Category: Sports

Mumbai: Disney Star Network is thrilled to announce its sustained success in breaking viewership records for IPL on television with 2.1 crore new viewers tuning in to watch the Rivalry Week of Tata IPL 2023, which happened to be Week 6 of the tournament. This takes the tally of total live broadcast viewership to 47.14 crore after 57 games, which is the highest in IPL history at the same stage. Disney Star’s unwavering commitment to deliver world-class standards of coverage, customised offerings across 13 live feeds in nine languages, the best line-up of Cricket as well as non-Cricketing talent and unparalleled programming initiatives have positioned Television as the go-to platform for the live broadcast of the IPL. Seven matches in week 6 crossed a peak concurrency of 3 crores with the MI vs RCB match registering a peak concurrency of 4.7 crore, the highest for week 6. The broadcaster also witnessed a y-o-y growth of more than 44 per cent in Weekly TVR (Week 6), compared to the last edition.

Rivalry Week was a special initiative by Disney Star to brand Week 6 of Tata IPL 2023 as a “must watch” week with key rivalries between the most popular teams and teams from the North & South. The initiative entailed special programming for the week including a fresh take on live match coverage across Disney Star’s popular match segments like Ask Star, Incredible Moments (Rivalry) and Down Memory Lane as well as new show segments like Fan battles, Versus and Rivalry Games on India’s No.1 Cricket show – Jindal Panther Cricket Live. Disney Star also hosted content creators from Meta during the week to dial up rivalries between fan armies.

Disney Star is building the highly anticipated ‘Race To The Playoffs’, from 23 May 2023, through a host of initiatives across live coverage, programming, and fan engagement. The league is at its competitive best with 5 teams still fighting for the remaining three playoff spots, with Gujarat Titans already qualified.

Note:

All BARC Data for live broadcast of the first 57 matches

Mumbai: adidas revealed the FC Bayern München home jersey for the 2023/24 season, celebrating the club’s unique connection to red and white.

The jersey reinterprets the iconic hues – that represent the club’s identity and commitment – by revisiting the archive and updating it for the 2023 season. Simplistic in its celebration of colour, the shirt’s predominantly crisp white base is decked with bold deep red sleeves, in a nod to the first home kit worn by the team in the club’s first season in Germany’s top division. The inside of the collar completes the design story featuring the message “Rot & Weiß ein Leben lang” – translated to ‘red & white for life’; a reference to one the club’s bylaws that home kits must feature red and white.

Highlighting the connection of FC Bayern München to its colours as well as to the city of Munich – one that transcends the mere football audience, adidas and the club are teaming up with the Superbloom festival (taking place on second and third of September) in the Bavarian capital to elevate the story and demonstrate that Munich is red and white as well.

adidas football senior product manager Lisa Datz said, “The combination of red and white represents the identity of FC Bayern Munich – and has done so for more than a century. These colours represent pride, unwavering confidence, and great triumphs. With this new kit we are highlighting the importance of these colours to the club and can’t wait to see it on the pitch and on the fans as we embark on the next chapter of the red and white success story together.”

The on-field version of the shirt is constructed using materials and textures to feel cool, adidas HEAT.RDY is optimised to keep you comfortable. While the replica jersey features AEROREADY technology, which uses sweat-wicking or absorbent materials to keep the body feeling dry.

FC Bayern München striker and club legend, Thomas Müller said, “The colors red and white have been with me all my life. With this traditional design, the new home shirt stands for the success story of FC Bayern Munich.”

FC Bayern München player, Lina Magull, said, “When you think of FC Bayern, images of red and white immediately come to mind. Even as a child, my room was decorated in these colours, and it’s a dream to be able to wear them on the pitch. The new jersey combines history and elegance – and we want to do justice to these colours.”

Both versions of the new jersey are made with 100 per cent recycled polyester, continuing adidas’ ongoing commitment to help end plastic waste. Earlier this year, adidas announced that it is ahead of schedule in its journey to replace virgin polyester with recycled polyester in its products wherever possible by the end of 2024.

The home jersey will be worn on pitch for the first time against RB Leipzig on 20 May and is available from 17 May to purchase via FC Bayern München stores, selected adidas retail stores, and adidas.com/football. It will be available from €100.

Mumbai: Sports and Lifestyle is a significant part of our dreams and aspirations. India has a rich tradition of sports, with a particular focus on cricket, field hockey, and kabaddi, among others. Many young people in India dream of becoming professional athletes and representing their country on the international stage.

