ITV

Category: Sports

  • L’il Champs and Zee TV salute the spirit of Indian cricket

    L’il Champs and Zee TV salute the spirit of Indian cricket

    MUMBAI: On the occasion of the start of the cricket season on Zee Sports, the five finalists from Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L’il Champs will render the Shabaash India title track to enthuse the Indian cricket team towards winning the series.

    Speaking on the initiative, Zee TV marketing head Tarun Mehra said, “We are very proud of our Champs as we are of the Indian cricket team. Shabaash India seeps in patriotism and its title track exactly denotes the honor that we want to designate to this spirit. The track is very peppy and the Champs have added to its sprightliness.”

    Zee Sports VP Marketing Gaurav Seth said, “We are delighted to have the Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L’il Champs turning their attention to India’s most popular pastime, cricket. We salute their patriotic spirit and will be happy to showcase their talent through the cricket on our channel which will be widely watched.”

    The track can be heard on Zee Sports starting 14 September for the duration of the entire season, according to an official release.

  • ESPN US launches an online video games channel

    ESPN US launches an online video games channel

    MUMBAI: US broadcaster ESPN has launched the ESPN Video Games Channel presented by GameTap. This is a section of the sports site, ESPN.com.

    Developed in collaboration with Ziff Davis Game Group, the co-branded section delivers sports video game-focussed content including sports video game news and reviews, trailers, audio and video podcasts, industry analysis, interviews and more.

    Additionally the section will soon feature the GameTap Video Game Vault. This section will give fans in-depth information and histories about hundreds of the most popular video games from a number of game platforms.

    Content for the section is provided by both Ziff Davis Game Group and ESPN.com, and will include material from 1UP Network sites 1UP.com, GameVideos.com, and FileFront.com and magazines Electronic Gaming Monthly, Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine and Games for Windows: The Official Magazine, as well as from ESPN writers and contributors.

    Fans can find the new page can at: sports.espn.go.com/videogames/index

    Content on the ESPN Video Games Channel will include:

    Video and Audio

    — A weekly video podcast from ESPN.com and the 1UP Network, modeled after “The 1UP Show” and available through ESPN.com’s PodCenter and 1UP.com;

    — Sports-oriented gaming demos, strategy videos, and preview trailers from GameVideos.com;

    — A weekly, co-branded audio podcast about the latest in sports games available through ESPN.com’s PodCenter and 1UP.com;

    — Game and statistical simulations from popular sports titles.

    News, Reviews and Information

    — News about the latest sports video games on the market;
    — Product previews, reviews and rankings;
    — Interviews and industry analysis;
    — Links, summary and teaser content for non-sports oriented content on 1UP.com, including product reviews, news, videos, files and rankings.

    GameTap Video Game Vault

    — Fans will be able to read about, and in some cases play, popular past sports arcade, console and PC video games, including games originally available on various video game platforms such as Atari 2600, Genesis, Neo-Geo, SEGA Genesis, Commodore 64, Intellivison and more.
    » 3 Count Bout, League Bowling, 2020 Super Baseball, Football Frenzy (originally on Neo-Geo)
    » Pro Boxing Simulator, Pro Powerboat Simulator and Pro Skateboard Simulator and Winter Games (originally on Commodore 64)
    — GameTap also provides access to video game hits, ranging from Pac-Man, Galaga and Frogger to Street Fighter, Tomb Raider, and Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell.

    Community

    — User-submitted content from FileFront.com, a leading site for gaming downloads;
    — Links to message ESPN.com message boards.

  • Max goes the Extraaa mile for Champions Trophy

    Max goes the Extraaa mile for Champions Trophy

    MUMBAI: Cricket weds entertainment! With the Champions trophy in cricket kicking off in less than a month’s time on 7 October 2006, Max is adding more muscle to its wrap around show Extraaa Innings.

