Category: Sports

  • Sony’s Ek India HappyWala  for IPL scores big on social media, wins hearts

    Sony’s Ek India HappyWala for IPL scores big on social media, wins hearts

    MUMBAI: If sports channels are raising the expectations of viewers, the general entertainment channels cannot be left behind.

    Leaving no stone unturned, Sony Pictures Network began a month earlier with its campaign EK India…Happywala (One Happy India), so that the excitement builds even before the ninth edition of Indian Premier League.

    The campaign Ek India….Happywala (One Happy India) was launched on 1 March with the IPL anthem.

    To the launch the Vivo IPL 2016 anthem video, Sony did a Vox Pop activity featuring kids who were asked to answer a few questions about India. The same set of questions was thrown to adults on social media.

    The anthem was launched on social media that trended on twitter across India for five hours. The channel recorded 4,526 tweets, more than 42 million timeline deliveries, and had a reach of more than 5 million and recorded 3 million views anthem video. The anthem video received more than 100,000 likes and 26,131 people had shared it on Facebook.

    In order to take the campaign forward towards creating a happier nation, Sony started a user-powered activity where they motivated users to spread happiness with #15days Happywala. The core task is to make a stranger smile every day, thus converting users into happiness ambassadors. The activity kicked-off with a lot of user participation resulting in getting the activity to trend across India for more than 4 hours. The channel achieved 3,672 tweets, more than 28 million timeline deliveries and more 4 million plus reach – and 805 entries for the same.

    On 17 March, Sony launched the taxi promo, through which they emphasised on how the assurance of safety and well being can spread happiness among our citizens. The activity focused on driving conversations about spreading positivity.

    With this activity, the campaign thought #Ek India Happywala once again got a lot of buzz resulting it to trend for over 5 hours across India. More than 10 million people watched that video on social media platforms.

    The next in list was the Newsroom promo, with the launch of the news room video urging users to focus more on the country’s positives than the negatives, Sony Pictures Networks decided to reward users who would help support this cause. This activity turned out to be a huge hit amongst the audience as the broadcaster garnered more than 4000+ entries within a week. The Newsroom promo achieved more than 500,000 views on twitter.

    The next initiative of the campaign was to spread happiness in the lives of underprivileged kids. Users have to tell the story of a child who aspires to be a cricketer but doesn’t have the means. Sony offered to help 11 children (scouted by the users) with professional cricket kits and so far, they have received 145 entries since the launch of the activity. With 1, 255 tweets, 13 million timeline deliveries and 2 million of reach, the initiative #HappyXI was trended for four hours across India.

    To highlight the current mood of the country, the channel started Happiness meter activity. Happiness Meter is a listening activity that tracks the conversation happening on Twitter to gauge what is the current mood of the people in the country.

    The next Old Age Home promo recorded 29 million views on social and 1504 likes on Facebook. On 1 April Best Cricket game was a prank where the audiences tricked into playing the best ever online cricket game & having the best cricket experience they can ever have. Later, they realized that it’s the cricket insect that played them.

    The idea is to highlight that the best ever cricket experience can only be lived with vivo IPL. 2,045 tweets, 16 million timelines deliveries and 3 million reach, the prank activity was trending for five hours across India.

  • Sony’s Ek India HappyWala  for IPL scores big on social media, wins hearts

    Sony’s Ek India HappyWala for IPL scores big on social media, wins hearts

    MUMBAI: If sports channels are raising the expectations of viewers, the general entertainment channels cannot be left behind.

    Leaving no stone unturned, Sony Pictures Network began a month earlier with its campaign EK India…Happywala (One Happy India), so that the excitement builds even before the ninth edition of Indian Premier League.

    The campaign Ek India….Happywala (One Happy India) was launched on 1 March with the IPL anthem.

    To the launch the Vivo IPL 2016 anthem video, Sony did a Vox Pop activity featuring kids who were asked to answer a few questions about India. The same set of questions was thrown to adults on social media.

    The anthem was launched on social media that trended on twitter across India for five hours. The channel recorded 4,526 tweets, more than 42 million timeline deliveries, and had a reach of more than 5 million and recorded 3 million views anthem video. The anthem video received more than 100,000 likes and 26,131 people had shared it on Facebook.

