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Tag: GMR Sports

  • Scrum meets screen as Sportz Interactive powers Rugby Premier League

    Scrum meets screen as Sportz Interactive powers Rugby Premier League

    MUMBAI: When it comes to scoring off the field, Sportz Interactive is now the prop powering Indian rugby’s digital game. In a game-changing alliance, Sportz Interactive (SI) has partnered with the newly launched Rugby Premier League (RPL), supported by GMR Sports, to design and drive the league’s entire digital presence from the first whistle to the final try.

    The engagement sees SI developing and managing the official RPL website now the central hub for fixtures, squad updates, and stories as well as launching its social media channels to build a strong, steady fanbase from the get-go. The agency also rolled out a suite of creative launch assets and a phased content strategy to keep rugby conversations buzzing long after match day.

    To mark major moments like franchise unveils, player auctions, and squad reveals, SI created high-impact visuals and behind-the-scenes content, including exclusive interviews with RPL heavyweights like Rugby India president Rahul Bose and GMR Sports CEO, Satyam Trivedi.

    The collaboration also takes the reins on RPL’s flagship fan campaign, #RugRugMeinRugby, weaving it across platforms through custom content buckets, quirky formats, and platform-specific storytelling that’s equal parts entertaining and educational. From strategic sponsor activations to creative brand partnerships, SI is also helping bring the business side of rugby into sharper play.

    “Rugby is stepping into an exciting new era in India,” said Sportz Interactive SVP for Teams Chintan Shah. “This is more than a league, it’s a movement. At SI, we’re excited to blend data, design, and digital storytelling to grow the game and fire up the fans.”

    As the Rugby Premier League sets its sights on making rugby more mainstream in India, SI’s playbook is simple: create buzz, build community, and make every scroll, swipe, and click feel like a try well scored.
     

  • GMR’s ‘Rug rug mein rugby’ campaign brings the scrum to the street

    GMR’s ‘Rug rug mein rugby’ campaign brings the scrum to the street

    MUMBAI: GMR Rugby Premier League (RPL) is charging into the national consciousness with a thumping new campaign — Rug Rug Mein Rugby — an audacious attempt to make the gritty, fast-paced sport of Rugby 7s feel as everyday as chai and traffic jams.

    Launched by GMR Sports and Rugby India, the campaign leads with a high-energy anthem that celebrates the adrenaline, grit and speed of the game, backed by vibrant visuals and a hook designed to stick. But it doesn’t stop at soundtracks. A witty series of digital films reimagines rugby in everyday Indian scenarios — from a fish-market dive that mirrors a try, to a lift-crasher evoking a ruck. The goal? Make the game less foreign, more fun.

    Speaking on the campaign, Rugby India president Rahul Bose said, “With Rug Rug Mein Rugby, we are not just launching a league, we’re launching  an emotive appeal to all Indians – Sabke Rug Rug Mein Rugby, India ke Rug Rug Mein Rugby. The theme song exudes all the exciting characteristics of the sport, while this campaign simplifies the game, celebrates the best athletes, and invites all of India to witness this spectacle.”

    GMR Sports CMO Sujoy Ganguly said, “At GMR Sports, we are committed to building a strong foundation for rugby in India. This campaign captures the heart and excitement of the sport and makes it accessible to new audiences. It’s a dynamic, high energy launchpad for both the Rugby Premier League and a wider rugby movement in the country.”

    The GMR RPL, backed by World Rugby, kicks off its debut season on June 15 at the Mumbai Football Arena with 34 matches lined up. If the campaign’s punchy appeal lands right, rugby might just go from niche to next-big-thing.

  • Try time for India as GMR backs Rugby Premier League debut

    Try time for India as GMR backs Rugby Premier League debut

     MUMBAI: Rugby’s big break in India just got a power-packed boost courtesy GMR Group. One of India’s largest conglomerates has scrummed down with Rugby India to become the title partner of the inaugural Rugby Premier League (RPL), a first-of-its-kind franchise-based Rugby 7s tournament set to kick off in Mumbai on June 15, with the final scheduled for 29 June 2025.

    Organised in collaboration with GMR Sports, the league promises to be a landmark moment for Indian rugby. The action will unfold at Shahaji Raje Bhosale Sports Complex (Andheri Sports Complex), featuring six founding franchises and a mix of global and homegrown talent.

