Category: Sports

  • U Mumba joined forces with One8 Run Club; promoting health & fitness among Mumbaikars

    U Mumba joined forces with One8 Run Club; promoting health & fitness among Mumbaikars

    Mumbai: With the purpose of promoting health and fitness, U Mumba collaborated with One8 Run Club for a special 5k run organised to empower people with the knowledge and motivation needed to take charge of their health, well-being, physical fitness, mental clarity, and overall quality of life. The run was flagged off from the Play The Turf in Malad (West) at 6.30am on Sunday.

    In attendance at the event were former U Mumba Kabaddi stars Vishal Mane, Rishank Devadiga, Ajinkya Kapre, among them was current retained new young player Pranay Rane and U Mumba CEO Suhail Chandhok to motivate the runners. The goal of this partnership was to create an atmosphere where people from all backgrounds and sports come together to celebrate the spirit of being fit and healthy.

    “One8 Run Club and U Mumba collaborated because there is a similar embodiment of spirit. The spirit of Mumbai, tenacity, grit, bounce back and all of these come in when you are running and you hit that wall and push through that wall when you are playing professional sport. You are always up against it, you are always have rough days, tough days and it’s about finding that inner spirit. I think for us it was a very natural fit with One8 Run Club. Virat Kohli is someone who embodies the same fighting spirit as well and someone who is an ambassador of the One8 Run Club. It is first of many collaboration between U Mumba and One8 Run Club,” commented Chandhok.

    At the end of the run, members of the One8 Run Club also interacted with U Mumba Kabaddi stars, where they shared their fitness regime and the importance of daily workouts. The participants also shared some lighter moments with the U Mumba Kabaddi players as they took selfies with them.

    For a youngster like Rane, this was a completely new experience but his love and passion for Kabaddi and fitness was apparent at the event.

    “Running is above everything else in terms of health, it is important even in a sport like Kabaddi. Even if you don’t visit a gym, you should ensure to walk or run every day it has a great impact on health. I go for runs every morning, it’s part of my workout. I feel happy to see so many people here who are health conscious and motivating each other,” Rane said.

    The event was concluded by project head of One8 Run, Gurbaksh Virdi, “The collaboration between One8 Run Club and U Mumba was born from a shared mission: to connect and engage the vibrant Mumbai community while promoting the significance of fitness. Additionally, it offers a valuable opportunity to engage with the highly fit athletes of U Mumba. These athletes can impart their knowledge and experiences to the runners, serving as a source of motivation and inspiration.”

    U Mumba with this innovative partnership aims to build a stronger connect with the city and the people of Mumbai.

  • Sourav Ganguly opens up on Sachin’s superiority on the “Champions Sports-Cast” hosted by DreamSetGo

    Sourav Ganguly opens up on Sachin’s superiority on the “Champions Sports-Cast” hosted by DreamSetGo

    Mumbai: With the ICC WorldCup & Football fever picking up once again, DreamSetGo hosted an interview starring former Indian Cricketer Sourav Ganguly at the “Champions Sports-Cast” hosted by DreamSetGo founder Monish Shah.

    He spoke on leadership, Sachin Tendulkar, His love for the game, His inspirations – Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev & Allan border & a certain football icon, the legendary Maradona.

    Speaking at the Champions Sports-Cast podcast hosted by DreamSetGo, Ganguly spoke about his friendship with Tendulkar, “I first met Sachin when he was 14 years old at the MRF pace academy & over time we would go on to spend 6-7 months in a year together and developed a close friendship and trust over time. As a cricketer, he was a far superior cricketer than me, and that is something I strongly believe in. , To raise your game, you must partner with those better than you and we continue to be very close friends.”

    As a lifelong fan of legendary footballer, Maradona, Ganguly shared, “I remember I first met him at an interview he was doing with the media and I’m not exaggerating one word when I say it was a 20-minute interview and through it all, he was juggling a ball with his left leg and didn’t drop it once.  I’ve seen Messi, Ronaldo & even Pele play but Maradona was special, he was blessed by the Almighty.”