In addition to sports, lifestyle is also a key consideration for many Indians. As the country’s economy has grown and incomes have risen, there has been an increasing demand for luxury goods and experiences, including high-end fashion, luxury travel, and fine dining.

For some Indians, the dream of sports and lifestyle goes beyond personal aspirations and encompasses broader social and cultural goals. For example, there is a growing movement in the country to promote healthy living and physical activity, particularly among young people. Sports and lifestyle are seen as important tools for achieving these goals, as they provide opportunities for exercise and physical activity, as well as promoting positive social interactions and community engagement.

India is a rapidly growing country with 1.3 bn people, and the ‘Make in India’ campaign is a step taken by the Indian government to promote the manufacturing industry in India. This campaign has been hugely successful, and is continuing to create jobs and investment in India. The sports and lifestyle industry requires a range of products, from athletic gear and footwear to fashion items and accessories. By leveraging the popularity of sports and tying it to lifestyle products, Indian companies can build stronger brands that resonate with consumers. This can help to create a more positive image of India as a whole, which in turn can support broader efforts to promote Make in India. Indian companies can explore new ways to integrate technology, materials, and design into their products. This can help to drive advancements in fields such as textiles, materials science, and wearable technology, which can have a positive impact on a range of industries.

By investing in sports infrastructure and promoting healthy living, ‘Make in India’ campaign can continue to fulfill the dreams of its people while also promoting greater health and wellbeing for all.

The author of this article is playR co-founder Ravi Kukreja.

Mumbai: JioCinema, the digital rights holder of the TATA Indian Premier League, invited fans to a thrilling TATA IPL Fan Park experience across Nellore, Ludhiana, Patna, Ranchi, and Hosur as excitement around the league peaked over the weekend. 55,000 cricket fans turned up in support of their favourite teams that were in action as the four-weekend games were live streaming via JioCinema across the five TATA IPL Fan Parks.

Fan Parks are a part of JioCinema’s comprehensive plans to take cricket to every internet user and every community with access to the internet by inviting fans to stream venues in more than 35 cities and towns. Extending their digital-first offerings, JioCinema plans to make out-of-home sports viewing omnipresent across 13 states, for the first time on digital. Around 1,80,000 fans have been entertained across 28 cities and towns since April 16 through this endeavour.

It is the first time that a sporting event is being streamed digitally at such a large scale for community viewing, taking the tournament to every internet user in the country.

Nellore and Ludhiana caught the battle between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Lucknow Super Giants where the latter emerged on top by seven wickets in the first game of Saturday’s double-header. Prabhsimran Singh and Harpreet Brar led their side to a crucial victory over Delhi Capitals by 31 runs in the second match.

Fans in Patna, Ranchi, and Hosur saw Royal Challengers Bangalore beat Rajasthan Royals by 112 runs in the first game on Sunday afternoon, followed by Kolkata Knight Riders beating Chennai Super Kings by six wickets at Chepauk.

Access to the TATA IPL Fan Park was free of cost. The TATA IPL Fan Park had a wide variety of offerings for people of all ages, including a dedicated Family Zone, Kids Zone, Food & Beverages, and the JioCinema Experience Zone.

Prime public spots across the seven cities were transformed into entertainment hubs with TATA IPL Fan Parks set up for fans of the game. People were able to not just catch live action but also enjoy with their family and friends.

TATA IPL viewership on JioCinema is a testament to shifting consumer preference for digital when viewing live sports and it is now setting global benchmarks by bringing in the community viewing dimension.

Viewers can continue to watch their preferred sports by downloading JioCinema (iOS & Android). For the latest updates, news, scores, and videos, fans can follow Sports18 on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube and JioCinema on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

Mumbai: Super bikes, flashy skills and burnouts were at display when close to thousand riders gathered in the capital city on Saturday to celebrate the 1000th MotoGP race landmark with an exhilarating bike rally as the motorcycle racing fever begins to grip India ahead of its first-ever MotoGP race, scheduled to take place at the Buddh International Circuit in Noida from 22-24 September.

This weekend’s French Grand Prix marks a significant achievement in the history of MotoGP since the first feast of speed was held 74 years ago. Motorsports enthusiasts and bike riders joined in numbers to pay tribute to the sport’s remarkable milestone and made rally the talk of the town.

The exciting rally, hosted by Fairstreet Sports, a leading sports management company, and convened by xBhp, is the first of many such events being organised in the build-up to the historic MotoGP India round — the “MotoGP Bharat”. Riders gathered at the JLN Stadium to begin the rally and showed flashy burnouts before moving to Gurugram where they also displayed top-notch skills with super bikes.