    The GMR Rugby Premier League (GMR RPL) will welcome players from rugby powerhouses like New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Fiji, Argentina, Great Britain, Ireland, USA, and Spain, along with 18 international athletes from Canada, Hong Kong, and Germany. On the home front, 30 Indian players were picked from a competitive auction pool of 71, putting the spotlight on the country’s emerging talent.

    GMR’s entry as title sponsor is no token gesture. With a strong track record in nurturing sport be it cricket with the Delhi Capitals, kabaddi, or grassroots initiatives the group’s involvement signals a serious intent to grow rugby’s footprint in India.

    Calling it a “very important opening season,” Rugby India president Rahul Bose hailed the partnership as one rooted in “mutual belief and optimism.” He added, “We are confident this partnership will stand the test of time.”

    For Indian rugby, this isn’t just a league, it’s a leap. And with GMR’s backing, the sport finally looks set to convert potential into points. Let the rucks and tries begin.

  • Idea creates mobile website ‘Idea Delhi Daredevils Fan Page’ for subscribers

    Idea creates mobile website ‘Idea Delhi Daredevils Fan Page’ for subscribers

    MUMBAI: Adding to the joyous frenzy of the ongoing Indian Premiere League, Idea Cellular has launched the ‘Idea Delhi Daredevils Fan Page’, a mobile destination for Delhi Daredevils fans to access exclusive content related to their favourite T-20 cricket team.

     

    Idea Cellular, in its fourth year of association with GMR Sports owned team Delhi Daredevils, has developed exclusive mobile based content such as wallpaper, ringtones, videos, team anthem, news updates etc. which will be made available for its subscribers, exclusively, through the Idea WAP portal. The service will be available to over 137 million Idea subscribers across the country.

     

     The launch of ‘Idea Delhi Daredevils Fan Page’ took place in the home town of the T-20 team, in the presence of team coach Gary Kirsten, team captain Kevin Peterson, batsman and wicket-keeper Dinesh Karthik, all-rounder JP Duminy, along with GMR Sports CEO Hemant Dua, Idea CMO Sashi Shankar, Idea CCAO Rajat Mukarji,and Idea Cellular COO-Delhi and Haryana Sanjeev Govil.

     

    “India is a cricket crazy nation and Idea has always offered the best in cricket entertainment for the fans and followers of the sport, using the mobile platform. Our long and ongoing association with team Delhi Daredevils has helped us create a unique ‘Idea Delhi Daredevils Fan Page’ with an objective of bringing fans closer to the team. This initiative has been designed to further boost the uptake of VAS and data offerings from Idea during the ongoing T-20 cricket season,” informed Shankar.  

     

    Added Dua, “We are happy to take our association with Idea into the fourth year. The telecom service provider has given us the platform to connect with team Delhi Daredevils fans on-ground, off-ground and now online. We hope Delhi Daredevils fans will enjoy the content being made available to them on the ‘Idea Delhi Daredevils Fan Page’ during the ongoing IPL season.”

     

     Idea subscribers can access the ‘Idea Delhi Daredevils Fan Page’ and download the content on pay per use model. To access the fan page, subscribers can dial a toll free short code 530301 to receive the WAP link. Videos can be downloaded for Rs 5 and wallpapers, photos and ringtones for Rs 2 each. Idea will also make available some content for free download for its subscribers. Regular data charges would apply for these downloads.

     

    “Idea’s long association with Delhi Daredevils is a reflection of our commitment to offer the best infotainment to mobile consumers in Delhi. This year again, Idea is taking the fans closer to their cricket heroes from team Delhi Daredevils by giving them an opportunity to watch the matches being played on the ground, meet and greet with players, and help them connect through the fan page on their mobile devices,” concluded Govil.

  • ‘We will get an opportunity to build our brand in the international arena of cricket’ : Amrit Mathur – GMR Sports CEO

    ‘We will get an opportunity to build our brand in the international arena of cricket’ : Amrit Mathur – GMR Sports CEO

    The drama over, it is back to business. As the Indian Premier League (IPL) takes refuge in South Africa to play out its second edition, the team owners are readying their new plans to size up their revenues.

     

    GMR Sports, the owner of Delhi Daredevils, is trying to figure out how to make up for the revenue loss from ticketing sales. The spotlight is on sponsorship revenues.