  • WWE Superstar Spectacle delights fans in Hyderabad

    WWE Superstar Spectacle delights fans in Hyderabad

    Mumbai: A sold out crowd of WWE fans descended on the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium in Hyderabad, India, on 9 September for WWE Superstar Spectacle – the first WWE live event to ever take place in the region, and the first show to take place in India since 2017.

    Some of the biggest WWE superstars of the modern day travelled more than 15,000km to perform for the WWE Universe in India, receiving rapturous applause and crowd participation.

    The results of WWE Superstar Spectacle included:

    Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn & Drew McIntyre defeated Indus Sher

    Natalya defeated Zoey Stark

    Gunther defeated Shanky

    Bron Breakker defeated Odyssey Jones

    Rhea Ripley defeated Natalya

    John Cena & Seth “Freakin” Rollins defeated Imperium

    Speaking of his time in India, WWE Legend John Cena commented, “Thank you for allowing me to be here tonight. You know, sometimes we feel something inside that grabs us emotionally. I’ve been imagining this moment right here for 20 years. I wanted to end tonight by saying this moment was far greater than I could ever have imagined.”

    WWE RAW, SmackDown and NXT airs LIVE weekly in India on Sony Sports Ten 1, Sony Sports Ten 3 (Hindi) and Sony Sports Ten 4 (Tamil/Telugu). Sony Sports Network is the broadcast home of WWE programming in India.

     

  • Sadhguru’s passion for bikes and nature takes center stage at the MotoGP Bharat opening ceremony

    Sadhguru’s passion for bikes and nature takes center stage at the MotoGP Bharat opening ceremony

    Mumbai: Fairstreet Sports, the organizer of the MotoGP Bharat commencing in the country for the first-ever time on 22 – 24 September was honored to have renowned Indian Yogi, mystic and visionary, Sadhguru at the opening ceremony to inaugurate the event by riding a couple of laps at the Buddh International Circuit on Friday, 22 September.

    Sadhguru’s passion for motorcycles is as undiminished today as it was during his college years. Here, he recalls how his motorbike often served as much more than just a vehicle.

    His connection with motorcycles took on a higher purpose, when last year, Sadhguru spearheading the Save Soil Movement, undertook an arduous 100-day, 30,000 km lone motorcycle journey from London to southern India, covering 27 countries across Europe, Central Asia, Middle East, and India to create public awareness and garner support for nations to implement soil friendly policies.

    Sadhguru also autographed a helmet addressed to Moto GP Bharat event organizing team with a beautiful message “Four wheels for comfort, two wheels for the love of life! Safe riding – Sadhguru”

    As the date of the opening ceremony draws closer, anticipation grows among biking enthusiasts and sports fans alike. Sadhguru’s presence promises to add a new dimension to the event, reflecting the unity of diverse passions and a shared commitment to global well-being. 

  • John Cena meets Rajesh Kaul and Karthi ahead of WWE Superstar Spectacle in Hyderabad

    John Cena meets Rajesh Kaul and Karthi ahead of WWE Superstar Spectacle in Hyderabad

    Mumbai: WWE today returns to Indian shores with a live event for the first time since 2017 with WWE Superstar Spectacle at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium in Hyderabad.

    WWE Superstar Spectacle also marks the return of arguably the biggest WWE Superstar of his generation, John Cena, who has come to India to perform for the first time ever. The thirteen-time WWE world champion met Sony Pictures Networks India chief revenue officer – distribution & international business and head – Sports business Rajesh Kaul in Hyderabad ahead of the sold-out show. Cena and Rajesh Kaul interacted about WWE Indian fans, Cena’s return to the ring and his first visit to India with WWE.

    Cena also met celebrated actor and South superstar, Karthi who posed for pictures together ahead of the show. Karthi was also seen recently filming a secret project with WWE Tag Team Kevin Owens and Sami Zayne.

