Tag: Australian Open

Infosys and Tennis Australia unveil AI innovations for Australian Open 2025

MUMBAI: Are you watching the Australian Open on SonyLiv or one of the Sony Sports channels in the wee hours of the morning?

Pause, wait a minute – a lot of what you are watching is courtesy of an Indian digital services and consulting company – Infosys.

The firm has been mandated by Tennis Australia to unleash a cutting-edge suite of AI-driven features for the Australian Open (AO) 2025.

This initiative marks a significant milestone in their seven-year collaboration, aimed at enhancing the immersive tennis experience through innovative technologies.

Central to these advancements is Infosys Topaz, an AI-first suite utilising generative AI technologies to revolutionise fan engagement, empower players and coaches, and expand digital interactivity in tennis. Key highlights include:

Beyond Tennis: This pioneering offering is the world’s first generative AI-powered tennis league. Fans can interact with 16 AI-crafted virtual players across eight teams, training their teams and participating in AI-generated tournaments year-round. Dubbed The Slam That Never Stops, the league aims to captivate younger Gen Z audiences while ensuring a safe digital environment through a responsible AI framework.

AI Commentary: The Infosys Match Centre will feature AI Commentary on AO digital properties, providing real-time insights during matches. Utilising advanced large language models, this tool will deliver concise, engaging updates at each match moment.

VR AI Stadium: : At the Infosys Fan Zone in Melbourne Park, fans can explore a new VR AI Stadium, where they can create and play on imaginative virtual courts, including nature-inspired and themed designs.

Wait, there’s more if you’re a tennis fan and also a technology geek.

Infosys is empowering the Australian Open with video analytics and machine learning tools, providing players and coaches access to post-match reviews and pre-game video analysis. The AI Shot of the Day feature assists in rapid content creation for social media, highlighting remarkable on-court moments.

The Infosys Fan Zone is climate-conscious, with a fully offset carbon footprint and recyclable structures. Additionally, the Future Leaders Program, powered by Infosys Springboard, offers participants digital learning and exposure to generative AI.

Infosys executive vice president – Asia Pacific, Andrew Groth stated, “We continue to push the boundaries of technology to enhance fan engagement and player performance. Our latest generative AI innovations will redefine the experience for fans, players, and coaches.”

Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley added, “Infosys has consistently elevated our digital offerings. The AI advancements at AO 2025 will deliver new interactivity for fans and invaluable insights for players, showcasing the transformative impact of technology in tennis.”

January 15, 2025
Haier sponsors Australian Open as TV & appliance partner

MUMBAI: It’s going for the grand slam. Chinese household appliance brand Haier has come on board as the official TV and appliance partner of one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments – the Austrailan Open – and the summer of tennis in Australia. The latter includes the United Cup, Brisbane International, Canberra International Adelaide International and the Hobart International and commences 27 December.

The deal was signed with Tennis Australia late last month and is for the next three years. . The partnership aims to deliver immersive fan experiences by integrating advanced technologies in home appliances, including kitchen, laundry, and climate control systems, with the excitement of world-class tennis. It goes beyond traditional sponsorship, focusing on delivering immersive fan experiences and showcasing how Haier’s advanced kitchen, laundry, and climate control appliances integrate seamlessly into modern living, offering both convenience and sophistication.

With over one billion tennis fans globally, the sport epitomises elegance, precision, and high performance—values deeply embedded in Haier’s philosophy. The Australian Open spirit of innovation also aligns with Haier’s brand position, “More Creation, More Possibilities.” Guided by four decades of innovation, Haier is committed to delivering a better living experience, with smart appliances designed to save time, preserve freshness, and simplify chores. These shared qualities make Haier’s role as the official partner of the Australian Open a natural fit, underscoring its dedication to creating exceptional experiences through innovative design and meticulous attention to detail.

“This partnership with the Australian Open marks a critical step in our globalisation efforts, showcasing our commitment to sports and innovation,” senior vice president of Haier Group and chairman & CEO of Haier Smart Home Li Huagang, had said at the time of the signing of the sponsorship. “The Australian Open, as one of the four Grand Slam tournaments, aligns perfectly with Haier’s commitment to bring consumers worldwide more creations and possibilities, as well as groundbreaking smart home solutions.”

Haier Appliances India president NS Satish said, “We are thrilled to partner with the Australian Open, one of the most iconic sporting events in the world. This collaboration represents a significant milestone in our globalisation journey, reflecting Haier’s commitment to connecting with consumers who appreciate sophisticated design, premium experiences, and exceptional performance globally.”