    Max executive VP and business head Albert Almeida notes that Max turned cricket into an entertainment property. This way it was able to hook in women and kids as well. This time he says that the Extraaa Innings content has been beefed up. For starters, in addition to the hosts Mandira Bedi and Charu Sharma, whom Max calls the first couple of cricket it has roped in television stars Rohit Roy and Shonali Nagrani as well. Roy will co-present various segments of Extraaa Innings. Nagrani will be the roving reporter. “Having said that Extraaa Innings will continue to be a judicious mix of serious cricketing action for the hardcore cricket buff and wholesome entertainment for the family,” Almeida adds.

    They will be joined by many experts on the game including former English opening batsman Geoffrey Boycott, former Indian cricket coach John Wright who will provide an insider’s touch, Navjot Singh Sidhu, who should add spice to the show, Barry Richards and Ian Chappell. On each match day Eztraaa Innings starts at 12:30 PM There will be a two-hour pre show, a show during the lunch break and a one-hour post show.

    A dual feed: Sony COO NP Singh says that this time around there will also be a Hindi feed on Sab. Three India matches, the semi finals and final will be aired on Sab. Maninder Singh, Atul Wassan and Saba Karim are among the commentators for this feed. The aim is to reach out better to places in the North like UP.

    Almeida says that Extraaa Innings haws been beefed keeping in mind factors like Indians increasingly becoming technologically savvy, they see cricketers as celebrities who do other things (like Sachin has his own restaurant).

    Max will organise a talent hunt using Extraaa Innings to promote it. The hunt looks for a roving reporter who will join the team to cover World Cup in the West Indies next year. There is also an interactive game Predict 2 Win, which allows fans to win prizes. The Gully Cricket initiative has been turned into a mobile game, which can be played by visiting the mobile portal 2525. Then the mascot of Max the tiger Deewana will now be a part of Extraaa Innings. There will be Deewana’s countdown of her game, his ratings of the game, players etc. Then there is also a Max Makeover.

    Here one will see fashion experts comment on the style quotient of the players.

    Of course features that were there before will return.
    These include Q&A. Here fans get to ask questions to the panel through SMS. Then there is Voice of India.

    Here Max’s expert panel will ask the audience to voice their opinion on issues. Answers can be sent through SMS or the internet. Message Board is a platform where viewers can send in goodwill messages to the Indian team through SMS. Another section India On tour offers a sneak peak into the daily routine of the Indian team. This will take them behind the scenes to the nets, practice matches etc.

    The DTH Plan: Sony CEO Kunal Dasgupta says that Max is talking to both DTH platforms Tata Sky and Dish TV regarding putting in interactive features. One feature will allow viewers the option to choose one of four angles to watch the match. Max also plans to offer highlight packages.

  • WWE ‘Unforgiven’ on Ten Sports

    MUMBAI:It’s no holds barred action this Sunday 1st October 2006 at 11.00 am with WWE Unforgiven on Ten Sports. The Month long rivalries on wrestling’s record-breaking weekly show Raw reach its climax this Sunday at the WWE-Special Unforgiven. The 3-hour special to be telecast exclusively on Ten Sports at 11.00 am, will see top superstars each battle against their respective nemesis as they look to settle long-standing grudges.

    People’s favourite John Cena will be looking to wrestle the World Championship away from The Edge in what is bound to be a pulsating match up.

     

    Cena will be competing in a Tables, Ladders and Chairs match for the first time and will be a big underdog against Edge who is competing in his home town of Toronto and is a specialist at the TLC match.

     

    Also on the Toronto bill will be Trish Stratus taking on Lita for the Women’s Championship. Stratus, also from Toronto will be looking to end her career on a high note by winning the title for a seventh time and she is sure to have huge support from a partisan crowd.

     

    World Tag Team Champions Spirit Squad will be defending their title against the Highlanders in what is sure to be a brutal contest.

     

    Yet another title will be on the line in the first match of the evening when Johnny Nitro puts his crown on the line against Jeff Hardy.

     

    With Kane taking on Umaga, Randy Orton facing Carlito and D Generation going head to head with the McMahon’s and Big Show, Unforgiven is sure to be an explosive event.