The vice chairman of New Delhi Municipal Council, Satish Upadhyay graced the occasion along with the executive team of Fairstreet Sports and had a message for the bikers and the audience.

“It was a wonderful event today. I would like to congratulate the Fairstreet Sports team and wish them great success as they gear up for the upcoming Moto GP Bharat. MotoGP is a big name in the world and the way you have started here is fantastic. We have to encourage such events a lot more and I assure you we will do everything to help you in future as well. In India, Motorsport is often regarded as a stunt game but this is not a stunt, this is a serious sport and we have to take it seriously. Security and safety is also very important and it is necessary for bikers to adhere to the rules and do the racing,” commented Upadhyay.

Fairstreet Sports COO Pushkar Nath Srivastava said, “We are thrilled to have organised the MotoGP milestone celebration with a bike rally event that brought together the passion, excitement, and unity of the motorcycle racing community in the capital city. As India gears up for the first-ever MotoGP Bharat, this was a remarkable experience to witness the joy on the faces of fans and riders alike. This rally not only celebrated the milestones of MotoGP’s history but also gave glimpses of the excitement of fans for the historic event later this year.”

 The on-going MotoGP 2023 season, which witnesses 20 races across 17 countries, will visit India for its 13th race as the country makes its debut on the racetrack. Indian fans will get a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the exciting action where 11 teams and 22 riders will be in action which includes Francesco Bagnaia of Ducati, Marc Marquez of Repsol Honda Team, Marco Bezzecchi of Mooney, Brad Binder and Jack Miller of Redbull KTM, Jorge Martin of Prima and many more.

Mumbai: Living up to their name, India’s female CS:GO team performed to the best of their abilities to convincingly prevail against Sri Lanka in the South Asian Qualifiers and advance to the IESF Asian Championship which is set to be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from July 10-17, 2023. 

Led by team captain Swayambika Sachar (Sway) the vibrant team comprising Nidhi Salekar (Stormyyy), Shagufta Iqbal (xyaa), Dilraj Kaur Matharu (COCO), and Aastha Nangia (CrackShot) made lightwork of Sri-Lanka by defeating them by 16-3, 16-0 in the best-of-three matchup.

With an efficient and flawless display on both maps, the team lost only three rounds in the entire series courtesy of the individual brilliance of their roster that helped them thoroughly dominate the opposition.

Speaking on the result Swayambika Sachar, captain of the female Indian CS:GO team said, “We are extremely proud to have secured our spot in the Asian qualifiers and to represent India amongst all the elite teams from the continent. It is a remarkable achievement for all of us, and I couldn’t be happier with our scintillating performance against Sri Lanka in the South Asia regionals. The team has improved significantly in the last few months and we are constantly working on improving our gameplay by strategizing and practising rigorously. We want to be at our very best when we compete in the offline qualifiers in Riyadh and are determined to secure a spot for the Grand Finals in Romania”.

The five-member team created history by becoming the very first all-female CS:GO team to qualify for the South Asian regional qualifiers by defeating Team Purr-ple in the finals of the National Esports Championships (NESC) 2023, conducted by the Esports Federation of India (ESFI) earlier this year. 

They will now take on the female CS:GO outfits from Saudi Arabia and Hong Kong in a bid to qualify for the 15 World Esports Championships (WEC) in Iasi from August 24 – September 4, 2023.

“Our female CS:GO team has grown leaps and bounds as a unit since the NESC 2023 and their success in the South Asian qualifiers is a testament to that. Their journey so far has been inspiring for all the women gamers in India that seek a career in Esports. As they embark on the upcoming Asian Championship, we extend our heartfelt wishes for their continued success and firmly believe in their ability that will help them advance to the 15 WEC,” said Esports Federation of India President Vinod Tiwari.

India’s DOTA 2 team comprising skipper Manav Kunte (mnz), Vishal Vernekar (HBK), Abhishek Yadav (Abhi-), Shahbaz Hussain (PinkMaN), Krish Gupta (Krish`), and substitute Jaikishan Malik (KaEL) shall be commencing with their South Asian qualifiers from May 15 onwards.

The Indian CS:GO (Open) team comprising of team captain Harsh Jain (f1redup), Jaspreet Singh (SpawN), Sadab Khan (SK wow^), Piyush Kalwania (clouda), Nikhil Kathe (N1kace) and substitute Omkar Thube (omkar09) already secured their place for the Asian Regionals on May 8.

The country’s well-renowned Tekken 7 professional Abhinav Tejan and eFootball athlete Ibrahim Gulrez have already secured their qualification at the 15 WEC that has a whopping prize pool of $500,000 (INR 4.12 crore) and is set to be the largest edition of the tournament to date with at least 130 countries participating in eFootball, DOTA 2, Tekken7, Mobile Legends, PUBG: Mobile and CS:GO.