During the tournament, Haier will engage fans through dynamic on-site and online activations, creating memorable experiences that celebrate the passion of tennis reflecting its commitment to leadership in the home appliance industry. Beyond the court, Haier’s support for grassroots tennis clubs reflects its commitment to inspiring communities, nurturing future champions, and promoting active lifestyles.

December 10, 2024
Sports channels viewership declines by 20.5 per cent in week 5 of BARC

MUMBAI: The poor performance of the Men in Blue and the end of the Australian Open 2020 impacted the viewership pattern of sports channels. According to Broadcast Audience Research Council of India (BARC) week five shows a slump of 20.5 per cent in viewership pattern as compared to week four.

Dominating the viewership chart, Star India’s sports channels Star Sports 1 Hindi bagged the number one position out of the top five channels in the sports section. However, the viewership of the channel dropped by 18.5 per cent to 308715 weekly impressions as compared to week 4 of BARC.

Following Star Sports 1 Hindi, DD Sports has retained its second position on the list. However, the viewership of the government-owned channel has also dropped by 28.6 per cent to 73671 weekly impressions in week 5 as against 103110 weekly impressions in week 4.

One of the reasons the viewership of Star Sports 1 Hindi and DD Sports fell marginally because of the Virat and co’s sluggish performance in all the three one day international matches against New Zealand. The fifth T20 and first ODI match between two teams were played in week 5 (1-7 February) of BARC. The victory in the fifth T20 match didn’t impact much because India had already won the series.

Star Sports First, which was ranked third in the list last week, maintained its position but fell by 14.3 per cent to 67311 weekly impressions in week 5 as against 78546 impressions in week 4.

Star Sports 3 has thrown out Sony Pictures Sports Network’s channel Sony Ten 1 from the fourth position. However, the weekly impression of Sony Ten 1 has dropped by nearly 1 per cent to 48033 weekly impressions in week 5 as compared to 48439 impressions in week 4.

Sony Ten 1, featured on the last position of the list, declined by 42.4 per cent to 36202 weekly impressions in week 5 as against 62824 in week 4. One of the reasons the viewership declined was that the first grand slam of the year – Australian Open – broadcast on the channel, concluded earlier in the week.

February 16, 2020
Sports channels see marginal rise in viewership due to IndvsNZ, Australian Open

MUMBAI: Sports is the most preferred genre by viewers and advertisers after GECs and movie channels, and cricket most-watched sport all of them. This had become more evident during the third T20 match between India and New Zealand due to the marginal increase in the viewership of Sports channels, according to the Broadcast Audience Research Council India week 4 data.

Out of the top five sports channels, STAR Sports 1 Hindi has bagged number one spot in week 4 (25-31 January) of BARC, and has received at least 378958 weekly impressions. On the second spot on the chart, DD Sports that achieved 103110 weekly impressions, all thanks to India and New Zealand's nail-biting third and fourth T20 matches that were broadcasted on the government-owned channel.

Though STAR Sports 1 Hindi was ranked first, the other two channels of the Star group such as STAR Sports First and STAR Sports 3 have been positioned at third and fifth spot respectively in the list of week 4. Dominating the sports genre, STAR’s all three channels combine have gained over 5 lakh weekly impressions, according to the latest BARC data.

Apart from cricket, the other important sporting event — Australian Open was also televised in week 4. Precisely, the quarter and semi-final matches took place in the week 4 data of the BARC. Australian Open 2020 helped Sony Pictures Networks’ Sony Ten 1 to gain viewership, which received 62824 weekly impressions in the latest BARC report.

The marquee sports events that are scheduled at both domestic and international this year are ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, IPL 2020, ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, Olympics 2020, UEFA Euro 2020.

February 10, 2020
On-ground initiatives for Australian Open help Sony garner more eyeballs

MUMBAI: Sony has recently upped its focus on the marketing for sports content. Along with traditional marketing, the on-ground campaigns of the Sony Pictures Sports Network for the first grand slam of the year – Australian Open, has been highly successful.

Speaking to indiantelevision.com, Sony Pictures Sports Network chief marketing officer Neville Bastawalla said: “We screened Australian Open live matches from 8 am till the end of the day for the entire two weeks across all Social outlets (23 outlets) in five cities – Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Bangalore & Chandigarh that garnered over 2 lakh footfalls across the venues.”

