ITV

Category: Sports

  • Accedo, Qualcomm, HBS launch XR Sports Alliance

    Accedo, Qualcomm, HBS launch XR Sports Alliance

    MUMBAI: XR in Sports is about to receive a shot in the arm. Three large global players have joined hands for a strategic alliance which seeks to bridge the sports and XR industry. These are global video solutions provider Accedo, leading hardware and software enabler Qualcomm Technologies and HBS, a specialist sports broadcast organization.

    The three founding members aim to bring together market-leading stakeholders, drawing on Accedo’s expertise in video user experience, distribution and monetization, Qualcomm Technologies’ Snapdragon-powered XR technology and expertise, and HBS’ strong sports ecosystem.

    The program aims to accelerate knowledge gathering, technological advancement and time-to-market for XR sports services, as well as gather and share industry knowledge.

    The XR Sports Alliance aims to drive the development and deployment of XR Sports products and services by providing an end-to-end solution framework to help key stakeholders deploy state-of-the-art XR services efficiently and at scale. The framework encompasses immersive video production and distribution, system architecture definition, data and monetization frameworks, user testing and technology and business model advisory elements. Moreover, the program will be open to third parties to join, including XR OEMs, to drive the development of purpose-built XR hardware for the sports and video entertainment use case.

    At its core, the program aims to connect leading companies from the sports, video, telco, infrastructure, and hardware industries to collaborate in innovation projects, collectively contribute to each other’s roadmaps, and exchange knowledge and feedback, to support and accelerate industry growth and innovation.

    Accedo CEO Michael Lantz said: “We believe XR will become an important content distribution and user engagement platform and we want to connect industry stakeholders to collaborate and innovate. The Alliance network will enable industries to uncover industry demand in different geographical regions and shine light on the pipeline of upcoming XR solutions, allowing sports rights owners and holders to make data-driven decisions.”

    Qualcomm, Technologies senior director product management Patrick Costello added: “We are entering a new era of spatial computing. We firmly believe that XR experiences will revolutionize how fans engage with sports and we are already seeing a rise in adoption of immersive entertainment experiences thanks to the emergence of new XR devices and increased investment by OEMs for sports content rights. The XR Sports Alliance will bring together key players in the sports entertainment value-chain, collectively fostering the ecosystem to deliver game-changing immersive sports experiences.”

    HBS head of digital services Sylvain Lebreton commented: “This program aims to be a game-changer for the sports industry, helping to drive innovation. We are engaging with industry leaders across every part of the XR and sports broadcast ecosystem, which we are sure will ultimately accelerate the development and deployment of commercial XR sports services.”

  • Revenant Esports expands to Europe With new CS2 Roster

    Revenant Esports expands to Europe With new CS2 Roster

    Mumbai: Leading Indian esports organisation, Revenant Esports, has announced its expansion to Europe by signing a European Counter Strike 2 (CS2) roster. The new roster consists of noted CS2 athletes Nathan “NBK” Schmitt, Adelin “adeX-” Nica, Kamil “reiko” Cegiełko, Laurențiu “lauNX” Țârlea and Nabil “Nivera” Benrlitom.

    The team will currently be based out of the organisation’s boot camp in Belgrade, Serbia. The new roster will debut on LAN at the Skyesports Championship 2024. They would also be playing other prestigious online tournaments, with a focus on qualifying for the upcoming Shanghai Major. Guiding the team would be Patrik “pakesZ” Rozsos as coach and general manager, and Chris “Jeebs” DeSantis as assistant coach, both of whom have extensive experience in building competitive teams.

    Revenant Esports, founder and CEO, Rohit Jagasia, said “Our decision to enter the global CS2 arena was fueled by a passion for Counter-Strike and a strategic vision for global expansion. We have been keenly observing and exploring the European esports market for a while. CS2 has a very substantial viewership and a vibrant esports ecosystem in European territory and hence it also translates to more monetisation and partnership opportunities for us. This is another step for us in the direction to create a truly global esports organisation, from India.”

    Currently, Revenant Esports has ongoing partnerships with multiple brands like Puma, Kreo, AMD, Gigabyte, Aorus, Corsair, and Cybeart. With this expansion, Revenant Esports will be looking to forge new brand partnerships globally, with a special focus on brands and companies from the European territory.