    ABOUT TEN SPORTS: Only launched in April 2002, Taj TV’s Ten Sports is watched by more viewers than any other sports channel in the sub-continent and is available in more than 50 million cable/ satellite households worldwide. Ten Sports is the world’s biggest producers of cricket. The Channel broadcasts cricket from Sharjah, the West Indies, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Morocco throughout the Indian sub-continent and Asia, as well as in Europe and the Middle East. Other cricket properties broadcast by Ten Sports in certain territories include internationals from India, the World Cup 2003 and the ICC Champions Trophy 2004.

  • ICC rights bidders to be called to Dubai by month-end

    ICC rights bidders to be called to Dubai by month-end

    MUMBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) says that this month will mark the next stage of its sale of media and sponsorship rights for events from late 2007 to 2015.

    Information available with indiantelevision.com indicates that potential commercial partners that meet the ICC’s criteria for bidding will be invited to Dubai at the end of this month. The aim is to to further progress the process that began in April when the ICC’s Executive Board decided the host for its tournaments in that eight-year period.

    The period will have 18 ICC tournaments. The five big ones are the two World Cups, in Asia (2011) and Australia/ New Zealand (2015) respectively, and a minimum of three Champions Trophy tournaments. The deal will also include the first two, Twenty World Championships, in South Africa (2007) and England (2009). The latter takes place in the ICC’s centenary year.

    Potential partners who meet the ICC’s qualification criteria that have already made expressions of interest will shortly be receiving correspondence detailing when they will be able to meet ICC officials for talks.

    The ICC says that any interested parties yet to express interest in the rights can still do so by contacting, the ICC.

    The ICC’s team of negotiators will include former President Ehsan Mani, who played a key role in securing the current agreement with Global Cricket Corporation (GCC), which is owned by News International Limited.

    That agreement, which began in 2000 and ends with the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 in the West Indies next March and April, includes two ICC Cricket World Cups and four ICC Champions Trophy tournaments. The GCC had paid out $550 million to secure the rights after a fierce bidding war with Subhash Chandra’s Zee Telefilms. At the time of bidding the GCC was a 50:50 JV between News Corp and World Sport Nimbus (itself a 50:50 JV between Harish Thawani’s Nimbus and the UK-headquartered World Sport Group). News Corp subsequently bought out WSN’s stake in the JV.

    ICC CEO Malcolm Speed said, “The sale of the ICC’s commercial and broadcast rights makes this a hugely significant and exciting time for cricket. That sale gives us the opportunity to place cricket on a sound financial footing for the next eight years and, by doing that, it will provide all our members with the chance to both sustain and grow the game.

    “We have been gratified and encouraged by the expressions of interest we have already received. We are now looking forward to meeting our potential partners and have only one aim in mind – securing the best deal for cricket.”

    The ICC has also included two women’s World Cups in the timeframe. One takes place in Australia in 2009 and the other takes place in India in 2013.

  • Italians partial to World Cup mobile content

    MUMBAI: During the Fifa World Cup which took place from 9 June – 9 July 2006, Italians used their mobile to access content from the event more than any other European country.

    Research firm Telephia’s Q3 2006 European Subscriber and Device Report (ESDR) shows that six per cent of Italian mobile subscribers accessed World Cup content on their mobile devices, as compared to three per cent for French mobile subscribers. Not surprisingly, European 3G mobile subscribers posted higher rates for accessing World Cup soccer content on their phones at 14 per cent, while only three per cent of non-3G mobile users accessed soccer content.

    Penetration Rate of Mobile Subscribers who accessed Fifa World Cup Content
    Country Penetration Rate (per cent)
    Country     Penetration Level
    Italy     Six per cent
    Germany     Four per cent
    France     Three per cent
    Sweden     Three per cent
    UK     Three per cent
    Spain     Two per cent

    Telephia VP new products Kanishka Agarwal says, “Soccer enthusiasts across the world are passionate about their sport, and European fans are notorious for their hardcore dedication in supporting their country’s team. Italy secured their first World Cup title in 24 years with a penalty shoot-out victory over France, to the delight of Italian fans.

    “The World Cup showcased how important mobile phones have become as a source of immediate information and relevant content for consumers, beyond just a tool to communicate. Soccer fans were able to tap into the frenzy of the games and show their connection and support for their favorite teams through their cell phones”.
     