    Along with Cena, WWE Superstars such as Seth ‘Freakin’ Rollins, Jinder Mahal, Natalya, Drew McIntyre, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn and ‘The Ring General’ GUNTHER have made their way to India to participate at the event as they look to put on an exciting showcase of matches.

  • Sony Sports Network to telecast Rugby World Cup 2023 live from France exclusively to TV viewers in India

    Sony Sports Network to telecast Rugby World Cup 2023 live from France exclusively to TV viewers in India

    Mumbai: Rugby fans in India can now watch the high-octane action of the Rugby World Cup 2023 live on Sony Sports Network, the official television broadcaster for the most prestigious quadrennial rugby tournament. The tournament will be available to television viewers across Sony Sports Ten 1, Sony Sports Ten 2 and Sony Sports Ten 5 channels in India.  

    The Rugby World Cup is being hosted in France for the second time in its history and the matches will be played across nine venues in the country with Paris hosting the final at the Stade de France. The first game from the storied tournament will see hosts France take on the most successful nation in the tournament, New Zealand in a highly anticipated game.

    The Rugby World Cup sees participation from the top rugby union national teams in the world. Held every four years, the 2023 edition of the Rugby World Cup is the tenth edition of the tournament and will see 20-teams compete against each other in France for the coveted trophy. Participating nations include the defending champions South Africa, who will compete against the likes of New Zealand, France, Australia, Scotland, Tonga, Wales, Namibia, amongst others.  

    Sony Pictures Networks India chief revenue officer – distribution & international business and head – sports business Rajesh Kaul, said, “Sony Sports Network is known as the premier destination for international marquee sporting events from across the world. The Rugby World Cup 2023 is the biggest and the most prestigious international rugby tournament in the world. Rugby in India has a dedicated following and this is the third successive edition of the Rugby World Cup tournament that we are broadcasting to serve fans in India.”  

    World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin said, “We are extremely pleased about the broadcast partnership with Sony Sports Network as the home of the Rugby World Cup 2023 in the Indian sub-continent. Audiences in the region will be offered outstanding and comprehensive coverage of our showcase tournament as they get to witness the tremendous strength, agility, and willpower on display during the tournament.”

    Rugby World Cup will be live telecast on Sony Sports Ten 1, Sony Sports Ten 2, Sony Sports Ten 5, Sony Sports Ten 1 HD, Sony Sports Ten 2 HD and Sony Sports Ten 5 HD channels from 9 September 12:45 am onwards.  

  • AB de Villiers and Pooja Hegde roped in to become the face of SuperWin

    AB de Villiers and Pooja Hegde roped in to become the face of SuperWin

    Mumbai: AB de Villiers and Pooja Hedge are the face for the newest entry in the online gaming realm, SuperWin. This huge partnership is the perfect first step for SuperWin as it launched as early as last month. Online gaming is swiftly becoming an integral part of the way people enjoy sport, gaining popularity worldwide. Fans can now feel like genuine stakeholders in what happens on the field, rather than be mere spectators sitting in the stands.

    ABD, the legendary cricketer, who is known world over as Mr. 360 is ecstatic on his partnership with SuperWin and looks forward to the footing that the brand is set to capture in India. De Villiers excelled in all formats of the game, thriving at the heart of the South African national team from 2004 until 2018. He also became one of the brightest stars of the Indian Premier League, playing many memorable innings for Royal Challengers Bangalore, often in partnership with his teammate and friend, Virat Kohli.

    “Winning is the part of the game that all of us as professional athletes and even those that aspire to be in their own right. I’m really happy to associate with SuperWin as I am confident that they will imbibe everything that it means to be in sport which is having fun, being part of a community, and of course, finally, the desire to win big,” said Villiers on the association with SuperWin.