    In order to take the campaign forward towards creating a happier nation, Sony started a user-powered activity where they motivated users to spread happiness with #15days Happywala. The core task is to make a stranger smile every day, thus converting users into happiness ambassadors. The activity kicked-off with a lot of user participation resulting in getting the activity to trend across India for more than 4 hours. The channel achieved 3,672 tweets, more than 28 million timeline deliveries and more 4 million plus reach – and 805 entries for the same.

    On 17 March, Sony launched the taxi promo, through which they emphasised on how the assurance of safety and well being can spread happiness among our citizens. The activity focused on driving conversations about spreading positivity.

    With this activity, the campaign thought #Ek India Happywala once again got a lot of buzz resulting it to trend for over 5 hours across India. More than 10 million people watched that video on social media platforms.

    The next in list was the Newsroom promo, with the launch of the news room video urging users to focus more on the country’s positives than the negatives, Sony Pictures Networks decided to reward users who would help support this cause. This activity turned out to be a huge hit amongst the audience as the broadcaster garnered more than 4000+ entries within a week. The Newsroom promo achieved more than 500,000 views on twitter.

    The next initiative of the campaign was to spread happiness in the lives of underprivileged kids. Users have to tell the story of a child who aspires to be a cricketer but doesn’t have the means. Sony offered to help 11 children (scouted by the users) with professional cricket kits and so far, they have received 145 entries since the launch of the activity. With 1, 255 tweets, 13 million timeline deliveries and 2 million of reach, the initiative #HappyXI was trended for four hours across India.

    To highlight the current mood of the country, the channel started Happiness meter activity. Happiness Meter is a listening activity that tracks the conversation happening on Twitter to gauge what is the current mood of the people in the country.

    The next Old Age Home promo recorded 29 million views on social and 1504 likes on Facebook. On 1 April Best Cricket game was a prank where the audiences tricked into playing the best ever online cricket game & having the best cricket experience they can ever have. Later, they realized that it’s the cricket insect that played them.

    The idea is to highlight that the best ever cricket experience can only be lived with vivo IPL. 2,045 tweets, 16 million timelines deliveries and 3 million reach, the prank activity was trending for five hours across India.

  • Don’t mind if IPL is shifted out of Maharashtra, water is more important than cricket: CM Devendra Fadnavis

    Don’t mind if IPL is shifted out of Maharashtra, water is more important than cricket: CM Devendra Fadnavis

    MUMBAI: Controversy and IPL go hand in hand. While the cricket lovers await the kick off of the million dollar league, water crisis controversy threatens to take the tournament away from Maharashtra. Mumbai Indians and Rising Pune Supergiants are the Maharashtra based franchises and a total of 20 matches is scheduled to be played in Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur.

    “Water is more important for us than cricket. So, even if the cricket matches are shifted out of Maharashtra, I don’t mind,” Fadnavis told reporters in Mumbai.

    Several districts of Maharashtra are facing acute water shortage and objections have been raised over the “wastage” of water to maintain cricket grounds across the state. Petitions have been filed against hosting the Indian Premier League in the state at a time when people are finding it tough to arrange water even for their daily needs.

    Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ comments will certainly not sound sweet for cricket lovers of the state,”

    “The last moment change can leave a big impact on the tournament, specially from sponsors point of view as it needs some time to create the creatives which in result will generate the eyeballs,” says a sports media planning expert.

     

  • Don’t mind if IPL is shifted out of Maharashtra, water is more important than cricket: CM Devendra Fadnavis

    Don’t mind if IPL is shifted out of Maharashtra, water is more important than cricket: CM Devendra Fadnavis

    MUMBAI: Controversy and IPL go hand in hand. While the cricket lovers await the kick off of the million dollar league, water crisis controversy threatens to take the tournament away from Maharashtra. Mumbai Indians and Rising Pune Supergiants are the Maharashtra based franchises and a total of 20 matches is scheduled to be played in Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur.

    “Water is more important for us than cricket. So, even if the cricket matches are shifted out of Maharashtra, I don’t mind,” Fadnavis told reporters in Mumbai.

