ITV

Tag: ESPN INDia

  • For FIFA coverage, ESPN’s perfect assist to Sony

    For FIFA coverage, ESPN’s perfect assist to Sony

    MUMBAI: The 2018 FIFA World Cup has been quite a show already. For fans, the tournament’s been nothing short of a thrill-a-minute ride with sheer drama and constant surprises on offer. The steady state of suspense during key matches has enabled Sony Pictures Networks (SPN) India, the event’s official broadcaster in India, rake up its viewership numbers. What’s also helped is SPN’s partnership with ESPN India that has brought fans as close to the action as possible.

    Apart from telecasting the Malayalam regional feed of the showpiece event, ESPN is also leveraging its digital platforms to increase the viewers’ engagement through wrap around shows for the tournament. 

    Despite it being a non-rights player, ESPN has more than 150 people covering the event in Russia. 

    ESPN India’s head of television initiatives Jasdeep Pannu says, “With the studio facility in Moscow, all of that is coming back to help our partners in various parts of the world including Sony in their coverage.” 

    ESPN has rolled out a holistic set of content programming which includes a unique country-wide sports-travel show ‘The Last Train to Russia’ on Sony TEN (HD/SD), a daily match day analysis show called ‘Free Kick’ which is presented by ESPN anchors.

    ESPN’s Moscow is providing content for 17 hours a day via four feeds that can transmit simultaneously. The feeds are also helping fuel ESPN’s partners’ coverage across the globe, including Africa (Kwese), China (Tencent), India (Sony) and the Philippines (TV 5).

    ESPN has also launched the ESPN FC Match Predictor – the first truly global game, created in three languages (English, Spanish and Portuguese) across 13 global editions of ESPN.com – it gives fans a chance to pick the winners for each World Cup round.

    On the deal with Sony, Pannu said, “It’s a fantastic collaboration with a lot of synergy between the two brands. Sony has been very intelligent with their rights management and acquisition. They have got the biggest ongoing show in the world.”

    The challenge ESPN faces pertains to delivering the relevant content to keep the fans engaged as the mass audience gravitates towards all the sports right owners.

    However, Pannu believes that event rights are not the only way forward.

    “The rights guys are too busy focusing on the rights to look at non-rights content like we do,” he says.

    ESPN has also seen strong growth on the digital front across the sub-continent. 

    In terms of unique visitors between January to September 2017, ESPN’s digital platform witnessed a 24 per cent growth y-o-y. In India, 78 per cent of the traffic to ESPN digital (sites+app) comes from mobile devices which has growth at 150 per cent y-o-y.

    ESPN’s digital platform is also planning to target a larger group going forward by increasing its reach to the Hindi speaking audience, along with some regional languages like Tamil and Bengali.

  • ESPN India and Twitter launch #TwitterPostbox for sports lovers

    ESPN India and Twitter launch #TwitterPostbox for sports lovers

    MUMBAI: ESPN India and Twitter have come together to launch #TwitterPostbox, a daily utility service for sports fans. Sports enthusiasts can subscribe for free to their favourite sport to get a Daily Direct Message on the day’s best sports stories by simply sending a Tweet.

    To subscribe to #TwitterPostbox, fans have to follow @ESPNIndia and Tweet to @ESPNIndia with #Cricket or #Tennis or #Football or #Olympics or #F1 to know the latest on their favourite sport. They can also subscribe to multiple sports at a time by Tweeting with multiple hashtags in a single Tweet. This one-time subscription will ensure fans receive a Direct Message from @ESPNIndia on Twitter everyday. The Direct Message will contain @ESPNIndia’s Top Tweet of the Day on the sport a user has chosen; the Tweet will include a link to a published article that users can click on and read more.

    Twitter India head of sports partnerships Aneesh Madani said, “Twitter is the best place to wake up to and see what is happening in the world, and we are very excited to partner with ESPN India to launch a first-of-its-kind daily utility service for fans to be served directly with the best news of the day from their favourite sport.”

    ESPN India business development director Gaurav Thakur too added, ““ESPN India website and app will offer the entire spectrum of sports of interest to Indian sports fans and launching #TwitterPostbox in partnership with Twitter resonates with our mission to serve every sports fan anytime anywhere. We’re thrilled to be the first partner globally to launch a daily sports utility service via Direct Messages on Twitter.”

    @ESPNIndia’s partnership with #TwitterPostbox will ensure that Twitter continues to be a fan’s live connection to the world of sports every day — bite-size news, pushed directly, for the sports fan on the go, so that you don’t miss a thing.

  • ESPN India and Twitter launch #TwitterPostbox for sports lovers

    ESPN India and Twitter launch #TwitterPostbox for sports lovers

    MUMBAI: ESPN India and Twitter have come together to launch #TwitterPostbox, a daily utility service for sports fans. Sports enthusiasts can subscribe for free to their favourite sport to get a Daily Direct Message on the day’s best sports stories by simply sending a Tweet.

