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Tag: ESPNcricinfo

  • India Vs Pakistan: A match ‘Not to be missed’

    India Vs Pakistan: A match ‘Not to be missed’

    MUMBAI: Whether it is Kashmir, Baluchistan, football, hockey or cricket; India vs Pakistan is always big news. This time the battlefield is the Adelaide Oval in Australia and war is ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.

     

    The war of bat and ball, of mental strength and temperament, will start at 9.00 am Indian Standard Time (IST) with the national anthems of the respective countries followed by 100 overs of nail biting cricketing action. It will be pride for some and agony for others, but whatever the result may be, it will end with handshakes and hugs. That’s what makes this battle so exciting and one of the most watched rivalries in sports history.  

     

    Commenting on the magnitude of India vs Pakistan match, Colors CEO Raj Nayak said, “It’s indeed a big match and I will obviously cheer for India. But we have to understand the fact that it’s just a match and the team that plays better cricket will win. The timing is very good and hence I will obviously watch the match.”

     

    Multi Screen Media president Rohit Gupta opined, “Though I don’t get to follow the 50 overs format, I will certainly try to watch the India – Pakistan bout. My support is always with India but may the best team win.”

     

    “India vs Pakistan is a big match and it’s great that India is starting their campaign against Pakistan. It will decide the tone of the tournament and build immense interest in the country,” added NDTV executive vice-chairperson K. V. L. Narayan Rao.

     

    Madison Communications COO Kartik Lakshminarayan said, “I am surely going to watch the match and have already made my plans. Around 150 of us will book a place and watch the match live. It is indeed a time to celebrate and obviously India’s victory is what we will be cheering for.”

     

    Maxus managing partner head of the north and east regions, Navin Khemka asserted, “It’s a big day for India, and I would say it’s a super Sunday. The match starts at 9.30 in the morning and it can’t be any better. And as an advertiser I must say this match is very important in context to the tournament. Fans and spectators in India will be looking forward to this match and a good start here can make the tournament a very special one.”

     

    Hats Off Productions founder J D Majhetia said, “India – Pakistan match is a never miss game for me, since the time I started understanding cricket I don’t think I have missed an Indo – Pak match. Last time I flew to Chandigarh with my family when the two teams met in the semifinal of 2011 edition. This time we are planning a mass gathering in one of the studios. I have already announced that there will be no shoots on 15 February because of the match.”

     

    The match is also big in terms of commercial aspect. If sources are to be believed then Star, the official broadcaster of World Cup in India, has hiked its ad rate by around 200 per cent for the India – Pakistan match. However, if an advertiser wants to buy a slot only for this particular match, then the hike is around 350 to 400 per cent. During a normal league match, the ad rate fluctuates between Rs 5 to 10 lakh for a 10 second spot depending on the magnitude of the match. For the India vs Pakistan match, Star is selling a slot for Rs 20 to 25 lakh.

     

    Any cricket lover would not like to miss a single minute of a match of such substance. And this season there are a number of options for a cricket fan to catch the action.

     

    Television: One can sit with a hot cup of tea and breakfast in front of the TV and enjoy every moment of the match. Star has already roped in a number of innovations to make the broadcasting a worthy treat. One can opt for high quality pictures by tuning to HD channels. Amitabh Bachchan will also be there as a commentator to entertain viewers in Hindi. Panel of experts and legends of the game will be in the commentary box to bring detailed analysis of the live action. Additionally, as a never before treat, Star gives viewer choices of opting for regional languages too. But what if one is not subscribed to Star? Not to worry, thank to the Supreme Court of India, DD will telecast the India vs Pakistan match and will be available on cable and DTH platforms.

     

    But what if one has to travel? Will he or she have to miss the match? That brings the digital platforms in the game.

     

    Starsports.com: Gone are the days when television was the only source of audio visual entertainment. One can log in to starsports.com and catch ball by ball action live. Star India’s sports VOD platform will stream all the World Cup matches live and India vs Pakistan is certainly one of them.

     

    But India is a country with a lot of VOD platforms and less bandwidth, 3G is expensive and can take a hefty chunk out of one’s pocket. In case a user does not have access to 3G services to stream the matches live, there are various apps available that can give updates about the match.