    Hegde is someone who has captured the imagination of not just the South but the entire country with her prolific body of work and is currently one of the brightest stars in the industry. Hegde won the SIIMA Award for Best Actress – Telugu for her performance in Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo (2020) and Most Eligible Bachelor (2021). She was nominated for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu for Oka Laila Kosam, Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo and Aravinda SamethaVeera Raghava (2018). Her other commercially successful films include Duvvada Jagannadham (2017), Maharshi (2019), Gaddalakonda Ganesh (2019), Housefull 4 (2019), Cirkus (2022), Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ka Jaan (2023).

    “I am excited to see the innovation that SuperWin brings to the table. It is inspiring to be a part of the SuperWin family and I look forward to being part of such a vibrant community that makes sports so interactive,” said Hegde on her association with SuperWin.

    SuperWin was founded in 2023 and provides a sports and gaming exchange and is gaining massive popularity within users owing to its no conditions applied Sign Up bonus where Rs 1000 will be credited in the users’ wallet as soon as they register.SuperWin also offers a deposit bonus which is 350% on first deposit and 50% on the second which will be instantly credited. The digital age has revolutionized many industries, and online gaming is no exception. With platforms like Superwin leading the charge, players can expect immersive experiences, high-quality graphics, and seamless gameplay.

    A SuperWin spokesperson said, “We are excited to work alongside ABD and Pooja Hedge to celebrate the spirit of sport and as we look forward to a successful association with them, we are confident that they will only add value to the brand in its plans to become an Indian dominated global platform.”

  • Skechers named official sports footwear partner of the Indian Olympic Association for Hangzhou Asian Games

    Skechers named official sports footwear partner of the Indian Olympic Association for Hangzhou Asian Games

    Mumbai: Skechers, the comfort technology company, announced its association with the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) as the ‘Official Sports Footwear Partner of Indian Olympic Association for the Hangzhou Asian Games’. This partnership underscores Skechers’ unwavering dedication to supporting athletes and promoting a culture of excellence in sports. The Asian Games that will be held at Hangzhou, China from 23 September to 8 October, are a celebration of the pinnacle of sporting prowess across the continent. As the official sports footwear partner, Skechers plays a pivotal role in empowering the Indian contingent with its innovative footwear that offers comfort and performance to all levels of athletes.

    Skechers gave the athletes specially designed branded kits and provided Skechers Performance footwear to 10 specially chosen athletes as a sign of the company’s dedication to athlete comfort and performance for the Hangzhou Asian Games. The athletes received these kits at a formal send-off ceremony, which concluded earlier today.

    Skechers Asia Pvt. Ltd. CEO Rahul Vira expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “We are honored to partner with the Indian Olympic Association for the Hangzhou Asian Games. At Skechers, we are committed to supporting elite athletes and enthusiasts with innovative products that help them reach for their best, and this collaboration was a natural extension of that commitment. We look forward to supporting Team India on their journey to excellence.”

    This association exemplified Skechers’ dedication to sports, highlighting the commitment to both the community and sports in India. As the excitement builds towards the Hangzhou Asian Games, Skechers is set to contribute to the success of Team India and celebrate the indomitable spirit of its athletes.

  • Cricket World Cup 2023: Where advertisers hit a six with viewership soaring high

    Cricket World Cup 2023: Where advertisers hit a six with viewership soaring high

    Mumbai: The festive season brings a double whammy for advertisers and brands as the Asia Cup and the much-awaited World Cup (Hosts – India) is set to take the country by storm. With a potential reach of 600+ million, the World Cup on television is the place to be for advertisers looking to capture the attention of viewers during the festive season. The interview series “Pitch Perfect” discusses with leading marketers their thoughts about the World Cup and how advertisers can best leverage the mega event on television.

    Indiantelevision.com’s Anil Wanvari in a fireside chat with Bimlendra Jha, Navroze Dhondy on the Jindal’s association with Cricket on Live TV.

    Edited excerpts

    On associating with cricket

    Jha: Well, there are two religions in India, cricket and Bollywood. If you really look at it, somebody had the brilliant insight to combine the two in the form of IPL. IPL has become the greatest sensation because of this unique combination that works so well in India. Getting associated with this large number of viewership where particularly any brand that gets associated with sports, always gets more positive vibes compared to anything else, that is what the research says. Missing action in this one is not a great thing for any brand that wants to really establish itself at the national level.

