ITV

Tag: Cricket

  • Disney Star to licence ICC television broadcasting rights to Zee for four years

    Disney Star to licence ICC television broadcasting rights to Zee for four years

    Mumbai : Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (Zeel) and Disney Star announced that they have entered into a strategic licensing agreement under which the latter will licence to the former  the television broadcasting rights of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Men’s and Under 19 (U-19) global events for four years.

    Disney Star will continue to be the sole provider of ICC tournament streaming via its digital platform, Disney+ Hotstar. This arrangement has been approved by the ICC.

    “This is a first-of-its-kind partnership in the Indian media and entertainment landscape, and this association with Disney Star reflects our sharp, strategic vision for the sports business in India. As a one-stop television destination for ICC men’s cricket events until 2027, Zee will leverage the strength of its network to offer a compelling experience for its viewers and a great return on investment for its advertisers,”  said Zeel managing director & CEO Punit Goenka. “Long-term profitability and value-generation continue to be our areas of focus across the business, and we will always evaluate all the necessary steps that will enable us to make sports a compelling value proposition for the company. We look forward to working with ICC and Disney Star, to enable this strategic offering for our television viewers in India.”

    This agreement allows Zeel to exclusively  telecast on TV marquee events such as the  ICC Men’s T20 World Cup (2024, 2026), ICC Men’s Champions Trophy (2025), and ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup (2027), as well as key ICC U-19 events.

    Also reads:  Disney Star retains ICC TV & digital rights for India till 2027

    Disney Star president & country manager K Madhavan said, “By securing the IPL television broadcast rights for 2023-27 and now opting to retain only the digital rights for ICC tournaments for 2024-27, we have in place a balanced and robust cricket offering for our audiences across linear and digital. Over the years, Disney Star has strengthened the appeal of international cricket in India, enabling it to reach diverse age groups and cultural demographics across all parts of the country. As India’s leading media house, we will continue to do so with our strong portfolio of cricket properties across television and digital.”

    With the ICC digital rights secured for the next four years, Disney Star continues to remain India’s home of sports. Its current portfolio also includes IPL television rights (2023-27), Cricket Australia television and digital rights (2023-2030), BCCI television and digital rights (2023), and Cricket South Africa television and digital rights (end of 2023-2024). Other major sports properties available on its platforms, in addition to cricket, include the Pro Kabaddi League, the Indian Super League, the Wimbledon Championship, and the English Premier League.

  • Inox brings Asia Cup 2022 matches live on cinema screens

    Inox brings Asia Cup 2022 matches live on cinema screens

    Mumbai: Inox Leisure is geared up to give Indian cricket fans an exceptional stadium-like experience by broadcasting Asia Cup 2022 matches live on cinema screens.

    The 15th edition of the Asia Cup 2022, which will be played in the UAE, will begin on 27 August with the finals scheduled on 11 September. Inox will broadcast all Team India matches live at multiplexes in over 30 cities across India.

    Inox’s initiative to screen live matches will be a boon for fans who want to experience stadium energy in a carnival-like setting in a safe and hygienic environment.

    The air-conditioned comfort of the cinema hall will enhance their overall cricket viewing experience. While watching the matches, fans will be able to enjoy INOX’s extravagant food combinations and delectable gourmet options served at the multiplexes.

    Inox Leisure chief operating officer Anand Vishal said, “This Asia Cup 2022, Inox is all set to welcome the cricket fans to this unparalleled and stadium-like experience across the country. With this unique initiative, our aim is to provide our patrons with the feeling of pulsating energy as if they were in the stadium itself.”

    He added, “We are waiting to welcome cricket fans to our cinemas to come and watch the Asia Cup matches together on our giant screens, with fantastic surround sound, which will create an atmosphere like no other. Cricket is a religion in India, and the Asia Cup is one big festival, and we are delighted to bring the cricket action to the big screens at the Inox cinemas.”

  • Disney Star retains ICC TV & digital rights for India till 2027

    Disney Star retains ICC TV & digital rights for India till 2027

    Mumbai: Disney Star on Saturday announced that it has signed a four-year agreement with exclusive digital streaming and television rights for both men’s and women’s events through 2027.

    In a press statement, Disney Star said, “We are delighted to be able to continue our association with the International Cricket Council (ICC). Under the new four-year agreement, Disney Star has retained the exclusive digital streaming and television rights for both men’s and women’s events through 2027. We look forward to strengthening our partnership with ICC in the years ahead.”

    “Disney Star has played an important role over the last seven years in transforming ICC games into one of the biggest sporting spectacles in India and has expanded the viewer base of the property across geographies and demographics in the country,” the statement added.