    The athletes of the new CS2 roster have significant achievements and accolades to their names including, multiple CS:GO Majors, Blast Premier, La Coupe 4 Paris, IEM, ESL tournaments and more.

    Revenant Esports has been a noted name in the Indian esports ecosystem. Its achievements include clinching the #1 spot in Pokemon Unite in India for 2022-2023, finishing 7th at the Brawl Stars World Championship 2023-2024, securing the 2nd spot at  Skyesports Masters 2023: Regular Season, and more.

    Revenant Esports is also home to noted content creators including Antaryami Gaming, Alpha Clasher, PlayLikeIncognito, Punkk, Bitty Boi, Emperor Plays, Ayush Gaming, DevilDeez, BrownVoid, and Salty.

  • STAR Sports’ fan-first initiatives boost digital engagement for IPL 2024

    STAR Sports’ fan-first initiatives boost digital engagement for IPL 2024

    Mumbai: Since the start of the 17th edition of the IPL, Star Sports’ social media platforms have experienced an extraordinary surge in engagement, witnessing 300 per cent growth compared to 2023 edition. Additionally, the broadcaster recorded over one billion views and reached out to more than 100 million unique users during the entire IPL 2024 season.

    The broadcaster celebrated the cricketing festival across the nation with its multifaceted approach, providing fans with various experiences through on-ground activations and social platforms. Anchored by the incredible star cast of experts, Star Sports Believe ambassadors and more than 2000 creators from Star Sports Creator Network, the broadcaster has woven together a myriad of engaging initiatives, embodying the essence of IPL fandom.

    “We are ecstatic by the overwhelming response from fans across the nation during this IPL season. The incredible growth in engagement on our social media platforms and the widespread reach we achieved is a testament to the passion and love of fans and viewers that unites us all. Our dedicated efforts to create a vibrant and immersive fan experience, have truly brought the spirit of IPL to life. We remain committed to enhancing digital engagement and delivering unparalleled experiences to our fans and viewers”, said Star Sports Network head – marketing  Vikram Passi.

    Starting with ‘Star Nahi Far’, the broadcaster provided a unique opportunity for fans across the lengths and breadths of the country to meet their favourite IPL players and legends up close and personal. Star Sports Believe ambassadors like Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Shreyas Iyer, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sanju Samson and cricket legends like Steve Smith and Stuart Broad among others were part of this unique initiative by Star Sports. Over 50 million unique cricket enthusiasts nationwide across 1450 cities actively participated in Star Sports’ ‘Star Nahi Far’ contest to meet more than 20 IPL stars, making it the biggest contest on Glance.

    Speaking on the ‘Star Nahi Far’ initiative, Indian cricketer Rishabh Pant said, “Meeting fans through Star Sports’ wonderful ‘Star Nahi Far’ initiative was an incredibly humbling experience for me. Their unwavering support and heartfelt wishes during the tough times touched me. I had a fantastic time interacting with everyone and playing gully cricket, which brought back so many cherished memories. The love and encouragement from the fans have fueled my determination, and I can’t wait to give my best for the country.”

    In another initiative, Star Sports’ “Dream Job” offered aspiring creators to be next face on Star Sports for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. This eight-week challenge during IPL 2024, around key narratives of the on-going season, garnered an overwhelming response, attracting 5,500 entries from a diverse array of participants spanning different demographics, geographies, and walks of life. Some entries gained significant attention on social media, with one reel amassing over 61 million views, highlighting the wide array of talent in the country. Overall, the Star Sports Dream Job activation was a unique initiative leveraging the digital ecosystem to discover talent that resulted in more than 310 million views. Soumi Dey Sarkar, a national-level athlete in powerlifting and a runner, has bagged the prestigious Star Sports ‘Dream Job’ following a robust selection drive during the TATA IPL 2024.

    Star Sports also collaborated with over 100 top influencers across India throughout the season. There was a special match organized between creators and former cricketers under the banner of “Ajab Gajab T20 Challenge”. The match features influencers like Dharna, Abhishek Malhan, Aakash Gupta, and Viraj Ghelani playing alongside Steve Smith, Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, and Ambati Rayudu. Partnerships with creators like CarryMinati and Madan Gowri added diverse content.

    Speaking about his association with Star Sports for the TATA IPL 2024, CarryMinati said, “Working with Star Sports on the TATA IPL 2024 was a special experience for me. It gave me the opportunity to showcase a different side of the tournament. Working alongside cricket legends and hearing their insights was truly memorable.”