     

    In an interview with Indiantelevision.com’s Anushree Bhattacharyya, GMR Sports CEO Amrit Mathur talks about the opportunity that South Africa throws up in establishing the Delhi team franchise as a brand in the international arena of cricket.

     

    Excerpts:

    GMR Sports was aiming at a 20 per cent revenue growth from sponsorship and ticketing. Now with IPL being shifted to South Africa, will that be achievable?
    No, very unlikely. With ticketing revenues under pressure, it will be difficult to reach the target. Sponsorship will be the only avenue open for us to actually earn. Also, with the tournament moving out of the country, the business model in terms of cost and revenue sharing changes.

    How does the revenue pattern shift dramatically?
    Till last year, IPL was a tournament organised by the eight franchises. Out of the total 59 matches, 56 matches were run by the franchises while IPL organised the two semi-finals and the final. But for this year, all the matches will be organised by IPL and the BCCI. So unlike last year where each franchise was clear about the cost model, (for example, the franchise knew it was to organise seven matches and could size up the costs of organising them), it is all uncertain now of how much we as franchises have to bear.

     

    We also don’t know how the revenue will be shared this time. Till last year, we knew that the central pool contributes revenues of about Rs 320 million. Now it is possible that the IPL may add the ticket revenue to the central pool to share it with the franchises. So the revenue from central pool might increase this time. It will, thus, depend on the revenue share model the IPL finally decides upon.

    Which are the areas where you feel the costs will increase for the franchises?
    Since the franchises have been told that it would be a centrally managed tournament, the IPL is expected to bear all the costs. But the main cost will depend on the financial structure of the facilities being made available – including the ground, the infrastructure, availability of ground for practice, etc. Now IPL will have to discuss these arrangements with the South Africa cricket board and figure out the expenses. As owners of teams, we have an idea of what the games would have cost in India. But we have no idea of what it would be like outside. The cost of travel and the hotels will be relatively minor.

    What if the IPL asks the franchises to bear a certain portion of the costs?
    We will go by the consensus approach. We understand that it’s an extraordinary situation. So if there is a cost attached to the tournament, I am sure everybody will sit together and find out a way.

    On the sponsorship front, GMR Sports has roped in Coca-Cola, UB, Hero Honda, Religare, adidas and Kingfisher. What has been the progress on the two slots that are still lying vacant?
    We are trying to close the last two sponsorship deals as soon as possible. However, the last couple of weeks had been uncertain and there were doubts about the tournament being played. Due to this, we had put on hold our talks with the sponsors. Now that the dates and venue have been announced, we are hoping that the interest for the property will revive.
    ‘We are unlikely to reach our target of 20 per cent revenue growth this year. Ticketing revenues will be under pressure‘

    With the game shifting outside India, are sponsors looking at renegotiating their old deals?
    No, not so far. We had signed sponsors for three years and there is further scope for extension. But at the same time, we are supposed to give them certain benefits. We are in constant negotiations with our sponsors and are open for any sort of dialogue.

    With the broadcast partner yet to be finalised, how much of damage will that do to the business?
    The audience is not really bothered about who the broadcast partner is. The main concern is whether the tournament is on or out. Now that we all know that it is in, things would start moving again.

    Now that the IPL will be played in foreign land, does your marketing strategy go through a complete overhaul?
    Well, it will change to a large extent. What we could do in terms of promoting our team in Delhi, we can definitely not carry out those activities outside India. So our marketing plans will change. We will now try to build our fan base even stronger with ticketing being handled by IPL. Moreover, we will promote our team through our media partners which include BigAdda.com, SMS GupShup, Hindustan Times, Times of India and CNN-IBN.

    Do you think the IPL will manage to gather enough loyalty in South Africa?
    This year it is true that the character of the tournament has changed because it’s no more a domestic league. The nature of loyalty will change. For example, Delhi Daredevils will miss its loyal Delhi fans. The team will play in venues like Durham or Johannesburg which might see an inflow of neutral crowd only interested in cricket as a sport. But then this is only for this year, as the schedule clashed with the Lok Sabha polls.

    What would have been a better decision – no IPL or IPL in South Africa?
    The most important thing is to have the IPL running. About hosting it in South Africa, the benefit is that the tournament and teams will get an international exposure. As team owners, we would get an opportunity to build our brand in the international arena of cricket.