    The ICC did not reveal the value of Disney Star’s bid, but it is expected to be higher than the $1.44 billion benchmark set by the ICC for four years. Disney Star also owned the last set of ICC rights, which were worth approximately $2.1 billion. The bids had been opened on Friday and the ICC Board confirmed the winner on Saturday.

    The extension of the ICC rights adds to Disney Star’s strong portfolio of cricket properties, which also includes the television rights for IPL (2023-27), TV and digital rights to Cricket Australia (2024-31), BCCI broadcast rights through 2024, and Cricket South Africa (end of 2023-24 season), and bolsters their status as the go-to destination for the best sporting events in the country.

    “Disney Star won following a single round sealed bid process which has yielded a significant uplift to the rights fee from the previous cycle, continuing the impressive growth and reach of cricket,” an ICC release said.

    ICC chairman Greg Barclay said, “We are delighted to continue to partner with Disney Star as the home of ICC cricket for the next four years, which has delivered an outstanding result for our members and will support our ambitious growth plans.”

    “Having a broadcast and digital partner for women’s events in India is a significant step forward in our ambition to accelerate the growth of the women’s game. Disney Star presented impressive plans for the promotion of women’s cricket and they clearly share our vision, so I’m incredibly excited by the size of the opportunity ahead,” he added.

    Disney Star country manager and president K Madhavan said, “We are delighted at being able to continue our association with the International Cricket Council (ICC) and look forward to strengthening our partnership by growing the sport of cricket in the years ahead.

    “With the acquisition of the ICC Digital and TV broadcast rights, Disney Star has further strengthened its status as the premier destination for marquee cricket events in the country.”

  • News18 India announces special programming on Asia Cup with ‘Jeetega Bhai Jeetega’

    News18 India announces special programming on Asia Cup with ‘Jeetega Bhai Jeetega’

    Mumbai: As the nation prepares to cheer team India in the upcoming Asia Cup, News18 India is all set to present extensive reportage to capture the thrill and enthusiasm of Asia’s biggest international cricket carnival. With ‘Jeetega Bhai Jeetega’, the channel is all set to extensively cover the Indian team’s journey in the Asia Cup on 28 August at 6 p.m, 9.15 p.m & 11.30 p.m.

    Adding to the excitement of the much-awaited clashes between arch rivals India and Pakistan, News18 India will telecast special preview, mid-match, and review shows on India-Pakistan match days to analyze each aspect of the fiercely fought on-ground battles.

    Along with exclusive interviews, the channel will also host engaging sessions with renowned former cricketers and experts such as Sandeep Patil, Kiran More and Nayan Mongia. They along with the channel’s editorial team will discuss in detail what should be India’s winning strategy and team combination for every match. The show will also dissect the key moments of the match once it is over in the review show.

    To keep the viewers up-to-date on all the latest cricket happenings and electrifying atmosphere on-ground, News18 India’s team will be present on ground zero and will host special shows from there. With “Jeetega Bhai Jeetega”, News18 India will aim to further create excitement for the viewers.

  • Goldmedal Electricals partners with Asia Cup 2022 to be associate gold sponsor

    Goldmedal Electricals partners with Asia Cup 2022 to be associate gold sponsor

    Mumbai: Goldmedal Electricals on Thursday announced that it will be the associate gold sponsor of the upcoming T20 Asia Cup 2022 tournament. The tournament is scheduled to be played in Dubai and Sharjah. It is scheduled to start on 27 August, with India playing its first match on 28 August against arch-rivals Pakistan.

    The tournament has six teams competing for the cup: India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and another team amongst UAE, Kuwait, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Rohit Sharma will lead the Indian team, with KL Rahul returning to the team as his deputy.

    The Goldmedal Electricals brand will enjoy a prominent presence on the ground as part of this association. Along with a presence on the pitch map, the brand will also be visible on the perimeter boards, the sight screen, and various presentation backdrops.

    Speaking on the association with this marquee tournament, Goldmedal Electricals director Kishan Jain said, “Team India is on a roll, and everyone is looking forward to some amazing contests. As the gold sponsor, we are excited by this tournament’s possibilities, as every match will be keenly watched worldwide. As a pan-Indian brand, we believe that T20 cricket has a unique unifying force which will help us connect our brand with the cricket-loving people of the country.”

    Jain further cited that Goldmedal is keen to have a long-term association with Indian cricket. The gold association will mark Goldmedal’s first sponsorship of a major international cricket tournament. Earlier, Goldmedal was the title sponsor of the T20 series between India and the West Indies in July 2022. Goldmedal was also the official powered by sponsor of the ODI series between the two teams and the official power partner of the India-Ireland T20 series held in June.