    Moreover, ‘Incredible Premier League School Quiz’ ignited the passion of young cricket fans, nurturing their love for the sport and creating unique opportunities for brands targeting this enthusiastic consumer cohort. The second instalment of this quiz has attracted a record-breaking 2.1 lakh participants from over 17,000 schools.

    The broadcaster has also closely worked with multiple platforms such as Meta, YouTube, Glance and Josh among others to better serve the fan. With the fan approach and regular engagements, the broadcaster has built a robust fan community of 50.9 million* fans across YouTube, Instagram, X, Facebook and WhatsApp and largest sports community on WhatsApp in India with more than 15.50 million followers.

  • Disney Star produces historical global broadcast of ICC T20 Mens’s World Cup 2024 for ICC

    Disney Star produces historical global broadcast of ICC T20 Mens’s World Cup 2024 for ICC

    Mumbai: Disney Star is the official Production Services partner of the International Cricket Council (ICC) for the prestigious ICC Men’s and Women’s T20 World Cup editions in 2024. This appointment continues the long-standing association between ICC and Disney Star, to deliver world-class viewing experiences to fans across the world and follows the global broadcast of ICC Men’s World Cup 2023.

    Over the past decade and a half, Disney Star and the ICC have collaborated worldwide to deliver several ground-breaking global broadcasts. The ongoing tournament is a historic event with 20 teams playing 55 matches and is the first time a marquee cricket tournament is being played on American soil. Disney Star aims to elevate the viewing experience for the event by bringing viewers closer to the game and its heroes and capturing the myriad colors of fandom. The historic event played across 9 venues, will see 450+ production personnel deployed across the US & Caribbean islands. A robust roster of 90 commentators from 12 countries will build narratives, elevate moments, tell compelling stories, and provide nuanced insights. It will be ably supported by production crews from 17 nations, who will strive to deliver an exemplary global broadcast in 11 languages.

    Disney Star head – Sports Sanjog Gupta said, “We’re thrilled to continue our collaboration with ICC as their production partner to bring the glory of their global marquee events to billions of viewers around the world. We remain committed to serving current fans and recruiting new ones across geographies, demographics, and devices by elevating the context of the tournament, taking fans deeper into the contests, enhancing narratives of the competition, and building seminal cultural moments around the ICC T20 World Cups. We hope fans enjoy this historic broadcast produced by Disney Star.”

    Steve Smith, one of the commentators on the host broadcast, said, “My first real brush with commentary was with Star Sports earlier this year. Being a part of the roster for the host broadcast of ICC T20 World Cup 2024 is an incredible opportunity and I look forward to contributing with my knowledge of the T20 format and understanding of how the modern cricketer thinks, plans, and plays. I look forward to working closely with production crews from Disney Star.”

    Irfan Pathan, one of the commentators for the Hindi broadcast, said, “I am absolutely thrilled to be a part of Star Sports’ historic broadcast for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. The Hindi coverage has been the driver of viewership growth and enhanced fan engagement in India. I am glad to see that the Hindi broadcast is being made available in multiple cricket-watching countries around the world including US and UK. I can’t wait to share this unique experience with fans globally.”

    Ambati Rayudu, one of the commentators for the Telugu and Hindi broadcast, said, “This tournament will be unique in many ways. With 20 teams, 55 matches, and new venues, it’s a thrilling combination that I eagerly look forward to. Having recently started my commentary career, it was heart-warming to see the response from millions of fans to the Telugu broadcast. I will continue to strive to bring viewers sharp insights and forthright opinions on the game.”

    For this marquee event in the Americas, Disney Star has developed a world-class broadcast framework with its core objective of deepening relationships with core fans while growing interest among diverse cohorts of new and casual fans.

    Building on the success of the vertical feed at the ICC Men’s World Cup 2023, Disney Star and the ICC will introduce an AI-supported vertical feed for the T20 World Cup —a world first for cricket. In addition to the vertical feed, designed for mobile devices, the broadcast will also entail a feed aimed at making the viewing experience for cricket more inclusive. A parallel service that caters to viewers with partial/complete hearing or sight impairment will also be available. The host broadcaster will also capture off-field moments as well as team and player preparations. It will also deploy the latest technology innovations to bring to fans in-depth analysis and visually compelling storytelling.

