Category: Sports

SPN to live telecast UFC 201 in India

MUMBAI: UFC Fighter Tyron ‘T-Wood’ Woodley aka The Chosen One, recently made his Bollywood debut in the Salman Khan starrer, Sultan where he fought the superstar on the big screen. Fans in India were mesmerized as the UFC challenger introduced some of his MMA skills to Bollywood. He is now all set to create the magic in the Octagon, with the Welterweight Championship Bout, where he will be facing Robbie Lawler in UFC201. Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN), will broadcast this explosive fight LIVE and exclusive, on 31st July 2016, at 0730 hrs on Sony Six and Sony Six HD.

The UFC 201 fight card also features some of the other highly awaited fights. Rose Namajunas will take on Karolina Kowalkiewicz in the women’s Strawweight bout, along with Matt Brown and Jake Ellenberger who will compete against each other in the men Welterweight championship. Also, the men’s Flyweight championship will see Ian McCall fight against Justin Scoggins.

Tyron Woodley created quite a stir amongst the Indian audiences as he took to social media expressing his excitement in making his Bollywood debut alongside Salman Khan. The Bollywood star surely put up a great fight in the film, for which he trained hard, four hours a day to get in shape for the film. On the other hand, Tyron was also packing on the pounds to match the Indian wrestler’s physique. Speaking about the upcoming fight with Robbie Lawler, the UFC Challenger said, “Robbie knows that I respect him. I admire the way he came back and had this crazy run at the title. I admire him but I want to be a UFC champion. I’m just a person that has a seat at the throne right now and that’s where I desire to sit.”

The inclusion of international fighters like Tyron Woodley in Bollywood has generated a lot of interest in MMA and more and more Indian fans are now seen following the sport. Salman Khan promoting UFC 200 has further added to the massive level of interest.

In addition to this UFC fans can expect a whole other level of excitement with a live breakfast screening hosted by the Sports Cluster of SPN at Hard Rock Café. The screening is also open to walk in consumers who would like to be a part of the community experience. The UFC 201 fight card LIVE breakfast screening will take place simultaneously in Delhi, Bengaluru and Mumbai on July 31, 2016 at 0730 hrs at the Hard Rock Café.

July 27, 2016
SPN to live telecast UFC 201 in India

MUMBAI: UFC Fighter Tyron ‘T-Wood’ Woodley aka The Chosen One, recently made his Bollywood debut in the Salman Khan starrer, Sultan where he fought the superstar on the big screen. Fans in India were mesmerized as the UFC challenger introduced some of his MMA skills to Bollywood. He is now all set to create the magic in the Octagon, with the Welterweight Championship Bout, where he will be facing Robbie Lawler in UFC201. Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN), will broadcast this explosive fight LIVE and exclusive, on 31st July 2016, at 0730 hrs on Sony Six and Sony Six HD.

The UFC 201 fight card also features some of the other highly awaited fights. Rose Namajunas will take on Karolina Kowalkiewicz in the women’s Strawweight bout, along with Matt Brown and Jake Ellenberger who will compete against each other in the men Welterweight championship. Also, the men’s Flyweight championship will see Ian McCall fight against Justin Scoggins.

Tyron Woodley created quite a stir amongst the Indian audiences as he took to social media expressing his excitement in making his Bollywood debut alongside Salman Khan. The Bollywood star surely put up a great fight in the film, for which he trained hard, four hours a day to get in shape for the film. On the other hand, Tyron was also packing on the pounds to match the Indian wrestler’s physique. Speaking about the upcoming fight with Robbie Lawler, the UFC Challenger said, “Robbie knows that I respect him. I admire the way he came back and had this crazy run at the title. I admire him but I want to be a UFC champion. I’m just a person that has a seat at the throne right now and that’s where I desire to sit.”

The inclusion of international fighters like Tyron Woodley in Bollywood has generated a lot of interest in MMA and more and more Indian fans are now seen following the sport. Salman Khan promoting UFC 200 has further added to the massive level of interest.