    Several districts of Maharashtra are facing acute water shortage and objections have been raised over the “wastage” of water to maintain cricket grounds across the state. Petitions have been filed against hosting the Indian Premier League in the state at a time when people are finding it tough to arrange water even for their daily needs.

    Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ comments will certainly not sound sweet for cricket lovers of the state,”

    “The last moment change can leave a big impact on the tournament, specially from sponsors point of view as it needs some time to create the creatives which in result will generate the eyeballs,” says a sports media planning expert.

     

  • WrestleMania sets all time attendance record

    WrestleMania sets all time attendance record

    MUMBAI: WWE announced tonight that WrestleMania 32 set a new attendance record of 101,763, as fans from all 50 states and 35 countries converged on AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The previous WWE attendance record was at WrestleMania 3 in 1987, where 93,173 fans filled the Pontiac Silverdome in Detroit.

    WrestleMania 32 also became the highest grossing live event in WWE history as the annual pop-culture extravaganza grossed $17.3 million.  Last year’s WrestleMania 31 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California previously held WWE’s record for gross revenue at $12.6 million.

    “On behalf of the Dallas Cowboys organization, we congratulate WWE on their historic achievement,” said Dallas Cowboys chief brand officer Charlotte Jones Anderson. “WrestleMania was an incredible spectacle like none other, and we look forward to hosting it again at AT&T Stadium.”

    “We are thrilled that we made history tonight at WrestleMania, further cementing its place as one of the top sports and entertainment events in the world,” said WWE chief brand officer Stephanie McMahon. “We thank our fans, the Dallas Cowboys and the entire Jones family for their overwhelming support.”

    WrestleMania 33 takes place on  April 2, 2017 from the Orlando Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida. Ticket information will be announced later this year.

     Top Ten All-Time Attendance Records at WrestleMania:

    1.    101,763: WrestleMania 32, AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX, April 3, 2016

    2.    93,173: WrestleMania 3, Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan, March 29, 1987

    3.    80,676: WrestleMania 29, MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, April 7, 2013

    4.    80,103: WrestleMania 23, Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan, April 1, 2007

    5.    78,363: WrestleMania 28, Sun Life Stadium, Miami, Florida, April 1, 2012

    6.    76,976: WrestleMania 31, Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, California, March 29, 2015

    7.    75,167: WrestleMania 30, Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, LA, April 6, 2014

    8.    74,635: WrestleMania 24, Citrus Bowl, Orlando, Florida, March 30, 2008

    9.    72,744: WrestleMania 25, Reliant Stadium, Houston, Texas, April 5, 2009

    10.  72,219: WrestleMania 26, University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona, March 28, 2010

  • WrestleMania sets all time attendance record

    WrestleMania sets all time attendance record

    MUMBAI: WWE announced tonight that WrestleMania 32 set a new attendance record of 101,763, as fans from all 50 states and 35 countries converged on AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The previous WWE attendance record was at WrestleMania 3 in 1987, where 93,173 fans filled the Pontiac Silverdome in Detroit.

    WrestleMania 32 also became the highest grossing live event in WWE history as the annual pop-culture extravaganza grossed $17.3 million.  Last year’s WrestleMania 31 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California previously held WWE’s record for gross revenue at $12.6 million.

    “On behalf of the Dallas Cowboys organization, we congratulate WWE on their historic achievement,” said Dallas Cowboys chief brand officer Charlotte Jones Anderson. “WrestleMania was an incredible spectacle like none other, and we look forward to hosting it again at AT&T Stadium.”

    “We are thrilled that we made history tonight at WrestleMania, further cementing its place as one of the top sports and entertainment events in the world,” said WWE chief brand officer Stephanie McMahon. “We thank our fans, the Dallas Cowboys and the entire Jones family for their overwhelming support.”

    WrestleMania 33 takes place on  April 2, 2017 from the Orlando Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida. Ticket information will be announced later this year.