    In addition to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, Disney Star will also produce the global broadcast of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, to be played in Bangladesh starting September 2024.

  • Patrice Evra joins Sony Sports Network’s studio show for the live coverage of UEFA EURO 2024

    Patrice Evra joins Sony Sports Network’s studio show for the live coverage of UEFA EURO 2024

    Mumbai: Sony Sports Network is thrilled to announce former France football team captain Patrice Evra as one of the expert panellists for their live coverage of the biggest football tournament of this year- UEFA Euro 2024. Evra will join the eminent panel of experts on their flagship studio show Football Extraaa during the UEFA EURO 2024 to enrich the experience of the viewers with their excellent analysis of each of the matches.

    The ‘Home of Football in India’ – Sony Sports Network will broadcast the much-anticipated UEFA EURO 2024 LIVE across Sony Sports Ten 2 SD & HD, Sony Sports Ten 3 SD & HD, Sony Sports Ten 4 SD & HD, Sony Ten 5 SD & HD.

    Evra is one of the most decorated football players, who earned 81 international caps from 2004-2016. The former defender played 725 matches in club football, which included 379 matches for Manchester United from 2006-2014. He also featured in 82 matches for Juventus from 2014-2017. The left back was part of five title-winning Premier League campaigns with Manchester United. He also lifted the UEFA Champions League and the FIFA Club World Cup with the English club. Moreover, Evra was also part of the Serie A-winning Juventus team in 2015 and 2016.

    Evra has also won multiple accolades as he was adjudged the UNFP Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year in 2003-04. He went on to make it to the UNFP Ligue 1 Team of the Year 2003-04, PFA Premier League Team of the Year thrice (2006-07, 2008-09, 2009-10), FIFA FIFPro World XI: 2009 and the UEFA Team of the Year in 2009.

    Since his countless footballing achievements, Patrice’s focus has been to give back to others: whether it be joining the fight to end violence against children or promoting gender equality through charitable affiliations, spreading positivity with his I Love This Game movement or shining a light on racism and mental health issues in football.

    Sony Pictures Networks India chief revenue officer – Distribution & International Business and Head – Sports Business, Rajesh Kaul said, “We are delighted to have football legend Patrice Evra join our eminent panel for the biggest football tournament of this year, UEFA EURO 2024. Evra’s larger than life personality along with his experience, knowledge, and understanding of the sport will ensure a rich experience for our viewers. At Sony Sports Network, our commitment is to provide our audience with the best viewing experience of the marquee tournament, both on and off the pitch which makes Evra the perfect addition to the UEFA EURO 2024 panel.”

    Evra said, “India holds a special place in my heart. I had a magnificent time in the country during my last visit and I cannot wait to follow this up with my partnership with Sony Sports Network for UEFA EURO 2024. Sony Sports Network has a great legacy as the Home of football in India and I am looking forward to contributing own experience and knowledge during the broadcast of the tournament. UEFA EURO 2024 is one of the biggest football tournaments in the world which will feature some of the best teams and players of Europe competing for the coveted trophy.”

    Eight out of the top 10 FIFA ranked teams, including defending UEFA EURO champions Italy, will feature in the most-anticipated football tournament of the year as the hunt for the prestigious international title begins in Germany from 14 June 2024. Some of the most popular football players such as Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Harry Kane (England), Christian Eriksen (Denmark), Kylian Mbappé (France) and Manuel Neuer (Germany) will be seen in action during the competition. The flag bearers of European football will don their national colours and gun for glory at the biggest stage. 

  • Soumi Dey Sarkar wins Star Sports ‘Dream Job’

    Soumi Dey Sarkar wins Star Sports ‘Dream Job’

    Mumbai: Mad Influence, one of India’s largest influencer marketing agencies, and Star Sports, the official broadcaster of IPL 2024 and T20 World Cup 2024, unveiled the Star Sports Dream Job contest, with an endeavour to unearth fresh talent through the power of social media. After participating for almost eight weeks, Soumi Dey Sarkar, a national-level athlete in powerlifting and a runner, has bagged the prestigious Star Sports ‘Dream Job’.

    Star Sports Dream Job garnered an overwhelming response, attracting 5,500 entries from a diverse array of participants spanning across different demographics, geographies, and walks of life. The enthusiasm for the IPL on Star Sports was evident, with entries from differently-abled creators to a Sam Curran look-alike super fan from all the way Australia.