    The Asia Cup 2022 matches will begin at 7:30 p.m. IST and will be telecast live on Star Sports and Disney + Hotstar, with the India-specific matches also being telecast on DD1 and DD Sports.

  • Mayank Agarwal signs with Baseline Ventures for commercial representation

    Mayank Agarwal signs with Baseline Ventures for commercial representation

    Mumbai: Sports, events, entertainment, and licensing firm Baseline Ventures has signed Indian cricketer and T20 league Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Punjab Kings captain Mayank Agarwal to represent him in all commercial aspects.

    He has scored more than 2,000 runs in the IPL in 113 games. He has also amassed more than 4,000 runs in domestic T20s.

    “Having signed with Baseline Ventures, I am incredibly happy and looking forward to seeing how this will help me in my career. Today, every athlete needs the right representation, and having the right people around me to handle the commercial aspects would be hugely beneficial,” said Agarwal.

    “We at Baseline Ventures are very pleased to represent a seasoned cricketer in Mayank Agarwal. He proved his mettle at the highest level after amassing a mountain of runs on the domestic circuit, and his record in Test cricket speaks volumes of his prowess. We want to make sure Mayank’s brand keeps growing in the right direction,” said Baseline Ventures co-founder Vishal Jaison.

    After a record-breaking domestic season in 2017-18, which included over 1,000 runs within a single month and other consistent performances for both Karnataka and India A across formats, he got his maiden call up to the Indian Team midway through the 2018-19 Border Gavaskar Series in Australia, where his gritty knock of 76 on Test Match debut in Melbourne was the second highest score by an Indian opener making his test debut overseas.

  • Ravi Shastri brings forth FanCode’s ‘fan-first’ proposition in its new campaign for the India tour of West Indies

    Ravi Shastri brings forth FanCode’s ‘fan-first’ proposition in its new campaign for the India tour of West Indies

    Mumbai: From 22 July 2022 digital sports destination FanCode will stream the Indian cricket team’s tour of the West Indies. In the just launched campaign, FanCode highlights the fan-first features it will introduce to empower fans in customising their match-experience through a series of fun banter between former cricketer Ravi Shastri and digital content creator Ashish Chanchlani.

    Shastri was recently announced as the brand ambassador for FanCode where he mentioned, “I’m elated to join FanCode in this journey of democratising sports for fans in India.” Chanchlani has now joined the bandwagon to promote the brand’s first India tour on the platform and its fan-first proposition.

    The collaboration showcases Chanchlani’s rise from a leading digital content creator to becoming a brand endorser of a mainstream digital sports brand. Right from fans getting to choose their commentator from a wide list of experts calling the game; interactive overlays enhancing the match-viewing experience by providing real-time stats; availing any match or player related data while watching the game, without having to switch the screen; to choosing any replays or highlights on-demand; the campaign sees Chanchlani taking a dig at Shastri’s digital-savviness by highlighting these features.

    Chanchlani said, “My entire career is a testament of the power of digital in India. FanCode as a homegrown brand is empowering sports fans by exploring the full potential of digital and resonates strongly with me. It’s a pleasure to collaborate with the legend himself in the fun campaign, and look forward to supporting FanCode’s digital transformation in sports broadcast.”

    Speaking about the first campaign, FanCode co-founder Yannick Colaco said, “The India tour of West Indies will change the way fans consume sports and will set a new benchmark for sports fan experiences. With this campaign, we want to introduce our fan-first proposition to a larger audience through a light-hearted narrative, and the unique pairing of Ravi Shastri and Ashish Chanchlani will help us in just that. Their reach and influence is phenomenal, and they both connect with fans across the spectrum in the country.”

    The India tour of West Indies is scheduled from 22 July 22 – 7 August. Three ODIs and Five T20Is will be played. ODIs start at 7 p.m. and T20Is start at 8 p.m. While FanCode is curating a digital-first live-streaming experience across the FanCode app (Android, iOS, TV) and www.fancode.com, it has partnered with DD Sports to make the tour accessible to the TV viewing audience across the country.

  • ICC FTP draft creates two and a half month window for the IPL

    ICC FTP draft creates two and a half month window for the IPL

    Mumbai: In a move that signifies the importance of Twenty20 league cricket, the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) near-final draught Future Tours Programme (FTP) has created a two-and-a-half-month window for the Indian Premier League (IPL) every year. There are also home-season windows for the Hundred and the Big Bash League (BBL) in England and Australia’s schedules.