In addition to this UFC fans can expect a whole other level of excitement with a live breakfast screening hosted by the Sports Cluster of SPN at Hard Rock Café. The screening is also open to walk in consumers who would like to be a part of the community experience. The UFC 201 fight card LIVE breakfast screening will take place simultaneously in Delhi, Bengaluru and Mumbai on July 31, 2016 at 0730 hrs at the Hard Rock Café.

July 27, 2016
SPN gets broadcast and digital rights for 2016 International Champions Cup

MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN), has acquired the broadcast rights to telecast the 2016 edition of the International Champions Cup in India.

The matches this year will be held across North America, Europe, Australia, and China, and will see 17 of the top clubs from across the world participating in the highly anticipated season opening tournament. The International Champions Cup will begin from 22 July and will run through 13 August , 2016. It will be telecast Live and exclusive on Sony ESPN and Sony ESPN HD channels. The tournament will also be streamed live on the SonyLIV app.

The International Champions Cup 2016 is the first tournament of the 2016-17 football season and will kick-off the 2016-17 club season across the world. The fourth edition will see the return of the winners from the past 3 season – Real Madrid C.F., Manchester United F.C., Paris Saint-Germain, along with other illustrious clubs from across the world.

The 2016 International Champions Cup will feature the most successful and elite clubs from across Spain, Italy, Germany, England, France, Scotland and Australia, along with a host of top players in world football. The 17 clubs participating this year in the International Champions Cup are Real Madrid CF, FC Barcelona, Manchester United, Liverpool FC, Chelsea FC, Leicester City FC, Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus, Tottenham Hotspur, Melbourne Victory, Manchester City, Borussia Dortmund, and Celtic FC.

The acquisition of the broadcast and digital rights of the 2016 International Champions Cup is a strategic approach by the Sports Cluster of SPN towards bringing the best of football to India. After the successful broadcast of the recently concluded UEFA EURO 2016 and Copa America Centenario, the sports cluster of SPN has added the International Champions Cup to its club football portfolio and continues to assert its position as a one-stop destination for football fans in India.

Sony Pictures Networks Distribution and Sports Business president Rajesh Kaul said, “The acquisition of the exclusive broadcast rights of the 2016 edition of the International Champions Cup in India reinforces the Sports Cluster of SPN’s leadership in sports broadcast in India. The 2016 International Champions Cup is significant of a gold-standard of football with Europe’s elite clubs participating in this tournament. After the success of the UEFA EURO 2016, we are looking forward to broadcasting the season-opening tournament of club football, thereby setting the stage for a great season. We are happy to bring the most compelling football content for Indian fans.”

July 21, 2016
SPN gets broadcast and digital rights for 2016 International Champions Cup

MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN), has acquired the broadcast rights to telecast the 2016 edition of the International Champions Cup in India.

The matches this year will be held across North America, Europe, Australia, and China, and will see 17 of the top clubs from across the world participating in the highly anticipated season opening tournament. The International Champions Cup will begin from 22 July and will run through 13 August , 2016. It will be telecast Live and exclusive on Sony ESPN and Sony ESPN HD channels. The tournament will also be streamed live on the SonyLIV app.

The International Champions Cup 2016 is the first tournament of the 2016-17 football season and will kick-off the 2016-17 club season across the world. The fourth edition will see the return of the winners from the past 3 season – Real Madrid C.F., Manchester United F.C., Paris Saint-Germain, along with other illustrious clubs from across the world.

The 2016 International Champions Cup will feature the most successful and elite clubs from across Spain, Italy, Germany, England, France, Scotland and Australia, along with a host of top players in world football. The 17 clubs participating this year in the International Champions Cup are Real Madrid CF, FC Barcelona, Manchester United, Liverpool FC, Chelsea FC, Leicester City FC, Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus, Tottenham Hotspur, Melbourne Victory, Manchester City, Borussia Dortmund, and Celtic FC.

The acquisition of the broadcast and digital rights of the 2016 International Champions Cup is a strategic approach by the Sports Cluster of SPN towards bringing the best of football to India. After the successful broadcast of the recently concluded UEFA EURO 2016 and Copa America Centenario, the sports cluster of SPN has added the International Champions Cup to its club football portfolio and continues to assert its position as a one-stop destination for football fans in India.