    The top 10 contestants travelled to Ahmedabad for the playoffs, where they captured the match day excitement as Star Sports reporters going live on the national broadcast. The final three contestants—Pramita Mohapatra, Soumi Dey Sarkar, and Aayush Ambasht—were then chosen to travel to Kolkata, Chennai, and Hyderabad respectively for the final challenge. Their final challenge was to report stories from across cities around the buzz of the IPL final.

    Some entries gained significant attention on social media, with one reel amassing over 61 million views, demonstrating the contest’s vast reach and engagement. Overall, the Star Sports Dream Job activation was a unique initiative leveraging the digital ecosystem to discover talent that resulted in being a masterstroke from Star Sports as it accumulated over 310 million views with #IPLonStar across all entries.

    Sarkar, who has been plying her trade as an anchor in other sporting events, will now see herself pick up the mic for a coveted full-time anchoring position on Star Sports during the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup.

    Speaking about winning the Star Sports ‘Dream Job’, Soumi Dey Sarkar said, “This is a dream come true for me. I am grateful to Star Sports for recognizing my efforts, and I can’t wait to work alongside the stars and legends of the game. Anchoring has always been my greatest passion, and now, by winning the Dream Job, I have the opportunity to turn that passion into my profession. I hope to make the most of this incredible opportunity.”

    Mad Influence CEO & founder Gautam Madhavan expressed his enthusiasm, “Collaborating with Star Sports for the Star Sports Dream Job campaign has been an exhilarating journey. Star Sports is the true home of sports and is a benchmark when it comes to fan centric activations. We are glad to partner with Star Sports to roll this historic, one-of-a-kind, and unique initiative that provided a platform for aspiring talents to showcase their skills. Using social media, we now have a winner who will pursue her dream of sports anchoring with the biggest sports broadcaster in India. We are immensely proud of the talent we’ve unearthed and the opportunities we’ve created for these individuals.”

    Speaking about the second edition of Star Sports Dream Job, renowned cricket anchor and presenter Jatin Sapru, who won the title the first time, said, “Welcome to the club, Soumi! Congratulations on this remarkable achievement. The Dream Job will offer you a unique anchoring experience, allowing you to learn intricate nuances and technicalities from a talented team in the studio. This is a life-changing opportunity where your hobby has transformed into your profession. I encourage others to keep pursuing what they love. Your Dream Job might be just around the corner.”

  • Disney+ Hotstar launches Caught & Bold live cricket show for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.

    Disney+ Hotstar launches Caught & Bold live cricket show for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.

    Mumbai: For the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, Disney+ Hotstar has announced a first-of-its-kind LIVE cricket show, ‘Caught & Bold’ featuring T20 World champions Harbhajan Singh, S. Sreesanth, Piyush Chawla; former Indian cricketer Ambati Rayudu, seasoned broadcaster Sanjay Manjrekar and a host of other former cricketers from around the world. ‘Caught & Bold’ will be hosted by popular stand-up comic performers, Varun Thakur and Rohan Joshi, along with the content creators Ocean Sharma, Arjun Pandit and Navneeth Krishna as co-presenters. Starting June 2, ‘Caught & Bold’ will be aired live every match day on Disney+ Hotstar.

    Commenting on this unique show, Disney+ Hotst head ads at Dhruv Dhawan said, “With ‘Caught and Bold,’ we aim to enhance India’s cricket watching experience, both with our quality product and with content that resonates with the avid cricket fans in India, while giving our advertisers an opportunity to connect with this community beyond the live match. By blending cricket analysis with a dose of humour and interactivity, we’re creating an entertaining and engaging experience. We’re thrilled to bring this fresh perspective to our viewers and advertisers alike.”

    Hosted for the fans, this show will provide a fun take on cricket and will enable fans to share their opinions live and participate in quizzes. Presented with a bold, quirky and candid approach, it will showcase significant moments, stories, action & drama of your favorite heroes, teams, and the tournament, caught on & off the field during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Designed to strike a perfect balance between the intensity of cricket and the joy of entertainment, ‘Caught and Bold’ promises a refreshing blend of humourous segments and interactive discussions. ‘Caught and Bold’ stands out from the crowd of typical cricket shows. The show is not just about watching, it’s about participating. With interactive segments, you can join in the discussions and kickstart the excitement. And in ‘bindaas poll’, our hosts and comedians take on cricket with humour and wit, making you feel like a part of the action.