    Content Type Share
    Type of Content     Share per cent
    Received World Cup text alerts     38 per cent
    Accessed World Cup news and information on the wireless
    Internet     29 per cent
    Downloaded a World Cup ring tone     19 per cent
    Downloaded a World Cup wallpaper     15 per cent
    Downloaded World Cup video clips     14 per cent
    Downloaded a World Cup game     nine per cent
    Watched World Cup content on mobile TV     Eight per cent
    Uploaded World Cup pictures/images to the Web     Eight per cent
    Uploaded World Cup video to the Web     Seven per cent
    Placed a video call/Sent a video message     Five per cent
    Others     Eleven per cent

    Sky Sports was the most watched Mobile TV Channel in Europe for the Fifa World Cup. Eight per cent of European mobile subscribers who accessed soccer content on their phone watched via mobile TV. Sky Sports was the top channel, securing a 14 percent share of World Cup mobile TV users. Overall, World Cup content received through text alerts was most popular (38 per cent), followed by content through wireless Internet at 29 per cent. 19 per cent downloaded a World Cup ringtone, while 15 and 14 per cent downloaded wallpapers and video clips, respectively.

  • Zee Sports gears up for DLF Cup tri series

    Zee Sports gears up for DLF Cup tri series

    MUMBAI: Zee Sports will air the DLF Cup cricket ti series involving India, Australia and the West Indies exclusively. The event takes place in Malaysia from 12 -24 September. Real estate major DLF will be the presenting sponsor of the tri series.

    The channel will be conducting its studio show, Cricket Café from the stadium in Kuala Lumpur. Zee is also handling the production of the matches in Kuala Lumpur. For commentary it has roped in the likes of Tony Greig, Ian Bishop, Arun Lal, L Sivaramakrishnan, Jeff Thomson, Justin Langer and Kapil Dev. It will also make a Hindi feed available both on DTH and cable.

    Schedule of the India –Australia –West Indies DLF Cup live and excluisve on Zee Sports
    West Indies vs. Australia Sep 12 1st session 11:30 2nd session 16:10
    India vs. West Indies Sep 14 1st session 11:30 2nd Session
    16:10
    India vs. Australia Sep 18 1st Session 11:30 2nd Session 16:10
    India vs. West Indies Sep 20 1st Session
    11:30 2nd Session 16:10
    India vs. Australia Sep 22 1st Session 11:30 2nd Session 16:10
    Finals Sep 24 1st Session 11:30
    2nd Session 16:10

    Zee shall be showing these matches live on its UK/Europe, Middle East and South Africa beams, thus expanding its international subscriber base. Zee has been able to conclude deals with broadcasters internationally, in markets such as Singapore, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and others like Echostar in the US, Fox Sports in Australia, Astro in Malaysia, Hong Kong Cable in Hong Kong to name a few. Live commentary of these matches will also be carried by All India Radio.

  • INDIAN HOCKEY FEDERATION

    INDIAN HOCKEY FEDERATION

    Unlike last two years where the league had two tiers with five teams each, the third edition of the PHL will have the top seven teams from the last years’s edition battiling for the country’s top Hockey team.The team have been chosen on the basis of their perfomance in last years PHL – namely, Sher-e-Jalandhar, Chandigarh Dynamos,Maratha Warriors, Banglore Lions and Hyderabad Sultans,the top two teams from Tier ||,that is,Orissa Steelers and Chennai Veerans will be playing in the Preimier division.

    The Premier division will have the seven teams play each other twice, in 42 matches, followed by a best of 3 play-off final between the top two teams in the league like last year. The total number of matches in all will be 45 and will span a period of two months.

    This edition of PHL will also see it move to a multi venue format with Chennai to play host for the PHL for the first month, followed by Chandigarh in the second. All matches will under lights as before and be covered LIVE and and exclusive by ESPN STAR Sports.

  • Star’s portal indya.com partners with ICC

    MUMBAI: In a bid to create greater visibility, Star’s portal indya.com has tied up with the International Cricket Council (ICC). Indya.com will be the internet partner for both the Champions Trophy that kicks off next month in India and for next year’s World Cup in the West Indies.