Mumbai: Less than a month since launching Jeeto Dhan Dhana Dhan, JioCinema announced nine more winners who won a car each for TATA IPL 2023 matches played between May 4 and 10. A total of 45 people have won a car from the contest till date.

Abhishek Khatri, aged 19 and residing in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, won a car during the Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals game on May 10. The 399-run thriller played out between Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore at Wankhede Stadium on May 9 was equally riveting for Dashrath Singh from Sarbuja, Chhattisgarh as he became a Jeeto Dhan Dhana Dhan winner.

Nyamat Matte, an ardent Kolkata Knight Riders and Andre Russell supporter from Belagavi, Karnataka finished the night of May 8 with euphoria as his favourite player’s heroics helped Kolkata Knight Riders beat Punjab Kings, while his own predictions while playing Jeeto Dhan Dhana Dhan won himself a car. On winning, Nyamat who works at a cell phone shop was ecstatic with joy and in disbelief, but says that the car will make life much easier for him now.

Shivam Dhiman of Ghumarwin, Himachal Pradesh won the contest’s top prize on May 7 during Sunday night’s record run chase by Sunrisers Hyderabad against Rajasthan Royals. Earlier on the same day, 19-year-old Mohammad Toufik, a student hailing from Surat, Gujarat became the second youngest winner of Jeeto Dhan Dhana Dhan during the clash of the Pandya brothers when Gujarat Giants took on Lucknow Super Giants. Toufik belongs to a middle-class family and is the son of a furniture store employee while his mother is a homemaker. On being asked what the car means to him, he said, “We only had a small bike for our whole family to commute and they all would not fit. Now my whole family can travel together”.

A resurgent Delhi Capitals against Royal Challengers Bangalore was not the only winner on May 6 as Gurwinder Singh from Jalandhar, Punjab predicted his way to victory during super Saturday’s second game. Ravindra Kisan Gunjal from Pune rooted for Mumbai Indians in their ElClasico battle against Chennai Super Kings earlier in the day and won a car. He expressed delight and relief as the car ensures he can now commute long distances in the sweltering Pune heat with comfort.

TATA IPL’s May 5 match-up turned out to be an easy win on the field for Gujarat Titans as they beat Rajasthan Royals by nine wickets, while Atchukattu Khajavali from Kothaguta, Telangana won a car without breaking into a sweat off the field. Atchukattu, who works at a general store and supports Chennai Super Kings, claims it is easier and more fun to watch the TATA IPL on JioCinema this year and that the platform’s content offerings are his exclusive source of entertainment. Ashly Fernandez from Ernakulam, Kerala won himself a car during the Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Kolkata Knight Riders game on May 4.

Jeeto Dhan Dhana Dhan is aimed to enhance the viewer’s experience while watching the TATA IPL on JioCinema vis-à-vis passively watching the league on legacy platforms. The contest offers viewers prizes like smartwatches, Bluetooth speakers, Bluetooth neckbands, and wireless earphones, and a chance to win one car every match, among other prizes.

Viewers need to hold the phone in portrait mode. A chat box will open at the bottom of the screen where the question appears before every over along with four options. Viewers who give the most correct answers during the match, stand a chance to win the car.

Viewers can continue to watch their preferred sports by downloading JioCinema (iOS & Android). For the latest updates, news, scores, and videos, fans can follow Sports18 on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube and JioCinema on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

Mumbai: Disney Star, the official television broadcaster of the TATA IPL 2023, has achieved an unprecedented milestone by breaking viewership records once again with the cumulative reach for live broadcast of the first 48 matches, till Week 5, registering 451 million unique audiences which is 21 per cent higher than the last year’s full-season reach and 33 per cent higher than last year’s 48 matches.

This edition of the IPL on television has broken all records, achieving the highest-ever reach in HSM, North, and West in the tournament’s history. It also garnered the highest-ever reach in Gujarat, Maharashtra, UP, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, and Bangalore, and the second-highest ever reach in Delhi, Mumbai, and Karnataka.

The live broadcast of the first 48 matches of the tournament also saw a consumption of 266 billion minutes, the second-highest ever in the tournament’s history, excluding Covid years. Additionally, there was a 29 per cent growth in TVR for the first 48 matches. The first 48 matches also witnessed the highest-ever HD reach of 86 million, which is 3.4 times higher than last year.