    It also offers a line-up of unique segments that are bound to catch your attention. From radical candour to relatable street cricket tales, this show is a breath of fresh air. Brace yourself for bold predictions and analyses, and the best cricket memes that will leave you in splits.

    This exclusive cricket show is also open for brand associations for the pre, mid and post match segments throughout the tournament as co-sponsor partnerships as well as segment ownership. To create a meaningful connection with the cricket community, brands can leverage individual segments of the show such as pitch report, playing 11, moments & highlights of the day, in a quirky way which resonates with the brand’s philosophy.

    With advertisers showing a high level of interest in associating with the show, Kent RO has come onboard as the title sponsor while Macho Hint has signed up as the co-sponsor for the Disney+ Hotstar’s ‘Caught & Bold’.

    Get ready to witness the cricketing fun starting June 2, 2024. The tournament will be available to watch live and free on mobile on Disney+ Hotstar.

  • Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals steal the show as most loved IPL 2024 teams on social media

    Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals steal the show as most loved IPL 2024 teams on social media

    Mumbai: The Kolkata Knight Riders lifted the championship trophy against the Sunrisers Hyderabad at the IPL grand finals on Sunday, bringing to a close the two-month cricket fiesta that was the 2024 IPL season. The nationwide cricket fever that the IPL inspires certainly ran strong all the way to the finals, peaking over the last weekend as fans all over the country took to social media to cheer for their favourites.  With the thousands of online conversations taking place over the last month as the tournament picked up steam, there was plenty of passion, celebration, and heartbreak to be seen from fans across the country on their preferred social networks.

    Observing these, Sprinklr compiled a list of some of the most interesting social media trends surrounding the IPL that emerged since the first match on March 22nd 2024, to tap into the sentiments of fans across the country and their thoughts and feelings about the 2024 season.

    This data has been compiled using the social listening capabilities of Sprinklr Insights, aggregating mentions from India across selected news outlets, and social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit.  Sprinklr Insights allows businesses and organizations to monitor, track, and analyze social media conversations and mentions related to their brands, products, or topics of interest.

    Most talked about teams – Rajasthan Royals, Mumbai Indians take the online favorite crown.

    TEAM

    Five-time champions Mumbai Indians would take the top spot in online conversations with 37.6K mentions, for their persistent form through the season. The second spot would go to Rajasthan Royals, with 36.3K mentions. Eliminating the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the playoffs before finally falling to the Sunrisers Hyderabad, the Royals’ journey ended just one step short of securing their spot in the finals, winning them plenty of appreciation from fans across the country.

    The online conversations racked up as fans would dissect the poor performance of the team and express their disappointment at the favorites failing to live up to their earlier form, expressing greater hope for the next season.

    MOST POPULAR PLAYERS

    most

    Coming down to players, M.S Dhoni and Virat Kohli were the janta’s most favourite players, with over 86K and 77.9K mentions respectively. International players also were in the limelight this season, with Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Pat Cummins becoming the most talked about international player through the season with close to 15K online mentions. The Aussie’s calm composure as he led the SRH to the finals of the championship won him a place in the hearts of Indian fans despite the Sunrisers’ final stumbles. Fellow Aussie and Sunrisers teammate Travis Head would take second place for his incredible batting performances particularly in the playoffs, with close to 12K mentions, followed by KKR skipper Shreyas Iyer with 9.5K mentions.

    TOP CITIES FOR CONVERSATIONS – METROS LEAD THE WAY

    Top Cities
    Mumbai and Delhi remained the hotbeds of cricketing conversations across the country through the season, generating close to 30K  and 25K conversations respectively over the period tracked. Tournament runners-up Hyderabad would come in third place with over 22K conversations as they gave their fans much to cheer about in their run through the playoffs, while Bengaluru and Chennai would follow closely with 20K and 19.7K respectively.

    REGIONAL CHATTER GROWS

    Breakdown

    Significant conversations also took place in regional languages across the social platforms of X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit, with over 82.07K conversations recorded in Hindi. Tamil and Bengali were the second and third most widely used regional languages online, with over 24.7K and 7.2K conversations respectively.
    ++

    You can access the complete dashboard of Sprinklr IPL 2024 Insights here.