The broadcaster for the first time in the history had also televised the Australian grand slam matches live in Hindi commentary as an initiative to garner more eyeballs. “The implementation of NTO impacted the viewership of almost all Tennis grand slams last year. However, this year’s Australian Open has continued to be the most-watched grand slam in India with 4.2 million viewers tuning in to watch the first week’s action on TV,” Bastawalla said.

It had also tied up with INOX to host a screening of final of Australian Open 2020 for 206 kids from 3 NGO’s – NAATA Foundation, Robin Hood Army & Salam Balak Trust. This was done to create property awareness within the children and masses.

As the grand slam began, the broadcaster had onboard Lenovo India, Life Insurance Corporation of India, Tourism Australia and Trivago NV as sponsors for the game. However, SPSN roped more sponsors such as Apple India, HDFC Life Insurance Company, Kia Motors India, Play Games24x7, SBI Life Insurance, Tata Motors, Wipro Enterprises by the end of the tournament.

After hit on-ground promotions for Australian Open, the broadcaster is also planning similar initiatives for upcoming sporting events in 2020. Bastawalla said, “We are coordinating contests to give away Australian team signed cricket bats with on-ground partner during Australia tour of South Africa and will also have autographed bats of top international cricket teams on display at strategic locations.”

The Australia tour of South Africa is scheduled between 21 February and 7 March, both teams to lock horns for three One Day International and T20 matches each.

The next important event SPSN is gearing up for is UEFA: Champions League – Round of 16. It has already released a TVC that would be streamed across digital platforms. “Our focus is pan-India for UEFA Champions League and the markets — West Bengal, Kerala, North East, and Goa — wherein football is most-watched are a part of that,” Bastawalla opined.

February 6, 2020
Post NTO 2.0 Sony launches new subscription TV campaign

MUMBAI: Sports has been one of the main drivers for the Sony Pictures Network India’s (SPNI’s) channels. With the new pricing regulations under NTO 2.0 becoming a reality, SPNI has launched a new campaign encouraging viewers to subscribe to its channels.

The common thread it is harping on in the campaign is the plethora of sports content it has lined up for 2020. Sony Pictures Sports Network’s (SPSN’s) channels Sony Six, Ten Sports, ESPN has 200 plus days of cricket, 700 plus live football matches, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) bouts, UEFA Champions League, UFC, ATP World Tour, Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, India Tour of Australia and UEFA Euro 2020.

Conceptualised and created by Scarecrow M&C Saatchi, the “Fully Loaded” campaign (as it has been christened) currently has two TVCs which are slated to be played out on Sony’s various channels and on various digital platforms.

The two spots (49 seconds and 44 seconds duration) feature your ordinary Indian Joe viewer who is absorbed in watching the sports telecasts on SPSN but is disturbed by his daughter (whose battery operated toy car refuses to work) in one and then by his dog chewing his shoe in the other. He then chooses to put in the batteries from his TV remote into his daughter’s toy automobile in the first spot. In the second, he takes away his shoe and instead gives his dog the TV remote to chew on. In both the spots, he continues watching the action on the telly, happy that he will not be disturbed and that his channel will not be changed. A voice-over then talks about all the tournaments that SPSN will be bringing to its viewers in 2020, ending with the tag line – “Always leave it on.”

“The marketing objective of these two ad films is to massify the sports that are aired on Sony’s sports channels and make the Sony offering appealing to viewers,” says Scarecrow M&C Saatchi founder Raghu Bhatt. “The perception is that Sony has international sports. Viewers don't know the details of the sports, but the different events can also appeal to the Indian sports fan. We also want to convince viewers that Sony’s sports channels are worth the money they are paying. ”

The spots were produced by Danny Lobo of Ensemble Productions with Alok Kulkarni as director and Kevin Crasta came on as the director of photography. Sheldon Rebello, responsible for the art direction, spruced up a bungalow Retreat Villa in Mumbai’s Madh Island. The films were edited by Paromita Ghosh.

Bhatt reveals that only the first stage of the Fully Loaded campaign has been flagged off. “We have planned a lot of activation and communication going forward for specific events in 2020,” he says.

“The “Always leave it on” campaign primarily appeals to all sort of audiences, regular Indian sports fans running in millions as well as fence-sitters,” explains Sony Pictures Sports Network’s chief marketing officer Neville Bastawalla. “It beautifully demonstrates the #fullyloaded offerings of Sony Sports and also showcases the entertainment quotient. It will be extended on-ground through strategic partnerships and associations.”