    To subscribe to #TwitterPostbox, fans have to follow @ESPNIndia and Tweet to @ESPNIndia with #Cricket or #Tennis or #Football or #Olympics or #F1 to know the latest on their favourite sport. They can also subscribe to multiple sports at a time by Tweeting with multiple hashtags in a single Tweet. This one-time subscription will ensure fans receive a Direct Message from @ESPNIndia on Twitter everyday. The Direct Message will contain @ESPNIndia’s Top Tweet of the Day on the sport a user has chosen; the Tweet will include a link to a published article that users can click on and read more.

    Twitter India head of sports partnerships Aneesh Madani said, “Twitter is the best place to wake up to and see what is happening in the world, and we are very excited to partner with ESPN India to launch a first-of-its-kind daily utility service for fans to be served directly with the best news of the day from their favourite sport.”

    ESPN India business development director Gaurav Thakur too added, ““ESPN India website and app will offer the entire spectrum of sports of interest to Indian sports fans and launching #TwitterPostbox in partnership with Twitter resonates with our mission to serve every sports fan anytime anywhere. We’re thrilled to be the first partner globally to launch a daily sports utility service via Direct Messages on Twitter.”

    @ESPNIndia’s partnership with #TwitterPostbox will ensure that Twitter continues to be a fan’s live connection to the world of sports every day — bite-size news, pushed directly, for the sports fan on the go, so that you don’t miss a thing.

  • New Adventure travel series ‘Freedom Riders Asia’, Celebrating man and motorcycle on the move, debuts on ESPN India on 19 may

    New Adventure travel series ‘Freedom Riders Asia’, Celebrating man and motorcycle on the move, debuts on ESPN India on 19 may

    MUMBAI: Well-known motorcycle adventurer Charley Boorman rides onto screens in Asia with the debut of Freedom Riders Asia, a six-part adventure travel series celebrating man and motorcycle on the move across six Asian countries. A premiere screening held today in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, showcased the first episode of the series that was shot in Malaysia, which will be aired on Sunday 19 May 2013 on ESPN India at 2100 HKT.

    Conceptualised and developed by FOX One Stop Media, the integrated sales arm of FOX International Channels (FIC), News Corporation’s international multi-media business, in close collaboration with global lubricants brand Shell Advance Motorcycle Oil, Freedom Riders Asia sees Charley Boorman, one of the world’s most renowned and recognised bikers, embark on a journey to explore the colourful biking landscapes of Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines.

    From picking tea leaves on the hillside plantations of India, to surfing the legendary waves of Bali’s black sand beaches, Charley meets local biking communities and incredible personalities along the way who show him the delights of each city and the way of life from the back of a motorcycle. In each episode, Charley immerses himself in each country’s unique biking culture, quite often with surprising results.

    In the debut Malaysia episode, viewers will get to see Charley learn the important role the motorcycle plays for many individuals in their daily lives along with taking on a challenge with a well-known local biking personality that will see him fighting for his very reputation!

    Kar-Tai Koh, Shell Advance Global Brand Manager, said: “After six months of hard work and a truly collaborative effort, I am extremely proud of the outcome of Freedom Riders Asia. We really wanted the series to be about celebrating and connecting bikers around Asia; and who better to help us achieve this than Charley Boorman? This is part of Shell Advance’s efforts to empower bikers to experience more freedom on the road in their day-to-day lives and enjoy every ride. I would like to thank FOX for this great working opportunity, our featured local guests as well as all relevant parties involved in making this show possible.”

    Simeon Dawes, Senior Vice President, Advertising Sales and Partnerships, Asia Pacific & The Middle East, FOX One Stop Media said, “One of the objectives of this unique programme is to showcase the diversity of Asia through its different motorcycling cultures, and I believe Freedom Riders Asia has done exactly that, while shedding light on how integral the motorcycle is to the daily lives of so many. This truly has been an exciting collaboration with Shell Advance, and I hope that audiences across Asia will enjoy watching this series as much as we had in making it!”

    He continued, “FOX SPORTS is committed to bringing motor sports fans across Asia the most comprehensive line-up of premier action from around the globe and the region with the live coverage of events such as MotoGP and Superbike World Championships. Freedom Riders Asia is another such initiative that provides fans a unique dimension about motor sports from beyond the motorcycle racing scene.”

    Charley Boorman said: “What I loved most about the Freedom Riders Asia experience was the opportunity to meet locals with larger-than-life characters and ride with passionate bikers in a completely different part of the world. This is indeed a bike trip of a lifetime that I will always remember. The first episode is as exciting as the next, and I hope that the audience in Asia will stay close and enjoy the series as they experience Asia with me!”