  • Reetika Hooda, Nisha Dahiya, Aman Sehrawat join IOS Sports & Entertainment for Paris 2024

    Reetika Hooda, Nisha Dahiya, Aman Sehrawat join IOS Sports & Entertainment for Paris 2024

    Mumbai: IOS Sports & Entertainment, a sports talent management company, announced the signing of three of India’s top wrestling talents – Reetika Hooda, Nisha Dahiya, and Aman Sehrawat, all of whom have secured their spots for the Paris 2024 Olympics. With these latest signings, four of the six qualified Indian wrestlers for the Games, will now be represented by IOS Sports & Entertainment, who already have Anshu Malik(qualified for Paris 2024) and Sonam Malik in their wrestling roster.

    The onboarding of the three talented grapplers highlight IOS’s commitment to nurturing India’s sporting potential and furthering the country’s ambitions on the global stage.

    IOS Sports & Entertainment COO Rahul Trehan welcomed the star wrestlers saying, “We are delighted to have Reetika, Nisha, and Aman on board. Their dedication and skills -align perfectly with our vision to elevate the stature of sports in India. We are committed to providing them with the best exposure, resources and support to excel, so that they can solely focus on their training and preparation for the Paris Olympic Games 2024.”

    Reetika Hooda, the first Indian woman wrestler to win the U23 World Championship, has made significant strides in her wrestling career. She is one of the five Indian women wrestlers to have earned a quota for Paris Olympic Games 2024, besides Anshu and Nisha.

    Reflecting on her new partnership with IOS, Reetika expressed, “I am excited to join IOS Sports & Entertainment. They have always supported young wrestlers, so signing with them was an easy decision for me.” She added, “With IOS managing the commercial part, I can focus entirely on my training and elevate my performance to reach full potential and compete for the medal at Paris 2024.”

    Nisha Dahiya, a silver medalist in the 68 kg category at Asian championship 2023, will join her Team India compatriot Reetika Hooda at IOS. Nisha shared her excitement on joining IOS, saying, “associating with IOS Sports & Entertainment means I can concentrate on training and refining my techniques and strategies for the Olympic games in Paris, without having to worry about logistics and other key financial aspects.”

    Aman Sehrawat, the young 21-year-old talent, will be the sole male wrestler carrying India’s hopes at the Olympic Games in Paris. His recent performance at the Federation Cup Wrestling Championships 2024, where he reached the finals, underscores his skill and prowess. Aman stated, “With IOS handling the management side, I can dedicate myself entirely to training and enhance my performance to achieve my Olympic dream at Paris 2024. Looking forward to a fruitful and successful association.”

    IOS Sports & Entertainment remains steadfast in its mission to nurture talent, enhance sports infrastructure, and bring India’s best athleticism and sportsmanship to the global stage.

  • TAM Sports: IPL 17 TV ad volumes grew 19 per cent per channel compared to IPL 16

    TAM Sports: IPL 17 TV ad volumes grew 19 per cent per channel compared to IPL 16

    Mumbai: TAM Sports has released an IPL report based on the first 71 matches of IPL 17 and for all the channels on which matches are telecasted.

    On television, advertising for IPL 17 observed growth of 19 per cent in ad volumes/per channel compared to IPL 16.

    Compared to IPL 16, the count of categories and advertisers in IPL 17 were increased by 40 per cent and 28 per cent respectively.

    In IPL 17, the top five categories collectively added 44 per cent share of ad volumes, in which Pan Masala dominated the list. Ecom-gaming and pan masala were the only common categories between IPL 17 & IPL 16. Parle Products was the top advertiser in IPL 17 with 11 per cent share of ad volumes. Also, Sporta Technologies, K P Pan Foods and Vishnu Packaging were the common advertisers between IPL 17 and IPL 16. The top five advertisers of IPL 17 together added 34 per cent share of ad volumes. Parle Products was the leading advertiser in 48 matches of IPL 17.

    Compared to IPL 16, there were 34 new categories and 117 new brands present in IPL 17. Among the top five new categories, two of them were from the F&B sector and two belonged to the BFSI sector. Parle Food Products dominated the top five new brands list, followed by Fogg in 71 matches of IPL 17.

    During IPL 17, Dabur Real Range was the top brand on Hindi plus English language channels. Additionally, Mobil Super/Mobil Super Moto dominated the top brands list on regional language channels. Among the 110 brands that advertised on both Hindi plus English and regional language channels, Parle Food Products secured first position.