Bastawalla is extremely excited about the Always On campaign as well as the spots that ran during the final of the Austrlian Open which focused on the UEFA Champions League (UCL): Round of 16.

Says he: “The UEFA Champions League ad film captures the camaraderie between father and son who both share a common love for football and do want to miss out on any of UCL matches even though it is late at night.”

Clearly, with so much sport on the network, the spots could do well in clearing some confusion amongst TV viewers and possibly prompt them to subscribe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCRDpZeLaG8&feature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suJBSuvsSoE&feature=youtu.be

February 4, 2020
Sony Pictures Networks opts for on-ground promotion for Australian Open 2020

MUMBAI: Massification being the end objective, Sony Pictures Networks (SPN) is planning to go big in promoting the prominent sporting events that will take place this year. Moreover, the broadcaster also revealed the new on-ground campaign initiatives to promote the first grand slam of the year to Indian masses.

Sony Pictures Networks India head – marketing and on-air promotions for sports channels Neville Bastawalla, speaking exclusively to Indiantelevision.com, said: “Since 2019, we have embarked on the strategy of promoting niche sports in India and to get a larger share of the heart of consumers.”

Commencing the year with the Australian Open, which is the most-watched tennis event in India and Asia, Sony has planned two on-ground campaigns in association with ‘Social’ – an urban hangout place and Inox – the largest multiplex chain in India.

Bastwalla, explaining the on-ground campaign, said, “We have partnered with 23-25 outlets of Social across five cities in India to broadcast live matches of the Australian Open with a co-curated menu for Australia-inspired dishes.”

Adding further he said, “We are also mulling whether to telecast live semis and final or only final at particular theatres, wherein we’ll get four to five Hindi medium school children to experience the match. We will also have chat sessions by known celebrities, who will talk about tennis and make students aware of the game as many of them doesn’t know what tennis is all about.”

The broadcaster is yet to strategise the campaign for the semis and final. However, it has roped in Lenovo, Australia Tourism, Life Insurance Corporation among others as brands onboard for the grand slam. It is expected that more brands will come onboard as the game progresses towards its final stage.

For the first time ever, to get more audience traction, the broadcaster will have semi and final matches in Hindi commentary. Last year, the Australian Open had garnered around 41 million viewership compared to 13 million by the following grand slam making up around 30 per cent of overall viewership.

Meanwhile, 2020 is a power-packed year. The broadcaster is fully loaded with a line-up of international sporting events such as Euro Cup 2020 and Olympics 2020 in Tokyo, UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) Championship round of 16, and Wrestle mania – termed as the world cup of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) – among others.

Meanwhile, to promote the agenda of massification and connect the Indian audiences with niche sports, the broadcaster is also getting Bollywood celebrities to talk about ancillary sports. Last year, SPN had roped actor-director Farhan Akhtar to bat for UEFA Championship in Madrid and actor Varun Dhawan for Ultimate Fighting Championship’s match in Abu Dhabi.

Bastawalla also said: “Cricket in India is the most-watched sporting event followed by WWE in sports entertainment section. Everything else is at a similar level barring marquee properties like FIFA and Euro Cup which have both mass and class – mass in terms of reach and it’s a very classy premium event.”

Citing an example, the marketing head said, “If cricket is at 100 points on the pie chart in India, every other sport in India is at 10 points and our aim is to increase that point to 20-25 points.”

Being strong on social media at 6 million reaches across platforms, the broadcaster is constantly using digital marketing methods to promote various sports along with traditional marketing.

January 22, 2020
Kia Motors India invites young Tennis enthusiasts to join the Australian Open

Kia Motors, the world’s 8th largest automaker, has announced the commencement of its Australian Open Ballkids Program for the first time in India. Bringing the global Kia Ballkids’ AO experience to India, Kia has opened up entries for the program starting today. To celebrate its long-term commitment to the game of tennis and provide a platform for young tennis enthusiasts, the company has joined hands with Indian tennis legend Mahesh Bhupathi for the selection and training process. This initiative by Kia is aimed to play a significant role in the growth of tennis in India especially amongst the younger generation.