     Top Ten All-Time Attendance Records at WrestleMania:

    1.    101,763: WrestleMania 32, AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX, April 3, 2016

    2.    93,173: WrestleMania 3, Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan, March 29, 1987

    3.    80,676: WrestleMania 29, MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, April 7, 2013

    4.    80,103: WrestleMania 23, Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan, April 1, 2007

    5.    78,363: WrestleMania 28, Sun Life Stadium, Miami, Florida, April 1, 2012

    6.    76,976: WrestleMania 31, Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, California, March 29, 2015

    7.    75,167: WrestleMania 30, Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, LA, April 6, 2014

    8.    74,635: WrestleMania 24, Citrus Bowl, Orlando, Florida, March 30, 2008

    9.    72,744: WrestleMania 25, Reliant Stadium, Houston, Texas, April 5, 2009

    10.  72,219: WrestleMania 26, University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona, March 28, 2010

  • Real Madrid VS Barcelona, EPL matches, Which channel what time can India watch

    Real Madrid VS Barcelona, EPL matches, Which channel what time can India watch

    MUMBAI: Delight for the football fans all over the world as International break has come to an end and the crucial stages of club football is all set to rock and roll again. The weekend has many important matches but none more important than the El-Clasico. Title run is all over for Real Madrid unless Barcelona puts up a dismal show in coming eight matches. The only respite for the biggest club of the world this league season would be a win over arched rivals Barcelona. On the other hand Barcelona, 11 points clear of second placed Athletico Madrid already have a hand on the trophy, but they have plenty to play for. They are unbeaten in their last 39 matches and certainly eyeing the 43 match record set by them between 2011 and 2012. Their statistics this season is P39 W30 D9 L0 F122 A23.

    Indian fan can watch all the action in the stroke of midnight right at 12.00 AM (3 April 2016). The live telecast will be available on Sony Six and Sony ESPN.

    Besides El-Clasico there are many other important matches set to be whistled across Europe. Guus Hiddink’s rejuvenated blue brigade Chelsea will take on bottom placed Aston Villa. The match will be available Live on Star Sports 2 and Star Sports HD 2 from 5:15 PM IST. Surprisingly placed fourth and just a point above West Ham after starting the season as favorite Manchester City will be travelling to Bournemouth. This match kick starts at 7:30 PM IST and the live telecast will be available on Star Sports 1. Arsenal VS Watford match will too kick off at the same time and telecasting live will be Star Sports 2 and Star Sports HD 2. The gunners will go all guns blazing against Watford to stay relevant in the title run and take revenge of the FA Cup defeat.

    The match of the EPL this weekend is certainly Tottenham Hotspurs VS Liverpool. Placed ahead of Arsenal on the second slot Spurs has a few tough battle to see through in the coming weeks, and it all starts tonight. The match will be telecast live by Star Sports 2 and Star Sports HD 2.

    So will the unbeaten run come to an end will EPL see a new tide, will Arsenal have one more chance or is it all but decided. Saturday actions will certainly draw new lights, bring new hopes alive for football fans across the country.

  • Real Madrid VS Barcelona, EPL matches, Which channel what time can India watch

    Real Madrid VS Barcelona, EPL matches, Which channel what time can India watch

    MUMBAI: Delight for the football fans all over the world as International break has come to an end and the crucial stages of club football is all set to rock and roll again. The weekend has many important matches but none more important than the El-Clasico. Title run is all over for Real Madrid unless Barcelona puts up a dismal show in coming eight matches. The only respite for the biggest club of the world this league season would be a win over arched rivals Barcelona. On the other hand Barcelona, 11 points clear of second placed Athletico Madrid already have a hand on the trophy, but they have plenty to play for. They are unbeaten in their last 39 matches and certainly eyeing the 43 match record set by them between 2011 and 2012. Their statistics this season is P39 W30 D9 L0 F122 A23.

    Indian fan can watch all the action in the stroke of midnight right at 12.00 AM (3 April 2016). The live telecast will be available on Sony Six and Sony ESPN.