    A report in ESPNcricinfo said that the near-final draft of the ICC’s latest FTP for men’s cricket lays out the international cricket due to be played by the 12 full members between May 2023 and April 2027. It is built primarily on two cycles of the World Test Championship (WTC), a host of ICC events, and plenty of bilateral white-ball cricket.

    Over the next four years, there are very few international cricket matches scheduled from the latter week of March to the first week of June. The IPL is played during that time.

    The Twenty20 Leagues also have a timeframe for England and Australia. However, the report said that, in contrast to the IPL, the Hundred and windows don’t bring international cricket to a halt. England and Australia, who have previously played both tournaments along with international games, must make room in their schedules for them.

    For instance, a three-week window between July and August is free of any international cricket in every English summer in this draft FTP. The ECB has advocated for more time for England’s marquee white-ball players during scheduling discussions for this FTP, so it stands to reason that they will have more time in their marquee white-ball competition. Due to international commitments, some of England’s top players, including Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, and Joe Root, only participated in two games during the Hundred’s inaugural season.

    Other members have also made space for their T20 leagues, said the report. For example, the Caribbean Premier League (CPL)’s August-September window is all but set, though there’s only ever been a handful of international cricket played in the Caribbean in those months. Bangladesh has kept January free for the BPL in each of the last four years of FTP, said the report.

    Meanwhile, another report by ESPNcricinfo.com said that as per the near-final draft FTP, India is scheduled to play 38 tests, four fewer than England (42) and three fewer than Australia (41). Only two other countries have more than 30 tests on their calendar: Bangladesh (34) and New Zealand (32). The Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which is a test match series between India and Australia, has five tests. This is the first time since 1992 that this has happened. India will travel to Australia for five tests in December and January 2024-25, and the return series will take place in India in early 2027. Both series are part of the next two World Test Championship cycles in 2023–25 and 2025–27, respectively.

    India is also scheduled to play two five-test series against England—at home in early 2024 and away in 2025. The home series will be part of the 2023–25 World Test Championship cycle, while the five tests in England are part of the 2025–27 WTC cycle.

    Apart from the series against Australia and England, India has played more than two tests in a bilateral contest only once: a three-test series at home against New Zealand in October-November 2024. The rest of India’s WTC series is limited to two tests. The report said England and Australia, on the other hand, are scheduled to play several three-test series over the next four years.

    The final draft is expected to be presented at the ICC’s Annual General Meeting on 25 and 26 July 2022, in Birmingham.

  • Viacom18 Studios partners with HeyHey! to launch NFTs

    Viacom18 Studios partners with HeyHey! to launch NFTs

    Mumbai:  Motion picture studio Viacom18 Studios has collaborated with HeyHey!, an online platform powering experiential engagement between celebs, influencers, creators and brands globally via new-age tech – to venture into the Web3 space. In line with this, the film studio has launched its first-ever NFT project called the “Shabaash Mithu.” This is an NFT collection. HeyHey! is its technology partner.

    “Shabaash Mithu” stars Taapsee Pannu in the lead role. It is directed by Srijit Mukherji and produced by Viacom18 Studios. The film is based on the life of the former Indian cricket team captain, Mithali Raj, who is considered one of the greatest female cricketers in the Indian squad. The film chronicles the ups and downs and moments of glory in her life. Intending to provide fans and audiences with a holistic experience of this film that transcends beyond the movie screens, Viacom18 Studios is foraying into the Web3 world. For this, the media company has partnered with HeyHey! to launch its “Shabaash Mithu” collection of NFTs and, in turn, build a thriving Web3 community of movie fans.

    NFT holders including audiences and enthusiasts will be allowed to claim their free NFTs that will allow them to be a part of the “Shabaash Mithu” NFT film club and enjoy several benefits alongside the updates they will be receiving on the same. The other set of NFTs that consumers can purchase will give buyers exclusive access to unlock offline experiences.

    While talking about the partnership with HeyHey! and the NFT collection launch, Viacom18 Studios COO Ajit Andhare said, “Good storytelling makes for an immersive experience, and we are taking it one step further by layering digitally forward engagement avenues. Our partnership with HeyHey! to launch an NFT collection for “Shabaash Mithu” is a unique collaboration that will appeal to cricket enthusiasts and the digitally savvy audiences.”

    HeyHey! Founder and CEO Caleb Franklin mentioned, “NFT is the future of experiencing experiential engagement in the virtual world and has opened an infinite number of opportunities in building brand value. We are delighted to collaborate with Viacom18 Studios, and we believe that we will empower the fan base by providing a personalised and premium experience with our new-age Web 3.0 technology. Our technology experts have dedicated themselves to making the launch a success, and we believe that it will bring triumph for both HeyHey! and Viacom18 Studios in building a unison community.”