Disney Star’s commitment to delivering the most engaging and compelling viewing experience for the TATA IPL 2023 on television has been the driving force behind this historic achievement. The broadcaster is proud to have played a pivotal role in the tournament’s success and is committed to providing viewers with the best possible viewing experience in the coming weeks leading up to the grand final on 28 May.

Source: BARC

* 2+U+R

** M15+

Mumbai: Xiaomi India, the country’s leading smartphone and smart TV brand, today announced its latest partnership with the Argentine Football Association to sponsor the Argentina National Team. This partnership is a remarkable moment for two champions of their respective fields to come together.

Determined to deliver exceptional experiences that go beyond consumers’ expectations, is a passion that is shared by both Xiaomi and the Argentina National Team. This partnership represents the coming together of two exemplary teams that strive for continuous improvement and serve as inspiring role models for all. Our commitment to providing superior technology resonates and aligns perfectly with AFA’s dedication to excellence in football. This partnership presents an exciting opportunity to bring legendary Argentine footballers such as Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria, Julián Alvarez, and Emi Martinez closer to the Indian audience, and we are thrilled to be making it possible.

Xiaomi users in India and Argentine football fans can have access to priceless experiences, autographed jerseys, and cherished moments, enabling them to feel more connected to their beloved superstars and football team. Additionally, they can also enjoy special edition smartphones to celebrate the World Cup victory. This agreement is also a reflection of the Argentina National Team’s impressive trajectory and international presence, as well as Xiaomi India’s prominent position as a leading brand in India.

Xiaomi India president Muralikrishnan B said, “As a sport, Football brings forth a lot of emotions and passions. It has the ability to bring people together as one community. We are excited to announce our partnership with the Argentine Football Association and as a sponsor for the Argentine National Football Team in India. As a brand, we have always been striving to deliver the best of technology to give our consumers a superior experience, similar to the Argentina National Football Team who have always been determined to surpass the expectation of their fans on the field. This collaboration exemplifies the perfect amalgamation of technology and sports”.

AFA president Claudio Fabian Tapia said, “The Argentine National Team has felt the strength and support of the Indian community throughout the World Cup. Having Xiaomi India, an emblematic brand, as our regional sponsor is one more step in our international business strategy. Xiaomi with its innovative technology and wide range of products will make it easy for our National Team to connect and interact with fans in India. As a result, our association establishes itself as a leading brand in the territory of India. We welcome Xiaomi India as a regional sponsor”.

Xiaomi India chief marketing Officer Anuj Sharma said, “At Xiaomi, we are always looking for opportunities to connect with our consumers and fans, and what better way to do so than through the passion of football. Our partnership with the Argentine Football Association and sponsorship of the world champions offers an exciting occasion for us to further strengthen our connection with our community and we look forward to bringing the best of Xiaomi to football fans across the region”.

AFA chief commercial and marketing officer Leandro Petersen said, “We have established a path and an objective for our Association in territories which we identify with potential for our commercial lending. This regional sponsorship with Xiaomi India is the result of focused work in such target markets and clear direction from AFA. We are pleased to announce Xiaomi India as the third regional sponsor of this country. We will continue in this line to consolidate new agreements in said territory. We will work together with Xiaomi India to strengthen this association that begins today and generate new and innovative experiences for users, increasing and strengthening the position that we have obtained in the Asian continent in general and in India in particular. Today we received a Xiaomi India to the AFA family”.

Mumbai: The latest TAM Report has revealed that Connected TV (CTV) advertising spots have been increasing every week during the ongoing season of TATA Indian Premier League (IPL).

According to the report, CTV ad spots have demonstrated a consistent growth trend, increasing from 78 spots (average ad spots per match) in week 1 to 94 spots (per match) in week 4, which represents a 20 per cent growth.

JioCinema is streaming IPL for free on connected TV and mobile devices. This data is only for the English feed streaming of the IPL, showcasing high advertiser interest for accessing premium audiences via connected TVs.  

Meanwhile, linear TV ad spots in week 1 were 66 ad spots (per match), which became 54 in week 2 (per match). The Week 3 number was 48 ad spots (per match), and week 4 showcased 40 ad spots (per match), as per BARC.

On average, CTV had 88 ad spots per match in the first four weeks and linear TV had 52 (average per match) ad spots.

With a consistent increase in CTV ad spots observed throughout the season, the report indicates a clear shift towards CTV as a growing advertising medium.

Digital streaming of IPL on connected TVs and mobile devices is drawing a bulk of audiences. As per a recent SCORE report, 73 per cent are watching IPL on digital.

The number of sponsors during IPL’s digital streaming is 25, the highest ever for any sporting tournament.