    The airing schedule* is as follows:

    Episodes
    Date
    ESPN India
    Ep 1    Malaysia    19 May    16:00
    Ep 2    Philippines    25 May    16:00
    Ep 3    Indonesia    2 June    16:00
    Ep 4    India    9 June    16:00
    Ep 5    Vietnam    16 June    16:00
    Ep 6    Thailand    23 June    16:00
    *Note that there will be three repeats for each episode. Refer to http://tv.foxsportsasia.com/ for repeat schedule.

    Keeping in mind fans desire to deep dive into their favorite sports, a special digital initiative in form of the Shell Advance YouTube page (http://www.youtube.com/user/shelladvance) has been set up where fans can catch exclusive content such as very interesting behind the scenes clips as well as catch up on any missed episodes.

    To reach out to a larger audience base across different demographics and genres, Freedom Riders Asia is being promoted extensively across Fox International Channels Asia’s family of channels such as FOX, National Geographic and FX

  • Government demarcates listed sports events

    Government demarcates listed sports events

    NEW DELHI: The government has come out with a list of sports events, excluding cricket, which would have to be shared with the pubcaster on a mandatory basis whether played in India or outside.

    A government communication to broadcasters states that the list will be valid for five years, though implementation review will be done annually by the authorities.

    If Doordarshan is unable to telecast a listed event due to some reasons, then that game’s possible deletion from the list is likely to be discussed during the annual review meeting.

    Cricket related events have not been specified as there are two cases pending in the courts relating to it and involving ESPN Star Sports and Ten Sports.

    The mandatory sharing of feed of listed events is part of the downlinking norms, which were announced by the government in November 2005.

    Asked about the listed events released by the government, ESPN India managing director RC Venkateish said, “We are comfortable with the non-cricket list of sporting events.”

    The list of sports to be shared with DD include the summer and winter Olympics, Commonwealth Games, Asian games and Afro-Asian Games.

    On the soccer front, where the mercury is building up leading up to the Fifa World Cup in a couple of months time, the list includes the semi-final and final matches of Euro Cup and Fifa World Cup. For Asia Cup, it would be the semis, final and all matches featuring India.

    As far as domestic soccer tournaments are concerned, DD will have access to the semifinal and final matches of Subroto Cup, Santosh Trophy, Federation Cup, Durand Cup, National Women’s Football and Junior National Football.

    In tennis, all matches featuring India and the semis and final of Davis Cup will have to be shared with DD. For the Grand Slams and WTA, all the final matches (men’s, women’s, mixed doubles and doubles) feature in the government list, apart from any other matches featuring an India from quarter-final onward.

    In hockey, the World Cup semis, final and India matches will have to be shared with DD. For the Champions’ Trophy, its India matches plus the final, while on the domestic circuit, the Baton Cup and Gold Cup for Women will see the semis and finals on DD.

    In chess, the World Cup final and matches featuring any Indian from quarterfinal onward find mention in the list. Ditto for Chess Olympiad.

    The finals and India games of billiard and snooker World Cups also have made it as listed events.

  • Entertainment industry to be valued at Rs 650 billion

    Entertainment industry to be valued at Rs 650 billion

    A comprehensive report on the entertainment industry, the first of its kind, has been compiled by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci) along with Arthur Anderson. The report reveals very positive and optimistic figures projected for the entertainment industry’s growth. The media committee is headed by Lalit Modi and the members include Plus Channel’s CEO Amit Khanna, Sone Entertainment Television’s CEO Kunal Das Gupta and ESPN India Chairman Manu Sawhney along with representatives of film, music and entertaiment industry.

    The report says that the Indian entertainment industry’s turnover will touch Rs 650 billion in the year 2005 from the current Rs 150 billion. The television software industry is slated to grow to Rs 90 billion, music industry to Rs 22 billion from the current Rs 12.54 billion where as the live entertainment sector would be worth Rs 33.65 billion from the current Rs 2 billion.

    The survey suggests private or progressive participation in Doordarshan. Other suggestions are as follows:

    * Creating a special anti-piracy cell with the police department to combat the growing piracy menace.
    * Developing closer association with international cells guarding against piracy and streamlining anti-piracy laws with that of US, UK etc.
    * Bringing the industry in parity with the information technology sector with respect to overseas investment and stock listing norms.
    * Providing stable legislation for the issue of radio broadcasting licences.
    * Reviewing the functioning of the Censor Board in light of the changing scenario and citizens increasingly demanding the right to make their own decisions on entertainment.
    * Issuing board regulations/guidelines for banks and financial institutions to facilitate lending to this intellectual property related industry.
    * Reviewing archaic laws and onerous responsibilities cast on the industry particularly in the film exhibition and live entertainment sectors.

    The Ficci has organised a conference on 30 March and 31 March, 2000 in Mumbai to discuss the problems faced by the entertainment industry. Industry bigwigs and political bigwigs are slated to attend the seminar.