    On associating with cricket for the first time

    Jha: It was last year and we started getting associated with many other sports also. We have been supporting sports at tribal level. Wushu, which many people would not have even heard about, we produced international champions out of that from the tribal boys and girls. We are into kickboxing, hockey, and we are supporting a lot of sports including kabaddi, we have been associated with different sports. And I do believe that when you are trying to become the number one brand at that time, having higher visibility, particularly through the sports channels, is a great way to connect with audiences.

    On approaching mass media communication and not going for trade advertising

    Dhondy: That’s a very interesting question. Jha and I had this discussion since last year. So as Jha just mentioned, this whole association with sports began last year, with the Pro Kabbadi League, moving on to the ISL, Women’s World Cup, and of course, IPL and now Asia Cup and the World Cup. If you look at the essence of the brand, for eg. Jindal Panther, the brand name itself evokes a certain personality. So when you have a brand, which has a very strong brand personality, you have to find the right kind of fit in terms of the media opportunities too. Sports, interestingly, is a perfect brand fit, because it talks about speed, talks about strength and flexibility exactly what the brand stands for.

    Jha: To answer your question on why approach mass media communication for what could potentially be only a B2B brand. But India is a very unique place, you would not imagine rebars being retailed in any other country like India. And if you really go across the country, you would find retail outlets for rebars and cement. Now these retail outlets are the ones which are catering to really small demand and a large proportion of steel through the rebar route and cement gets consumed in retail. So creating these footfalls is a very important element of strategy, particularly if you want stability in your supply chain. Retail provides the highest amount of stability compared to B2B sales. In fact, B2B sales may have large variations in prices. Retail gives far more consistency in prices. So anybody who wants to really sell his rebar well, would do well to consider the retail segment in their strategy.

    If you look at the pyramid of the rebar business, right on top are the B2B businesses. So, big builders, big developers like DLF etc, do you buy a flat and you don’t know what rebar and what cement is gone into it. But when you come down the pop strata and you go into smaller towns, that’s where people like me, when I came from from Alabama, we all need our own homes, and those other small towns where a lot of construction is happening, either making your own shop or your own factory or your own home. And that is where a brand connected with B2C is also as important as it is for B2B.

    On the retail constituent of your entire sales

    Jha: At the moment, it has been a lower percentage. Pure retail has been about 25 per cent. But we want to take it to 75 per cent.

    On what does it mean for being an advertiser, having a massive national distribution network and associating with a sport like cricket

    Jha: I think you have to be smart about the money that you spend. If you take a titled sponsorship, it has a completely different connotation, it has completely different viewership. And it allows the viewers to soak in with this kind of a title sponsorship. So, we have been smart about what we are wanting to do, and we do not want to burn the money and use it in a manner where it does not give us the proportionate returns. So we have done our own evaluation and we have actually cherry picked some of the events that allow us to get more miles for our buck.

    Dhondy: You will have very large investors in cricket, we have heard the story about dream 11 and all the various dot coms and gaming, investing large sums of money being thrown into cricket.  But what we need to do, the word which is very important, is smart and making sure that we stand out of the clutter whether it is a one day match or in a T20 match.

    The choice which Jindal made and what we all worked together to create Jindal Panther cricket live made it stand apart. It actually had a unique spot, a unique position in the entire broadcast ecology and therefore we got that standard part to the extent that literally within the first three or four days, I remember we were having a discussion with our trade partners and the word they use was Jindal Panther ‘Chaa Gaya’.