     

    Cricbuzz: Times Internet’s sports venture Cricbuzz gives the opportunity to relive the nostalgia. One can opt for audio commentary through that app and it works fine in 2G too. It is quite similar to how radio is, one can plug in earphones and enjoy the audio commentary.

     

    EspnCricinfo: The cricket dedicated app does ball by ball text commentary, updates scores and statistics. The app also enables the opportunity to tune into pre match and post match video analysis.

     

    ICC Cricket World Cup App: The Official ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 app for the first time one can access to live scores, in-match clips, fixtures, exclusive videos, real-time statistical updates and more – all in the palm of their hand.

     

    Besides these apps, one can also log in to any news website to know the score of the match.

     

    This world cup International Cricket Council (ICC) gives fans exclusive opportunity to connect with the marquee tournament. One can easily become a commentator or expert and share their views and opinions in the social media platforms through the following mediums:

     

    Facebook: www.facebook.com/ICC & www.facebook.com/CricketWorldCup 

    Twitter: www.twitter.com/ICC & www.twitter.com/CricketWorldCup 

    Instagram: www.instagram.com/ICC & www.instagram.com/CricketWorldCup 

    Google+: www.google.com/+ICC & www.google.com/+CricketWorldCup

    YouTube: www.youtube.com/ICC       

  • ESPNcricinfo launches new series before World Cup

    ESPNcricinfo launches new series before World Cup

    MUMBAI: With the Cricket World Cup less than a month away, cricket portal ESPNcricinfo has launched a new video series called ‘Contenders’.

     

    The series will have former skippers Rahul Dravid and Greame Smith sharing their observations on strength and weaknesses of the teams participating in ICC World Cup 2015. They will also critically analyse the possibilities of each team and determine the key factors in all the teams. Besides analysis on capabilities, the duo will also scrutinize the statistics and predict their progress in the tournament. 

     

    The 10 episode series starting 20 January, 2015 will be hosted by Gaurav Kalra and is sponsored by Renault.

     

    ESPNcricinfo editor Sambit Bal said, “At ESPNcricinfo, it has been our constant endeavour to produce high-quality original video programming, and Contenders is yet another step in that direction. It brings together two iconic cricketers who have led their teams at the World Cup to examine the prospects of the 14 teams and their leading players in the cricket’s biggest event.”

     

  • Starsports.com to show ICC WC 2015 in four languages

    Starsports.com to show ICC WC 2015 in four languages

    MUMBAI: As the year comes to an end, cricket fans are eagerly awaiting for 2015 to begin. Cricket mania is set to take over as ICC Cricket World Cup will begin in February next year. And waiting to cash in on the opportunity is starsports.com.

     

    According to Star India EVP and new media head Ajit Mohan, the portal will be following a three step strategy ahead of the mega event. “Firstly, we will create an immersive experience by launching a video timeline that will be available to all fans of starsports.com fans. It will allow them to catch up very quickly on a match, when they come to witness the action on the website. We were the first to introduce the video timeline and we will now take it to every fan,” he says.

     

    “Secondly, we will provide the option for users to switch between languages. Currently we are looking at four languages; Hindi, English and two regional languages,” he adds.

     

    “Thirdly, we are going to have a lot more data and analytics on our site. Apart from this, there will be original stories written by a stellar list of writers like Harsha Bhogle,” he informs.

     

    The website currently is in a celebratory mood. According to data, recently released by comScore, the portal which was launched in June 2013 has beaten the dominant 20 year-old market leader ESPNcricinfo, by a slender margin. For the month of October, the website garnered 4.242 million traffic versus 4.233 million of ESPNcricinfo.

     

    The data also suggests that sports viewership in India is going through a rapid change due to a shift in viewership patterns. Consumers are moving away from basic text and scorecards to a more immersive sports experience on digital. The explosion in the sale of smart phones and increase in access to 3G and broadband explains this trend, says the study.

     

    When questioned what have been the ingredients that have helped starsports.com achieve this recent feat, Mohan explains that the portal has always focused on three areas – enhancing video experience, engaging data and analytics and lastly, storytelling.

     

    “We want to create a video experience that surpasses all constraints of data access and works even at low bandwidths,” says Mohan while adding that sports fans are avid consumers of statistical data too.

