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Tag: Asian Cricket Council

  • Sponsors hit it out of the park at DP World Asia Cup 2025

    Sponsors hit it out of the park at DP World Asia Cup 2025

    MUMBAI: The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has unveiled a formidable line-up of sponsors for this year’s tournament, led by title sponsor DP World. Joining the roster are Wonder Cement, Spinny, Hero MotoCorp, Beyond Developments, Haier, Vimal Elaichi, Ozone Locks, Hero FinCorp, Havells, and Groww. The partnerships have been brokered by TCM Sports, the sports marketing firm with a three-decade legacy of landmark cricket alliances.

    The men’s Asia Cup, running from 9 to 28 September, will see eight nations battle it out in the high-octane T20 format. With packed stadiums, fierce rivalries and a broadcast reach expected to run into hundreds of millions, the tournament promises one of its most competitive editions yet.

    ACC President Mohsin Naqvi said, “The DP World Asia Cup is the heartbeat of cricket in Asia. It’s a stage where champions rise, rivalries ignite, and fans unite. We are delighted to have a dynamic mix of sponsors across categories and welcome them all as partners.” [sic]

    TCM Sports, md, Lokesh Sharma added, “Participation of globally renowned sponsors is an acknowledgment of the stature of the Asia Cup. Beginning with this edition, we are placing more emphasis on fan engagement and grassroots development.”
     

  • Sony’s India reboot: fresh faces, big bucks and a bold digital bet

    Sony’s India reboot: fresh faces, big bucks and a bold digital bet

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is doubling down on India, rebooting its strategy under new leadership and betting big on digital, cricket and content to reclaim lost ground in the subcontinent’s fast-evolving media landscape.

    Speaking at SPE’s annual presentation, chief executive Ravi Ahuja described India as a “tremendous opportunity” amid the country’s strong economic and population growth. The rejig came more than a year after the collapse of Sony’s much-hyped merger with Zee Entertainment.

    At the heart of the reshuffle is Gaurav Banerjee, former Star India top content boss, now managing director and chief executive of Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI)— Culver Max Entertainment.

    Banerjee’s mandate: fix the fiction, fire up streaming, and sharpen Sony’s distribution game.

    SPNI, which runs 27 TV channels and the SonyLiv platform, reported Rs 839 crore in profit on Rs 6,510 crore revenue in FY24. The company is now funnelling fresh investments into digital, particularly SonyLiv, as part of a broader growth revival.

    “We are rebuilding and reorienting our growth strategy, including investment in digital and our Sony LIV streaming platform,” said Ahuja. “We recently secured exclusive media rights for all Asian Cricket Council (ACC) tournaments from 2024 to 2031, which we anticipate will boost viewership and enhance Sony LIV.”

    The sticker price:  $170 million. It also shelled out $200–250 million for the England and Wales Cricket Board rights, sub-licensing the digital India tour rights to JioHotstar but retaining TV control. But there’s a wrinkle: the upcoming Asia Cup in September may be under threat due to rising India–Pakistan tensions post the Pahalgam terror strike.

    Meanwhile, Sony Entertainment Television (SET) is in revamp mode. The channel, battling ratings pressure in fiction, is reloading its primetime slate with a rebooted Bade Achhe Lagte Hain, mythologicals like Prithviraj Chauhan and Shirdi Wale Sai Baba, and the upcoming thriller Aami Dakini. Tentpoles like Kaun Banega Crorepati, Shark Tank India and Indian Idol continue to anchor the lineup. SET also remains a YouTube juggernaut, with 184 million subscribers—ranking fourth globally.

    Globally, SPE posted sales of $9.9 billion and operating income of $774 million despite the Hollywood strike denting series output and SPNI dragging on profits.

    Sony may have dropped its  Zee alliance, but with a rejigged team, fresh IP, and digital firepower, its India innings appears to be just getting into super scoring mode. With both Ahuja and Banerjee  fresh at the crease and gradually getting their shots right, SET might well hit it out of the park this time.

  • ICC enlists Prabhakaran Thanraj as VP-commercial & operations

    ICC enlists Prabhakaran Thanraj as VP-commercial & operations

    MUMBAI: Prabhakaran Thanraj has reasons to be pleased. He’s just been appointed as the  vice-president – commercial & operations at the apex global cricket administrative  body – The International Cricket Council based in Dubai. For three years he was at the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), first as head of events & commercial, then being promoted as general manager – events and commercial in 2024..

    At the ACC, along with the team, he helped monetise the Women’s Asia Cup, a 70 per cent higher value from Sony Pictures Networks India for the ACC  media rights for the 2024-2031 cycle.