    Besides El-Clasico there are many other important matches set to be whistled across Europe. Guus Hiddink’s rejuvenated blue brigade Chelsea will take on bottom placed Aston Villa. The match will be available Live on Star Sports 2 and Star Sports HD 2 from 5:15 PM IST. Surprisingly placed fourth and just a point above West Ham after starting the season as favorite Manchester City will be travelling to Bournemouth. This match kick starts at 7:30 PM IST and the live telecast will be available on Star Sports 1. Arsenal VS Watford match will too kick off at the same time and telecasting live will be Star Sports 2 and Star Sports HD 2. The gunners will go all guns blazing against Watford to stay relevant in the title run and take revenge of the FA Cup defeat.

    The match of the EPL this weekend is certainly Tottenham Hotspurs VS Liverpool. Placed ahead of Arsenal on the second slot Spurs has a few tough battle to see through in the coming weeks, and it all starts tonight. The match will be telecast live by Star Sports 2 and Star Sports HD 2.

    So will the unbeaten run come to an end will EPL see a new tide, will Arsenal have one more chance or is it all but decided. Saturday actions will certainly draw new lights, bring new hopes alive for football fans across the country.

  • TEN SPORTS Network says ‘Never Stop’

    TEN SPORTS Network says ‘Never Stop’

    MUMBAI: Ten Sports Network today (29 March 2016) announced a new identity for its bouquet of sports channels with ‘Never Stop’ as the network positioning. Taking forward the bold, young, dynamic, dauntless outlook for the Network.

    As earlier flashed by Indiantelevision.com, the network will also be re-branding its existing bouquet of channels as TEN 1, TEN 2, TEN 3 and TEN 1HD respectively. The new logos and positioning will be officially unveiled on air on Friday, 1st April 2016.

    Ten Sports Network Global CEO Mr. Rajesh Sethi, said, “As a sports network, we have been continuously providing high quality sports programming from across the world, for our viewers. Over the years, we have been enhancing our sports offerings, starting with the launch of TEN SPORTS in 2002, followed by the launch of a 24X7 cricket channel, TEN CRICKET in August 2010, the only dedicated golf channel in this part of the world, TEN GOLF, in March 2012 and then a premium HD channel, TEN HD, in April 2012. In August 2015, TEN SPORTS embarked on a new journey with the launch of a consolidated network rebranding – the TEN SPORTS Network, as well as the launch of TEN GOLF HD to offer the best of golf in HD. Our rebranding effort signals the start of a new era, a contemporary and energized approach to how the network views its sport sphere, with maximum excitement and engagement for its viewers.”

    Elaborating further on the new channel identity, Sethi added, “As we bring across a variety of sports and sportainment for our viewers from across the world, at times it becomes a hurdle to allocate content to a particular sports-specific channel. In order to break free from sports-specific channels, we are taking the numeric route. We strive to bring international-quality sports to our viewers and we want them to watch sports as it is consumed internationally with numeric-based channels. It is our endeavour to ‘Never Stop’ delivering sporting action to our fans.”

    “TEN SPORTS Network’s logo as well as the individual channel logos, have been designed keeping in mind the elements of action and dynamism, as well as immediacy and the spirit to achieve. These powerful thoughts behind the logos point to the Italic nature of the fonts used. The flame has been an intrinsic part of TEN SPORTS’ identity since inception and it has consciously been retained to maintain a connection with viewers, even while it is now surrounded by the new and dynamic network and individual channel fonts,” the network explained through a media statement.

    Post rebranding, the network will be spreading content equally amongst all the channels so that viewers are exposed to the maximum of sports programming. TEN 1 will focus on WWE Weekly Shows & Specials, TEN 2 on UEFA Champions League, Europa League, Super Cup & other football content, as well as US Open, Moto GP and Tour de France, while TEN 3’s primary focus will be Cricket from South Africa, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, West Indies and Zimbabwe. Among the HD channels, TEN 1 HD will broadcast the best of content from across the TEN SPORTS Network’s SD Channels while TEN GOLF HD will primarily showcase premium golf content including the European tour, Asian Tour, Rider Cup and US PGA Championship.

    As a part of its rebranding, Ten Sports Network will also roll out a brand new logo for TENSPORTS.COM which has now become synonymous with the TEN SPORTS Network. TENSPORTS.COM will showcase extensive live sports content with a special focus on Video-On-Demand. The live streaming will include top-class football content from UEFA Champions League and Europa League, including matches that are not broadcast on TV, as well as content from Ligue 1, I-League, Cricket from across the five boards, Tennis, Golf, Moto GP multi-angle feeds and much more.

