Fight League, on OTT or broadcasting platform, the source added, “We’ve set up a new product and need to make it successful before we get into the various payment modes. The league is still at the embryonic stage and it needs time to grow to have a dedicated audience.”

The franchisee-based league will feature eight teams, and is being organised in association with the All-India Martial Arts Association (AIMMAA). It will commence with the opening ceremony on 20 January 2017 which will be broadcast on Sony MAX. SPN also has the broadcast rights for the league across Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan and Maldives.

The fights in the league will be held over Friday, Saturday and Sunday and will be broadcast from 7-9 PM over the weekend and can also be streamed live on SonyLIV.

December 19, 2016
TV helped make cricket a religion, says Ganguly

NEW DELHI: Television has played a key role in making cricket popular in the country and the Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) has successfully created heroes turning the game into a religion in India today.

Stating this, the former captain of the Indian cricket team and Cricket Association of Bengal president Sourav Ganguly said other sports need to do the same.

Addressing a session on ‘Business of Sports’ at the 89th Annual General Meeting of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Ganguly said administrators need to capitalise on the existing pool and should not hesitate to promote talented players. Winning a medal in Olympics was bigger than winning in cricket but still cricket got more mileage because of the sporting heroes and idols that the game managed to create, he said.

In terms of financial sustainability, cricket is a huge example for other sports. BCCI has its own stadiums in almost every state which no other federation has managed to do, so far. Besides, he pointed out that the reason behind Indian Premier League’s success was the structured functionality of the organisation.

Indian shooter, world & olympic champion Abhinav Bindra said federations and the government had ample funds but it reached the players just 3–4 months before the Olympics. This was hardly appropriate as the sportspersons had to train for four years to be able to make a mark at the international level. He emphasised the need to focus on the process of preparation and not be bogged down by the outcome.

Indian athlete & summer paralympics 2016 silver winner Deepa Malik said the perception of the corporate world and the people towards para sports had undergone a sea change after India won the medals in 2016 Paralympics. But, this was just the beginning, she said.

The actual challenge was in getting the funds at the right time and the quantum of money required was far more than other games for para athletes because of the additional challenges they faced, she said. While CSR funds were welcome, corporates needed to adopt athletes and monitor the performance closely, Malik added.

Renowned sports journalist Boria Majumdar, who moderated the session, said countries such as Jamaica and Croatia whose sports infrastructure does not match even that of India were producing world-class, medal-winning athletes. Apart from IPL, he said, all the existing leagues like, ISL and badminton in India are struggling to survive financially.

December 19, 2016
TV helped make cricket a religion, says Ganguly

NEW DELHI: Television has played a key role in making cricket popular in the country and the Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) has successfully created heroes turning the game into a religion in India today.

Stating this, the former captain of the Indian cricket team and Cricket Association of Bengal president Sourav Ganguly said other sports need to do the same.

Addressing a session on ‘Business of Sports’ at the 89th Annual General Meeting of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Ganguly said administrators need to capitalise on the existing pool and should not hesitate to promote talented players. Winning a medal in Olympics was bigger than winning in cricket but still cricket got more mileage because of the sporting heroes and idols that the game managed to create, he said.

In terms of financial sustainability, cricket is a huge example for other sports. BCCI has its own stadiums in almost every state which no other federation has managed to do, so far. Besides, he pointed out that the reason behind Indian Premier League’s success was the structured functionality of the organisation.

Indian shooter, world & olympic champion Abhinav Bindra said federations and the government had ample funds but it reached the players just 3–4 months before the Olympics. This was hardly appropriate as the sportspersons had to train for four years to be able to make a mark at the international level. He emphasised the need to focus on the process of preparation and not be bogged down by the outcome.

Indian athlete & summer paralympics 2016 silver winner Deepa Malik said the perception of the corporate world and the people towards para sports had undergone a sea change after India won the medals in 2016 Paralympics. But, this was just the beginning, she said.

The actual challenge was in getting the funds at the right time and the quantum of money required was far more than other games for para athletes because of the additional challenges they faced, she said. While CSR funds were welcome, corporates needed to adopt athletes and monitor the performance closely, Malik added.

Renowned sports journalist Boria Majumdar, who moderated the session, said countries such as Jamaica and Croatia whose sports infrastructure does not match even that of India were producing world-class, medal-winning athletes. Apart from IPL, he said, all the existing leagues like, ISL and badminton in India are struggling to survive financially.

December 19, 2016