    Prabha, as he is called by colleagues, began his career as a signage and branding coordinator at IMG Reliance for the Aircel Chennai Open from 2009-2012. It was onto the desk as a graphic designer for around two years with Cognizant Technology and hew switched to IMG Reliance as a graphic designer for a year. It was here that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) spotted him and hired him as sponsorship manager for the Champions League 2013 and 2014. IMG  Reliance once again lured him away as assistant sponsorship manager and he stayed put there for almost four years.

    And then came the shift to the ACC which was a huge leap for Prabha. But he has proved himself. Today, he has a track record driving revenue through strategic partnerships, managing high-impact events, and leading successful marketing campaigns. And he is known for guiding teams, maximising brand impact, and advancing the sport’s reach on an international scale.

    The ICC congratulated him and wishes him all the best for his innings with them. We, at indiantelevision.com,  are sure Prabha will negotiate the googlies  as well as the short-pitched deliveries well. And even pull some of them over mid-wicket for a six.

  • Asian Cricket Council partners with Sony for 2024-2031 media rights cycle

    Asian Cricket Council partners with Sony for 2024-2031 media rights cycle

    MUMBAI:  This is one player who is not going to be kept out of the game. Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI – Culver Max Entertainment Pvt Ltd) has pocketed the exclusive media rights for Asian Cricket Council’s (ACC’s) tournaments for the period 2024-2031. The amount is a 70 per cent jump over the previous rights deal, clearly highlighting the growing global stature and appetite for ACC Asia Cup tournaments.

    According to reports, the tender released in September by the ACC, had set a base price at $170 million for the rights, almost double of what Star India had paid in the previous rights cycle. 

    The deal encompasses all editions of the men’s and women’s Asia Cups, men’s and women’s Under-19 Asia Cups, and the men’s and women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cups. The partnership ensures comprehensive and innovative coverage of Asian cricket’s marquee tournaments across television, digital, and audio platforms. 

    A press release issued by SPNI and ACC says that the latter’s vision for Asian cricket is inclusive and forward-thinking. The partnership with SPNI not only secures high-quality coverage for the ACC’s flagship tournaments but also provides the financial resources necessary to drive development programs across all member nations. 

    With SPNI’s extensive broadcasting expertise and the ACC’s commitment to growing the game, this partnership is poised to set new benchmarks for cricket in Asia and beyond. 
    Sri Lanka's winning team of the Women's Asia Cup
    “This media rights deal is a significant milestone for the ACC Asian and cricket across the region. The Asia Cup continues to be a cornerstone of cricketing excellence, bringing together the best of the region’s talent,” said ACC president Jay Shah. “With SPNI as our new media partner, we are confident in their ability to deliver world-class coverage and an immersive viewing experience for fans worldwide. 

    With Sony’s extensive expertise in the broadcasting industry, we are excited to embark on this new partnership. Sony’s expertise and innovative approach promise to bring a fresh perspective to the coverage of Asian cricket, reaching new audiences and setting new benchmarks. 

    The substantial increase in rights value will enable the ACC to channel significant resources into grassroots programs, infrastructure development, and talent pathways, especially for associate nations. This collaboration will drive the continued growth of cricket across Asia and ensure its vibrant future.” 

    “Congratulations to the ACC for conducting a fair and transparent bidding process for the rights to the ACC tournaments!” said SPNI’s MD & CEO Gaurav Banerjee.  “We are delighted to bring these action-packed tournaments, which will also include India and Pakistan matches, to our viewers for the next 8 years. ACC tournaments have created unforgettable moments and set the stage for the most intense Asian Cricket rivalries. We eagerly look forward to sharing the thrill and spirit of these matches with cricket fans.”

    ACC,  had in the last fortnight awarded the exclusive commercial sponsorship rights for all ACC Asia Cup tournaments to TCM Sports Management (TCM), deepening its decade long relationship with the ACC. It gave the marketing agency sole rights over on-ground advertising and sponsorships for men’s and women’s Asia Cup tournaments until 2031. The sponsorship package would grant TCM title and official sponsorship rights, positioning TCM to shape the branding landscape for ACC events. 

  • Star India acquires Asia Cup global media rights till 2023

    Star India acquires Asia Cup global media rights till 2023

    MUMBAI: Strengthening its cricket portfolio, Star India has acquired the global media rights of Asia Cup for a period of eight years, running from 2016 to 2023.

     

    The events, which are included under this agreement are as follows: Asia Cup, Women’s Asia Cup, Emerging Asia Cup and U19 Asia Cup to be held from 2016 – 2023.

     

    The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) took the decision to award the rights to Star India at its meeting held on 20 December, 2015 in Singapore.

     

    ACC president Sidath Weetimuny said that the value offered by Star India for the eight year rights was significantly higher than any of ACC’s previous commercial contracts. “It will provide much needed funds for the development of game in Asia,” he said.

     

    “ACC is delighted to have the Star India as media partner to the next cycle of ACC. Star has an undisputed reputation as a sports broadcaster and will guarantee increased promotion and marketing of the ACC events globally,” he added.