     

    Mohan credits his digital team for the website’s way forward. “The DNA of this company is that we are story tellers. We turn data and analytics into sports telling, in a way that can’t be done on television.  For example, we have short clips of matches that are curated to tell a story,” concludes Mohan.

  • ESPNcricinfo gets ready for ICC World Cup 2015

    ESPNcricinfo gets ready for ICC World Cup 2015

    MUMBAI: Digital cricket brand ESPNcricinfo has announced that that Ricky Ponting is joining the portal both as a columnist and video commentator. Ponting will offer his insights and comments on the key cricket action of 2015 including the ICC Cricket World Cup and the Ashes.

     

    ESPNcricinfo editor in chief Sambit Bal speaking on the different initiatives  said, “With three marquee events – India vs Australia, the World Cup and Ashes – coming back-to-back over the next 12 months, Ricky Ponting is a massive signing for us. Apart from being a legend of our game, and a World Cup and Ashes hero, he is also a keen and articulate student of the game. His insights and intimate knowledge of the contemporary game will be an invaluable addition to our coverage.”

     

    The signing of Australia’s most successful Test captain and triple ICC Cricket World Cup winner forms part of ESPNcricinfo’s wider ICC Cricket World Cup coverage and content plans. It recently launched its 100 day countdown to the start of the tournament with a completely responsive microsite dedicated to World Cup 2015 which will include an ICC Cricket World Cup trivia section, an editorial and blog features covering the teams, players, and venues alongside video and photographic content along with a comprehensive World Cup travel site highlighting key information for anyone wanting to attend any of the match venues during the ICC Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

     

    Ponting commented, “I’m really excited to be joining the team at ESPNcricinfo.  I’ve been an avid consumer of the site for many years and now can’t wait to share my insights as a contributor especially as the next 12 months will have so many highlights and gripping contests.”

     

    ESPNcricinfo will also give global cricket fans the World Cup timeline section which deep dives into each of the previous World Cups, including galleries, quizzes, overview and videos from each of the World Cups. World Cup Vignettes, a new video series, will allow fans to relive 50 landmark moments from the ten previous World Cup tournaments. From exceptional individual performances to the raw emotion of the crowd, each vignette will feature interviews from players, umpires and journalists and be accompanied by a written article.

     

    Additionally, Mark Nicholas will present Men of the Finals, a series analysing the individuals who have produced exceptional performances to help their country win cricket’s most coveted international trophy. Hearing from the players themselves and those who witnessed their exploits first-hand the backstory and performance will be critiqued during each episode of the series. Users in the United States, Canada and the West Indies will be able to watch actual match clips for both World Cup Vignettes and Men of the Finals.

     

  • ESPNcricinfo brings Gaurav Kalra on board to expand digital video content strategy

    ESPNcricinfo brings Gaurav Kalra on board to expand digital video content strategy

    MUMBAI: ESPNcricinfo, the world’s leading digital cricket brand seems to be strengthening its digital team. It has brought on board TV journalist Gaurav Kalra as the Senior Editor for the emerging video editorial and a part of the content development group.

     

    Kalra, who joins ESPN from CNN-IBN, will work with ESPNcricinfo’s in-house digital video production teams and acclaimed editorial team to continue to grow and develop the brand’s use of high-quality video in their journalism and storytelling, as well as original analysis and programming. Kalra will report to Editor of ESPNcricinfo Sambit Bal.

    Kalra will be based out of ESPN’s Bangalore office, where ESPNcricinfo also unveiled a new studio and control room built to enhance the production capabilities and quality for the site.

     

    The highly-flexible digital video production studio is designed with four different “pocket sets” that can be purposed for four entirely different programming uses – including a main set, smaller and more casual “discussion” space, a video wall and a “pitch” demonstration set. Each can be customised for different shows and sponsor elements. The studio features multiple HD camera positions, cutting-edge digital switcher and recorder equipment, an eight-line Telos audio system, professional grade talk back system and a live streaming encoder – allowing it to produce full TV-quality programme production.