    On collective viewing experience helping getting the word out to your viewers and targeted audience

    Jha: There are multiple ways like being visible.Visibility is not in short supply as far as Jindal Panther cricket live is concerned, it gets mentioned every now and then. It is constantly there in front of your eyes, as you’re watching that program pre match, mid match and post match. Much more than that, what we have also done and that is where Navroze has helped us a lot in creating some crucibles of experience, where we have taken our channel partners to the studio to get them to experience it. And they can’t get over themselves about these kinds of experiences. This is what by word of mouth further spreads into the channel. Now people look forward to the opportunity of being selected to be able to get into that exclusive group of people who would be chosen for these kinds of relationship building exercises, I think this is invaluable money can buy.

    Dhondy: Along the way, we realised that viewing sport happens in three different ways. One is a very individualistic one, when you’re on your mobile, and you’re just watching it one on one. One is in a family environment where you’re at home, and you’re watching with three or four or five people and one is on a much larger scale. It could be in a bar or a pub where you got to 300-400 people watching it together, or a larger place where they put up a huge screen and you got 500 to 1000 people watching it together. In all these cases, interestingly, from that small four inch mobile to that 100 foot screen, when the brand is being visible across, the best part is you are not missing out any target view, you are not missing out any opportunity. The large screen with those big speakers almost transforms the person sitting over there into a real stadium kind of an environment, which actually helps and has a halo effect and rubs off on the brand. So many things are very intangible. But they have their own magic, which they create for the brand.

    Wisden, better known as the bible of cricket, is an almost 150 year old brand and they were collecting data all the time. But it was just one book published every year. It’s only in India, that from the year 2002 onwards, the last 20 years, we were the pioneers of something called the pre, the mid and the post show which is what Jindal Panther cricket live is all about, you know the interesting insight about this. We as Indians love statistics, we love records, we love discussing and debating and that is why the eyeballs are sticky eyeballs, even for non line in most of the countries the moment they gave us over, telecast is over. But in our country, the game carries on to almost half an hour 45 minutes so that is where the magic of the Indian madness statistics lies.

    On the association helping in terms of getting your customers to really buy further into the product

    Jha: One of the constant themes of all our interaction with our retail channel partners has been that we are not visible adequately. That was the pre Jindal Panther cricket live. And one big difference that has already happened is that our channel partners are absolutely cheering this entire sponsorship because they have seen that now people ask for Jindal Panther by name. There is still a bit of a brand association of Jindal that rubs off on some spurious other brands who try to claim the same kind of stature as a result. So that’s a good problem to have, because imitation is a form of flattery. Of course we can use the same channel to also communicate to the people, to be careful about not getting duped by look alike brands.There is a lot more that can be achieved compared to what we have achieved. We have occupied the top of the mind slot. The next is to also educate people on being careful about what they choose.

    On being important to be consistent in your associations with cricket orbit

    Jha: I said earlier that cricket is a religion in India and it is likely to remain a religion in India. There are more sports that are coming up in India and I think the time has come when there is adequate support for sportsmen. And we would like to continue our association with sports not just for cricket, but also for other sports which do not sometimes get that kind of money visibility etc. We are very happy to see for example, the premier Kabaddi League, after IPL has got the maximum amount of eyeballs and we felt that getting associated with Kabbadi which is a quintessential sport invented in India and once again, the speed strength flexibility are the values that are very core to the sport of kabaddi there. We also find that there is interest in some pockets particularly West Bengal and Kerala, around football more than anywhere else. But increasingly it is finding an expression and viewership as well as coming into the collective consciousness, both soccer as well as hockey, and these are the sports which are coming up. And we would like to definitely remain associated with them as well. So it is not just cricket.

    On the meet and greet with the cricketing partners and the change they brought in

    Jha: The very first thing is that the partners feel valued when you bring them to an event, whether it is a meet and greet, but it is not just a meet and greet with the company officials. They idolise these heroes from the cricket world, the commentators and the whole experience actually takes them to another platform. They start associating with the company, a far greater positive image, and about themselves as well, because they are visible on TV, this is their moment when they are visible to a larger audience. It also helps those who have not been selected, let’s say in the first round, to be a bit aspirational about the achievements that they should have, so that they are considered for the next round. So it’s a win-win win for everybody. An association that has helped us build the brand, the channel relationships, and create a positive mindset amongst those who want to be there.