    The brand refresh will also be accompanied by an extensive new programming rollout which will be developed via insights from new media and fan involvement to the greatest extent. Ten Sports Network has already started producing content in Hindi and plans to expand into other regional languages as well, going ahead.

     

  • TEN SPORTS Network says ‘Never Stop’

    TEN SPORTS Network says ‘Never Stop’

    MUMBAI: Ten Sports Network today (29 March 2016) announced a new identity for its bouquet of sports channels with ‘Never Stop’ as the network positioning. Taking forward the bold, young, dynamic, dauntless outlook for the Network.

    As earlier flashed by Indiantelevision.com, the network will also be re-branding its existing bouquet of channels as TEN 1, TEN 2, TEN 3 and TEN 1HD respectively. The new logos and positioning will be officially unveiled on air on Friday, 1st April 2016.

    Ten Sports Network Global CEO Mr. Rajesh Sethi, said, “As a sports network, we have been continuously providing high quality sports programming from across the world, for our viewers. Over the years, we have been enhancing our sports offerings, starting with the launch of TEN SPORTS in 2002, followed by the launch of a 24X7 cricket channel, TEN CRICKET in August 2010, the only dedicated golf channel in this part of the world, TEN GOLF, in March 2012 and then a premium HD channel, TEN HD, in April 2012. In August 2015, TEN SPORTS embarked on a new journey with the launch of a consolidated network rebranding – the TEN SPORTS Network, as well as the launch of TEN GOLF HD to offer the best of golf in HD. Our rebranding effort signals the start of a new era, a contemporary and energized approach to how the network views its sport sphere, with maximum excitement and engagement for its viewers.”

    Elaborating further on the new channel identity, Sethi added, “As we bring across a variety of sports and sportainment for our viewers from across the world, at times it becomes a hurdle to allocate content to a particular sports-specific channel. In order to break free from sports-specific channels, we are taking the numeric route. We strive to bring international-quality sports to our viewers and we want them to watch sports as it is consumed internationally with numeric-based channels. It is our endeavour to ‘Never Stop’ delivering sporting action to our fans.”

    “TEN SPORTS Network’s logo as well as the individual channel logos, have been designed keeping in mind the elements of action and dynamism, as well as immediacy and the spirit to achieve. These powerful thoughts behind the logos point to the Italic nature of the fonts used. The flame has been an intrinsic part of TEN SPORTS’ identity since inception and it has consciously been retained to maintain a connection with viewers, even while it is now surrounded by the new and dynamic network and individual channel fonts,” the network explained through a media statement.

    Post rebranding, the network will be spreading content equally amongst all the channels so that viewers are exposed to the maximum of sports programming. TEN 1 will focus on WWE Weekly Shows & Specials, TEN 2 on UEFA Champions League, Europa League, Super Cup & other football content, as well as US Open, Moto GP and Tour de France, while TEN 3’s primary focus will be Cricket from South Africa, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, West Indies and Zimbabwe. Among the HD channels, TEN 1 HD will broadcast the best of content from across the TEN SPORTS Network’s SD Channels while TEN GOLF HD will primarily showcase premium golf content including the European tour, Asian Tour, Rider Cup and US PGA Championship.

    As a part of its rebranding, Ten Sports Network will also roll out a brand new logo for TENSPORTS.COM which has now become synonymous with the TEN SPORTS Network. TENSPORTS.COM will showcase extensive live sports content with a special focus on Video-On-Demand. The live streaming will include top-class football content from UEFA Champions League and Europa League, including matches that are not broadcast on TV, as well as content from Ligue 1, I-League, Cricket from across the five boards, Tennis, Golf, Moto GP multi-angle feeds and much more.

    The brand refresh will also be accompanied by an extensive new programming rollout which will be developed via insights from new media and fan involvement to the greatest extent. Ten Sports Network has already started producing content in Hindi and plans to expand into other regional languages as well, going ahead.