    Previously, HeyHey! had partnered with actress Sunny Leone for her “I Dream Of Sunny” NFT collection and The Olive Group of Restaurants’ “Oliverse” to mint NFTs for them. Besides that, the platform said that it is on the verge of signing artists, production houses and brands to empower them to create their fanverses – thereby building a strong track record for itself in the dramatically growing Web3 space.

  • FanCode expects India West Indies series to grow its user base to 100 mn sports fans

    FanCode expects India West Indies series to grow its user base to 100 mn sports fans

    MUMBAI: Last year the Dream Sports owned digital platform FanCode had taken the media rights for the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) till 2024. The Indian cricket team will play West Indies in an eight match series comprising three ODIs and five Twenty20 Internationals. The series runs from 22 July – 7 August 2022. 

    Speaking to Indiantelevision.com FanCode co-founder Yannick Colaco highlighted the importance of matches being played during primetime. “We expect the event to grow our FanCode user base to 100 million sports fans.”

    The platform is being innovative in terms of its pricing. He explains that the focus has always rested on subscription packaging being inclusive and easily accessible for sports fans across the country. “For the India tour, fans will get to watch the entire tour of three ODIs and five T20s by paying just Rs 99. Fans will also be able to take a monthly subscription of FanCode, which will include events like The Hundred, and other cricket internationals featuring New Zealand, Bangladesh, Pakistan & Zimbabwe, in addition to the India West Indies tour for Rs 199. First, we are also creating an “ad free” premium subscription, where users will get to watch each match without ads for the price of Rs 159,” he explains.

    He further noted that the Caribbean is home to some of the most entertaining cricket played in the world. “Our partnership with Cricket West Indies is a comprehensive one, which includes close to 400 matches from the Caribbean featuring some of world cricket’s biggest and brightest stars, over a four year period. The partnership has allowed us to give millions of cricket fans in India the opportunity to experience FanCode and the many digital innovations we are bringing to fans in redefining their sports consumption experience.”

    He goes on to note that FanCode is the first-ever digital-only platform to host an India bilateral series and the entire coverage of the event will be customised for digital audiences. The aim he noted is to put the fan first. “Fans will now have the ability to choose the highlights they want to watch with the “real time highlights” feature, access real time stats like wagon wheels, manhattans, etc., through interactive overlays on the “Match Hub” and choose their commentator of choice.”

    FanCode, as had been reported earlier by Indiantelevision.com, has sublicensed the broadcast rights to DD Sports. It marks the first time in over two decades that the pubcaster will air India cricket exclusively. “We are laser focused on providing great user experiences and solving for accessibility gaps that fans have in sports consumption & experience. DD Sports reach in smaller cities and towns is unbeatable, making it the ideal partner to help broadcast the tour on linear television while we continue to build a superior digital experience for fans nationally” he said.

    Talking about cricket properties that FanCode has besides WICB, he said that the platform also has partnerships with the English Cricket Board, New Zealand Cricket, the ICC, Afghanistan Cricket Board, Zimbabwe Cricket, Cricket Ireland, Cricket Scotland, KNCB (Netherlands), Cricket Namibia and Malaysia Cricket. It is the exclusive partner for Vitality Blast, The Hundred, which are events done by the English Cricket Board. For the record, The Hundred is both a recently introduced event and a new format. There are 100 balls per innings for example.

    Also Read: FanCode & DD Sports partner for exclusive TV broadcast of India tour of West Indies

    It is also worth noting that Vitality Blast was established by the England & Wales Cricket Board in 2003 as the first professional Twenty20 league in the world. It was back when the concept of Twenty20 cricket was alien to India. Sharing his views on The Hundred, he said the format has been well thought out and is innovative in achieving its goal of engaging younger audiences better. “The response for the event last year was very positive and we expect the fan base for the event to grow exponentially this year.”

    FanCode is also the ICC exclusive partner for all Pathway (World Cup Qualifier) events. It is also the exclusive partner for the cricket boards in Zimbabwe, Ireland and Afghanistan. In addition to this, it is a partner for New Zealand’s Twenty20 competition Super Smash.

    When asked if viewership for non India cricket is growing, he said, “Sports fandom has grown exponentially in India, especially among the youth. What has been missing is the depth in coverage of non-India cricket events and an integrated experience for sports fans. We are constantly striving to solve both these fan problems & the response has already been tremendous, as evident by over 50 million sports fans who have used FanCode”.