Sony Pictures Networks Distribution and Sports Business president Rajesh Kaul said, “The acquisition of the exclusive broadcast rights of the 2016 edition of the International Champions Cup in India reinforces the Sports Cluster of SPN’s leadership in sports broadcast in India. The 2016 International Champions Cup is significant of a gold-standard of football with Europe’s elite clubs participating in this tournament. After the success of the UEFA EURO 2016, we are looking forward to broadcasting the season-opening tournament of club football, thereby setting the stage for a great season. We are happy to bring the most compelling football content for Indian fans.”

July 21, 2016
Here’s top 20 moments in Indian sports history : ESPN

MUMBAI: Showcasing ESPN’s expertise in all things sports, ESPN India today announced Abhinav Bindra’s Olympic gold from 2008 as the best moment in Indian sport. This moment was part of ESPN’s initiative to curate the top 20 moments as a tribute to the greatest achievements in the country’s rich and varied sporting history. The top 20 moments were announced starting 6 July with the No.1 moment being unveiled on 15 July.

“It was no easy task for the jury to rank these performances that spanned nearly a century, but it was hugely fulfilling. The best thing about the process was exploring the rich history of Indian sports and sportspersons who have defined it. This exercise is a small but valuable step towards putting the spotlight on the feats and events that have shaped Indian sports and inspired generations of athletes to strive for excellence,” said Sambit Bal, Editor-in-Chief, ESPN India, South Asia.

The top 20 moments in Indian sport was curated by a 31-member jury consisting of current and former sports personalities, journalists and influencers with the likes of Rahul Dravid, Jeev Milkha Singh, Cedric D’Souza, Michael Ferreira, Jaidip Mukerjea and Rohit Brijnath, among others.

The initial list included 75 best sports moments before the jury began the process of selecting the final 20. Once the jury rankings were in,each sporting event was given points based on where it featured on a jury member’s ranking system: 20 points for each No. 1 ranking, 19 for a No. 2, and so on.

The stars of the winning moments also shared their memories and reactions:

“Those are the highlights of my career. I made the mistake of admiring my opponents. I started appreciating their good shots, but in today’s professionalism, they would laugh at it”, said Ramanathan Krishnan on his reaching the Wimbledon Semifinals in 1960.

“The world title came to India for the first time, so I can very safely say that was the happiest moment of my life,” said Wilson Jones on winning the Billiards World Championship in 1958.

“I was playing emotional tennis. I wasn’t thinking. All I can promise is that every time I go on court I will give my best,” said Leander Paes, remembering the moment he won the Olympic Bronze for Tennis in Atlanta, 1996.

The initial list included 75 best sports moments before the jury began the process of selecting the final 20. After the jury presented their initial ranking, each sporting event were assigned points based on where it featured on a jury member’s ranking system: 20 points for each No. 1 ranking, 19 for a No. 2, and so on. The winning events were then finalized based on their cumulative scores.

Here is the complete list

July 18, 2016
Here’s top 20 moments in Indian sports history : ESPN

MUMBAI: Showcasing ESPN’s expertise in all things sports, ESPN India today announced Abhinav Bindra’s Olympic gold from 2008 as the best moment in Indian sport. This moment was part of ESPN’s initiative to curate the top 20 moments as a tribute to the greatest achievements in the country’s rich and varied sporting history. The top 20 moments were announced starting 6 July with the No.1 moment being unveiled on 15 July.

“It was no easy task for the jury to rank these performances that spanned nearly a century, but it was hugely fulfilling. The best thing about the process was exploring the rich history of Indian sports and sportspersons who have defined it. This exercise is a small but valuable step towards putting the spotlight on the feats and events that have shaped Indian sports and inspired generations of athletes to strive for excellence,” said Sambit Bal, Editor-in-Chief, ESPN India, South Asia.

The top 20 moments in Indian sport was curated by a 31-member jury consisting of current and former sports personalities, journalists and influencers with the likes of Rahul Dravid, Jeev Milkha Singh, Cedric D’Souza, Michael Ferreira, Jaidip Mukerjea and Rohit Brijnath, among others.

The initial list included 75 best sports moments before the jury began the process of selecting the final 20. Once the jury rankings were in,each sporting event was given points based on where it featured on a jury member’s ranking system: 20 points for each No. 1 ranking, 19 for a No. 2, and so on.