Kia has been a custodian of sports through various sporting partnerships. It has had a long-standing partnership with this iconic Tennis Grand Slam Championship that began in the year 2002. As a proud partner of the Australian Open, Kia is all set to play a key role in supporting the players and promoting the growth of tennis worldwide. The Australian Open Ballkids Program is meant to be instrumental in fostering young talent in India by providing them a once in a lifetime opportunity to shape their future. 10 shortlisted Indian Kia Ballkids will get to experience the excitement, thrill and sporting spirit of the Tennis tournament through a fully sponsored trip by Kia Motors India.

The Ballkids play an important role in smooth functioning and execution of tennis tournaments. Each Ballkid at the Australian Open series is a critical part of the game where they get to actively contribute on-ground and receive a huge boost of confidence at the same time.

Since its entry in India, Kia has followed its global philosophy of being an enabler of sports. India’s first ever FIFA OMBC (Official Match Ball Carrier) program by Kia encouraged millions of sports enthusiasts. Taking the OMBC legacy forward, Kia has initiated the Kia Ballkids’ AO experience to identify young tennis enthusiasts and give them a platform to nurture their passion and create real Kia Brand experiences. Staying true to its motto of Power to Surprise, Kia plans to infuse exciting experiences for fans that go beyond their expectations.

“Kia has been a firm believer in the power of sports to build communities and enhance consumer lifestyles beyond automobiles. We have been a proud partner of one of the most thrilling tennis Grand Slams in the world. Our association with Australian Open has helped us support players and promote the growth of tennis worldwide and it gives me immense pleasure to bring this partnership to India. The Australian Open Ballkids Program will help us create real KIA Brand experiences and provide a global platform to young sports enthusiasts and further promote tennis in the country”, said Mr. Kookhyun Shim, Managing Director & CEO, Kia Motors India.

As part of the entry process, parents/ guardians could log on to the Kia Motors India microsite www.Kia-motors.in/ao2019 for registration. Basis the digital entries, Kia Motors India will conduct regional auditions in 4 cities (Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bengaluru) followed by final selections in Delhi. Mentored by Mahesh Bhupathi, 100 shortlisted kids (age group 12-15 years) will be assessed by Australian Open officials to identify the final 10 Kia Ballkids for Australian Open 2019.

October 25, 2018
Australian Open, Infosys announce 3-year technology partnership

MUMBAI: Infosys, a global leader in consulting, technology and next-generation services announced a strategic three-year partnership with the Australian Open on 10 September 2018.

The Australian Open, one of the world’s popular sports and entertainment events, has continued to evolve its digital experiences in recent years.

Infosys CEO and MD Salil Parekh said, “This partnership is about creating new ways of experiencing the Australian Open. We’re really excited about the opportunity to showcase how digital technologies can enhance the boundaries of this tournament, to change the way the Australian Open is watched, analysed and played. This association with Tennis Australia also reaffirms our strategic commitment to the region where we partner with some of the leading enterprises in driving their digital transformation agenda.”

Infosys, as the official digital innovation partner of the Australian Open, will leverage its expertise in emerging technologies like big data and analytics, Artificial Intelligence (AI) as well as Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR and AR), to provide unique, innovative and engaging experiences for fans.

Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley said, “Partnering with Infosys is an exciting next step in our ongoing quest to innovate the Australian Open and engage new audiences across the world. We have long understood the importance of using data and insights to improve connections with our fans, players, coaches and the rest of the tennis community and we look forward to working with Infosys to change the way we all experience our great sport in the future.”

September 11, 2018
DishTV’s HD offering touches 50 with Sony ESPN HD

MUMBAI: Direct to home (DTH) operator DishTV has taken its High Definition (HD) channels’ offering to 50 with the addition of the newly launched sports channel Sony ESPN HD. Incidentally, this is also the highest HD offering by a DTH player in the country.

DishTV India CEO Arun Kapoor said, “DishTV has always taken a lead in enhancing the TV viewing experience for our audience. To further add spruce to the sports lovers this sporting season, Dish TV has added Sony ESPN HD to its bouquet of channels. The company not only has the first mover advantage in the DTH category and also will be accredited with the highest number of HD channels across the industry with a whopping 50 HD channels. Our endeavour is to increase affinity with our audiences by providing them the choice of content they would like to watch. Latest trends suggest that the growth of the High Definition category over the past year together with rising sales of flat panel TV’s (LED/LCD) has added a new dimension to the superior HD viewing experience.”

The Sony ESPN HD channel kicked off its sporting calendar with the live broadcast of the first Grand Slam of the year, the Australian Open.

DishTV subscribers can watch Sony ESPN HD at channel no 87.

January 19, 2016