    On the upcoming World Cup & Asia Cup and expecting new milestones, putting more money etc

    Jha: We would always prefer judicious spending of money over anything else. It is a value for money that we evaluate in each and every case. And we are very conscious of the fact that things like India Pakistan match, they get the top ratings compared to anything else. And both Asia Cup and World Cup does create multiple opportunities for this kind of an interaction to take place. How can you be missing in action on those? So of course, we see value for money. But we also want to bring to the people the whole excitement in a manner that they associate themselves with a brand. It is that positive association that we are looking forward to.

    On Cricket Live going forward in the World Cup as well as in the Asia Cup

    Jha: Anything that does not change will become stale. Innovation requires us to constantly change and make things more and more interesting. From a viewership perspective as well as those who we put forward for participation. So we would of course be looking for more and more innovation through this platform that we have created for ourselves. It is important to realise that one is that sports is a way of life, and our chairman himself is a sports lover. He is not just a sports lover, he actually excels at doing things for example, in shooting or in polo, he plays at national levels and therefore, it is a way of life that we have adopted for the company, there is a lot of focus on fitness etc. As far as sponsorship is concerned, apart from mass media, the very powerful medium is that of digital. We are still far away from an iconic brand like Amul, where they get quoted so many times, how do they come up with such brilliant lines, which can be seen in less than five seconds, and can be replicated. So there is a lot more that we have to do as a brand. But sports is a good start, how we’re building on it, with the power of such catchy phrases and things that we can connect with the audience and remain contemporary. That remains our challenge. And we would like to work in that and continue to make the world a better place to live with the quality of products and services we give.

  • FSDL brings on board Viacom18 as its official media rights partner for the Indian Super League

    FSDL brings on board Viacom18 as its official media rights partner for the Indian Super League

    Mumbai: Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) has announced Viacom18 Media Private Limited as the ‘new home of Indian Football’ for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons.  The 10th season of the Indian Super League kicks off on 21 September at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi, with a blockbuster clash between rivals Kerala Blasters FC and Bengaluru FC.

    Viacom18 will be the exclusive media rights holder for ISL, India’s top-tier football league, across digital and linear TV platforms. The telecast will be available for football fans in multiple languages keeping in mind the diverse audience of the league, and will also be streamed free on JioCinema.

    Over the past decade, ISL has proven to be a driving force behind the overall development of football in India both on and off the field. In its next phase of growth Viacom18 will be the perfect partner to take ISL to a larger audience, with its strong digital capabilities and connect with new-age sports fans. Viacom18’s digital streaming platform JioCinema, which will stream ISL for free, has brought a pioneering viewing experience through livestreaming of properties such as the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and the TATA IPL and it will continue to bring a similar experience for ISL.

    Football Sports Development Limited spokesperson said, “We are pleased to have Viacom18 as our media rights partner for the Indian Super League. When we set on our journey of ISL, we had the vision to revolutionise the Indian football ecosystem. As we enter our 10th year of growing football in India, it is great to associate with a partner who shares the same vision and believes in growing the consumption of football in the country. Viacom18’s proven record and impact in offering a fan-first football experience to the Indian audience, starting with the FIFA Football World Cup, makes them the best partner as we enter the next decade of growing Indian football.”

    Viacom18 Media Private Limited spokesperson, said, “Winning the streaming and broadcast rights to the ISL is a big step forward for us in the direction of building a glittering stable of footballing action. The ISL has led the resurgence of Indian football in recent years and coming on board with the league as the exclusive media partner enables us to contribute to the development of the sport in the country. We believe this is an exciting time in Indian football and through our extensive presentation of the league we aim to stoke a renewed interest in the heart of every Indian football lover.”

    ISL Season 10 will kick off at prime time of 8:00 pm, with double headers starting at 5:30 pm.