The stars of the winning moments also shared their memories and reactions:

“Those are the highlights of my career. I made the mistake of admiring my opponents. I started appreciating their good shots, but in today’s professionalism, they would laugh at it”, said Ramanathan Krishnan on his reaching the Wimbledon Semifinals in 1960.

“The world title came to India for the first time, so I can very safely say that was the happiest moment of my life,” said Wilson Jones on winning the Billiards World Championship in 1958.

“I was playing emotional tennis. I wasn’t thinking. All I can promise is that every time I go on court I will give my best,” said Leander Paes, remembering the moment he won the Olympic Bronze for Tennis in Atlanta, 1996.

The initial list included 75 best sports moments before the jury began the process of selecting the final 20. After the jury presented their initial ranking, each sporting event were assigned points based on where it featured on a jury member’s ranking system: 20 points for each No. 1 ranking, 19 for a No. 2, and so on. The winning events were then finalized based on their cumulative scores.

Here is the complete list

July 18, 2016
SPN India to air ATP Tour in July

MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) will broadcast the upcoming ATP 500 and ATP 1000 events in July. The ATP 500 Citi Open, Washington and ATP 1000 Rogers Cup, Toronto will be aired live and exclusive on Sony ESPN channels. The ATP 500 Citi Open in Washington will begin on July 19 while the ATP 1000 Rogers Cup in Toronto will be begin on July 25.

The ATP 500 Citi Open in Washington is the next big tournament on the ATP tour after the end of Wimbledon, closely followed by the prestigious ATP 1000 Rogers Cup in Toronto. Both the tournaments will see a host of top ranked players in action like John Isner, Tomas Berdych, Grigor Dimitrov, Nick Kyrgios, Stan Wawrinka, Kei Nishikori, Marin Cilic and newly crowned Wimbledon champion, Andy Murray.

SPN’s broadcast of the ATP 500 and ATP 1000 Tour events firmly reinforces its focus on tennis, one of the most followed sports in the world and tennis fans in India can now look forward to the world’s top ranked players in men’s professional tennis on tour.

July 18, 2016
SPN India to air ATP Tour in July

MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) will broadcast the upcoming ATP 500 and ATP 1000 events in July. The ATP 500 Citi Open, Washington and ATP 1000 Rogers Cup, Toronto will be aired live and exclusive on Sony ESPN channels. The ATP 500 Citi Open in Washington will begin on July 19 while the ATP 1000 Rogers Cup in Toronto will be begin on July 25.

The ATP 500 Citi Open in Washington is the next big tournament on the ATP tour after the end of Wimbledon, closely followed by the prestigious ATP 1000 Rogers Cup in Toronto. Both the tournaments will see a host of top ranked players in action like John Isner, Tomas Berdych, Grigor Dimitrov, Nick Kyrgios, Stan Wawrinka, Kei Nishikori, Marin Cilic and newly crowned Wimbledon champion, Andy Murray.

SPN’s broadcast of the ATP 500 and ATP 1000 Tour events firmly reinforces its focus on tennis, one of the most followed sports in the world and tennis fans in India can now look forward to the world’s top ranked players in men’s professional tennis on tour.

July 18, 2016
Sony Pictures Networks India to broadcast UFC 200

MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN), will broadcast the biggest and the most anticipated MMA event of the year,UFC 200. The high octane event will be telecast LIVE and exclusive, on 10th July 2016, at 0730 hrs on Sony SIX, Sony SIX HD, SONY ESPN and SONY ESPN HD. The biggest fight card of the year, UFC 200 will also be available for live streaming on SonyLIV. The repeat of the entire fight event will be telecast on the same day at 1600hrs across all channels.

UFC 200 marks the return of The Beast, Brock Lesnar, to the UFC Octagon who will be facing off Mark Hunt in the headlining fight. UFC 200 will also feature some of the biggest superstars of MMA, all on one fight card that promises to entice and excite the growing fan-base of UFC in India. Also featuring on the fight card will be Women’s Bantamweight Champion, Miesha Tate, defending her title against Amanda Nunes and veteran featherweight fighter, Jose Aldofacing Frankie Edgar for the Interim Featherweight Title.