    Indya.com has developed and will maintain the site www.iccchampionstrophy.com.

    The site will allow net users in India and globally access to audio and video packages. There are country specific packages will allow internet subscribers to buy a match pack. This will give them live clips of ongoing games, deferred live highlight packages and archives of previous editions of the Champions Trophy. For Indians though there is no subscription fee.

    The site will have a feature called Matchcast. This allows viewers to watch live scores, ball-by-ball updates, player profiles, team profiles etc. The other contenders for ICC web partner were cricinfo.com and Yahoo! Star CEO Sameer Nair noted that Star’s parent News Corp is getting increasingly active in the internet arena. A case in point is the leading community social networking site Myspace. News Corp through Global Cricket Corporation (GCC) has worked closely with the ICC. The site he said can among other things provide an alternative to viewers in those countries who find cricket too expensive to buy on television or in regions that do not have access. The site he says allows indya.com to continue its goal of providing superior and distinctive content.

    One interactive feature that the site will have is called Voice Of The World Cup. The contest requires participants to provide commentary to a piece of archived footage which has had its commentary removed.

    The winners will be judged by a public poll as well as by experts. Two winners will get to go the West Indies for the World Cup. They will get the chance to officially commentate for the site. The site will also have daily contests when the Champions Trophy is on. There will also be a fantasy based game.

    Nair says that indya.com gets around 40 million page views a month. He expects this to at least treble when the champions Trophy is going on. For the World Cup the figure will be much more. When asked about sponsors for the site he said that indya.com is negotiating with certain parties. He said that indya.com is looking to learn from what Myspace and News Corp’s other net properties are doing. He noted that at the moment lack of bandwith is hampering the growth of broadband in India at the moment.

    ICC CEO Malcolm Speed noted that the net is an important communication tool that is growing. As it is a source of information to millions of people globally partnering with indua.com gives the ICC the chance to provide high quality coverage of the Champions Trophy through another medium.

     

  • Zee Sports gears up for DLF Cup tri series

    MUMBAI: Zee Sports will air the DLF Cup cricket ti series involving India, Australia and the West Indies exclusively. The event takes place in Malaysia from 12 -24 September. Real estate major DLF will be the presenting sponsor of the tri series.
    The channel will be conducting its studio show, Cricket Café from the stadium in Kuala Lumpur. Zee is also handling the production of the matches in Kuala Lumpur. For commentary it has roped in the likes of Tony Greig, Ian Bishop, Arun Lal, L Sivaramakrishnan, Jeff Thomson, Justin Langer and Kapil Dev. It will also make a Hindi feed available both on DTH and cable.

    Schedule of the India –Australia –West Indies DLF Cup live and excluisve on Zee Sports
    West Indies vs. Australia    Sep 12     1st session    11:30     2nd session    16:10
    India vs. West Indies     Sep 14     1st session    11:30     2nd Session
        16:10
    India vs. Australia     Sep 18     1st Session     11:30    2nd Session     16:10
    India vs. West Indies     Sep 20     1st Session
        11:30     2nd Session     16:10
    India vs. Australia     Sep 22     1st Session    11:30    2nd Session    16:10

    Finals     Sep 24    1st Session    11:30

        2nd Session     16:10

     Zee shall be showing these matches live on its UK/Europe, Middle East and South Africa beams, thus expanding its international subscriber base. Zee has been able to conclude deals with broadcasters internationally, in markets such as Singapore, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and others like Echostar in the US, Fox Sports in Australia, Astro in Malaysia, Hong Kong Cable in Hong Kong to name a few. Live commentary of these matches will also be carried by All India Radio.
     
    “We will be airing a 10 episode series that takes a look at the reality shoot at the training sessions at Goa and the finale. This is just the beginning. We will soon be lauching a hunt called Diva Quest, which will be a hunt for a face for Zoom” added Anand.

    L’Oreal Consumer Products Division (India) director Philippe Raffray added “L’Oreal Paris endeavors to make women around the world more beautiful. Which is why this association with Elite, one of the most prestigious modeling networks, and Zoom, India’s glamorous lifestyle channel, creates a unique showcase for contemporary Indian beauty.”