    “ESPN has been at the forefront of developing world-class sports content and are known to have revolutionised the way content is delivered on digital platforms. The opportunity to keep pace with evolving tastes of sports fans and develop high-impact, share-able content in the process, is tremendous. ESPNcricinfo has enjoyed enviable brand loyalty from cricket fans thus far, and I look forward to enhancing the offering by looking at new series and video programming to take story-telling to the next level,” said Kalra.

  • MSM moves to court over exclusive media rights for IND-NZ cric series

    MSM moves to court over exclusive media rights for IND-NZ cric series

    MUMBAI: Multi Screen Media’s (MSM) sports arm Sony Six bagged the exclusive broadcast rights for the highly anticipated India’s tour of New Zealand just 10 days prior to the first match.

     

    However, after the first One Day International (ODI) which was played at Napier on 19 January where the Kiwis decimated the boys in blue by a margin of 24 runs, MSM discovered that few website operators and a radio operator were providing live and contemporaneous text and audio commentary and detailed ball-by-ball update of the match without obtaining any authorisation from MSM.

     

    While ESPNCricinfo was providing live and simultaneous text commentary over the internet, Cricbuzz was providing audio and text commentary online, and RadioOne was providing audio commentary through internet and mobile. Since the Network has exclusive copyright over the content, MSM moved the Delhi High Court (HC) against these three entities seeking inter alia for permanent injunction restraining violation of its exclusive media rights, damages and rendition of accounts.

     

    The New Zealand Cricket Board had granted exclusive media rights including television, internet, mobile and data rights pertaining to the India tour of New Zealand cricket matches series being played in January/February 2014 to Multi Screen Media along with its affiliates (MSM) for telecast in the Indian subcontinent.

     

    MSM general counsel Ashok Nambissan says, “We are happy that the Hon’ble High Court has granted us an injunction preventing the flagrant violation of the exclusivity of our rights in the ongoing cricket series between India and New Zealand. These rights are acquired at great cost in our efforts to bring international sports events live to our viewers. We will continue to be vigilant and take action as per law to protect our rights.”

     

    The above-mentioned matter came up before Justice GS Sistani of the Delhi High Court on 21 January, 2014. Upon hearing the submissions made on behalf of MSM, the Judge – plaintiff – issued a notice to the operators (ESPNCricinfo, Cricbuzz and RadioOne) – defendants – and passed an ex-parte ad-interim orders.

     

    The relevant portion of the aforementioned order reads as below:-

     

    “Accordingly, defendant, its agents, servants, employees are restrained from:

     

    * Making available, through any medium whatsoever, live/contemporaneous audio commentary of the matches played in the cricket series between India-New Zealand;

     

    * Exploiting or authorising the exploitation of cricket match-related material/information/details including but not limited to current cricket score, ball-by-ball updates, score cards, score updates, alerts etc, contemporaneous with match situations/events, as they happen in relation to the matches played in the cricket series between India- New Zealand.”

     

    The Delhi High Court has directed these websites and radio channel to obtain licenses from MSM if they wish to provide live commentary on their websites and apps and/or provide score updates, scorecards or any other match information.

  • Affle in agreement with ESPNcricinfo for rich media advertising

    MUMBAI: Affle, a leading international smart-media company, has signed an agreement with ESPNcricinfo for rich media advertising in India. As part of the agreement, Affle‘s recently launched rich media ad network – “Ripple” – will power some of the leading digital cricket destination‘s rich media advertising.

    The two companies will also work together to create customised digital media solutions for leading brands and agencies that take advantage of ESPNcricinfo‘s best-in-market content, community and position as the leading digital destination for cricket.

    Commenting on the agreement, Affle Co-founder & CEO Anuj Kumar said, “In a short span our rich media ad platform ‘Ripple‘ has received overwhelming acceptance from top publishers and advertisers due to the significant technology innovations we have built. This collaboration with ESPNcricinfo is very special for us as it helps us deliver engaging ad experiences to passionate cricket fans who throng to ESPNcricinfo daily to engage with its hugely popular and relevant content.”

    ESPNcricinfo head Ramesh Kumar said, “Through our popular mobile site, as well as applications on phones and tablets, ESPN already connects more than any other digital brand with cricket fans on the move. Working with Affle, we‘ll add to that by creating new, meaningful and premium ways for brands to connect with those fans alongside ESPNcricinfo‘s industry-leading cricket content.”