The popularity of UFC 200 in India will see its peak, as it is being promoted by the biggest superstar of Bollywood, Salman Khan. The actor plays the role of an MMA fighter in his upcoming movie, Sultan, and fights UFC’s Welterweight fighter, Tyron Woodley in the film. The actor also features in the promo for UFC 200 on the SPN channels, where he introduces Brock Lesnar’s return to the UFC Octagon.

With UFC’s consistent growth in viewership in the market, SPN is taking a step forward in growing the sport’s popularity through the MMA Fan Club called The Octagon. The club serves passionate MMA enthusiasts with unique community experiences like the special breakfast screening of UFC 200. SONY ESPN is also conducting an on-air & social media contest for viewers who can win an exclusive opportunity to be a part of The Octagon experience.

The UFC 200 fight card live screening will take place simultaneously in Delhi, Bengaluru and Mumbai on July 10th, 2016, at 0730 Hrs at the Hard Rock Café. The screening is also open to walk in consumers who would like to be a part of the community experience.

UFC 200 is the culmination of UFC’s biggest week of the year, International Fight Week. The week will also see

• UFC Fight Night 90 on 8th July at 7.30am Live & Exclusive on SONY ESPN and SONY ESPN HD.

• The Ultimate Fighter finale on 9th July at 7.30am Live & Exclusive on SONY ESPN and SONY ESPN HD.

• UFC 200 on 10th July. At 7.30am Live & Exclusive on Sony SIX, Sony SIX HD, SONY ESPN and SONY ESPN HD.

July 7, 2016
Sony Pictures Networks India to broadcast UFC 200

MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN), will broadcast the biggest and the most anticipated MMA event of the year,UFC 200. The high octane event will be telecast LIVE and exclusive, on 10th July 2016, at 0730 hrs on Sony SIX, Sony SIX HD, SONY ESPN and SONY ESPN HD. The biggest fight card of the year, UFC 200 will also be available for live streaming on SonyLIV. The repeat of the entire fight event will be telecast on the same day at 1600hrs across all channels.

UFC 200 marks the return of The Beast, Brock Lesnar, to the UFC Octagon who will be facing off Mark Hunt in the headlining fight. UFC 200 will also feature some of the biggest superstars of MMA, all on one fight card that promises to entice and excite the growing fan-base of UFC in India. Also featuring on the fight card will be Women’s Bantamweight Champion, Miesha Tate, defending her title against Amanda Nunes and veteran featherweight fighter, Jose Aldofacing Frankie Edgar for the Interim Featherweight Title.

The popularity of UFC 200 in India will see its peak, as it is being promoted by the biggest superstar of Bollywood, Salman Khan. The actor plays the role of an MMA fighter in his upcoming movie, Sultan, and fights UFC’s Welterweight fighter, Tyron Woodley in the film. The actor also features in the promo for UFC 200 on the SPN channels, where he introduces Brock Lesnar’s return to the UFC Octagon.

With UFC’s consistent growth in viewership in the market, SPN is taking a step forward in growing the sport’s popularity through the MMA Fan Club called The Octagon. The club serves passionate MMA enthusiasts with unique community experiences like the special breakfast screening of UFC 200. SONY ESPN is also conducting an on-air & social media contest for viewers who can win an exclusive opportunity to be a part of The Octagon experience.

The UFC 200 fight card live screening will take place simultaneously in Delhi, Bengaluru and Mumbai on July 10th, 2016, at 0730 Hrs at the Hard Rock Café. The screening is also open to walk in consumers who would like to be a part of the community experience.

UFC 200 is the culmination of UFC’s biggest week of the year, International Fight Week. The week will also see

• UFC Fight Night 90 on 8th July at 7.30am Live & Exclusive on SONY ESPN and SONY ESPN HD.

• The Ultimate Fighter finale on 9th July at 7.30am Live & Exclusive on SONY ESPN and SONY ESPN HD.

• UFC 200 on 10th July. At 7.30am Live & Exclusive on Sony SIX, Sony SIX HD, SONY ESPN and SONY ESPN HD.

July 7, 2016