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Tag: ICC

  • Booking.com: Expanding horizons, redefining travel

    Booking.com: Expanding horizons, redefining travel

    Mumbai: With the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup – one of the world’s most notable cricket tournaments – around the corner, the excitement amongst fans is palpable as sports tourism soars. Booking.com, the official accommodation partner for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, launched its integrated campaign ‘Howzat for your perfect stay’, integrating the world of travel, cricket, and its passionate fans that make it happen. A press event was hosted in Mumbai with former Indian cricketer Zaheer Khan, Bollywood actor Varun Dhawan, and Booking.com country manager – India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Indonesia Santosh Kumar.

    The campaign featuring Indian team captain Rohit Sharma along with well-known international cricketers Jos Buttler, captain of the England team, and Glenn Maxwell highlights the fun and excitement of booking with Booking.com. It showcases the end-to-end ease and incredible choice of accommodations that Booking.com offers by taking viewers through the journey of a family dreaming of their perfect cricket stay.

    With more than 28 million reported listings in over 171,000 destinations worldwide, including destinations where ICC matches are taking place, Booking.com offers the widest selection of incredible places to stay including hotels, resorts, apartments, villas, and more.

    On the sidelines of the event, Indiantelevision.com caught up with Booking.com country manager, India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Indonesia Santosh Kumar.

    Edited Excerpts:

    On the differentiation between Booking.com and its competitors

    Number one, I would say the flexibility and convenience that we offer to our consumers. Second is the transparency in pricing because what you see on the first page when you get the search listing is ultimately the price that you book. There are no hidden fees of any sort, etc. So it’s very much consumer-focused. So I would say, those are the two key USPs.

    On the specialty that Sports Tourism has, that other forms of tourism don’t

    I think both sports and travel go pretty well because they both connect people, they help people see the destination and get access to experiences that they would not have otherwise. I think, in general, it also helps people connect across cultures. Sports is a great leveler and I think travel does the same. Therefore, I think they both go hand in hand.

    On reaching out to tier-2 and tier-3 markets

    Earlier this year, we introduced Hindi as a new language option to enhance our appeal to regional consumers seeking a localized experience. Hindi is now available both on our website and app. Our partners can access our platform in Hindi, allowing them to upload their property listings and manage their inventory in this language. Likewise, consumers can browse, search for, and make bookings in Hindi, making our services more accessible and relevant at the local level.

    Hindi marks the first Indian language we’ve introduced, and it is the 46th language available globally on our platform. If it proves beneficial, we may consider launching additional regional languages in the future.

    Furthermore, we are actively working to increase our local relevance in social media marketing, such as on Instagram, to better connect with Indian consumers. Additionally, through our investment in ICC Cricket-related initiatives, we hope that we’ll be able to bring about more brand awareness in tier-2 and 3 markets as well.

    On future expansion plans

    In general, we’ve obviously launched new categories beyond accommodation. We were primarily an accommodation player previously. Now we have launched, flights, cars, and attractions, with flights being live in over 50 countries globally now.

    In India, it’s been live for about 18 months. We are also continuously expanding our range of attractions, forming partnerships with companies like Kluck and Viator in the Asia Pacific region. We want to become the one-stop shop for somebody who’s traveling.

    Secondly, we’re investing also in the area of sustainability, because a lot of consumers want to travel more sustainably. They want to find sustainable options. So, we have a sustainable badge that we launched in 2021. This badge offers various levels of certification for accommodations and properties, allowing travelers to easily identify and choose sustainable options when booking.

    This is our effort to continue to meet the net zero ambitions in the hospitality and travel industry.

  • ICC to launch the sport’s first-ever vertical video production at Men’s Cricket World Cup

    ICC to launch the sport’s first-ever vertical video production at Men’s Cricket World Cup

    Mumbai: In a first for the sport, the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 world feed match coverage which is supported by Disney Star, will see ICC TV produce an additional vertical video feed, that will revolutionize fans’ viewing experience of the biggest Cricket World Cup ever.

    The ICC’s vertical feed will be a first-of-its-kind coverage for the sport across all 48 World Cup matches. The technological innovation will provide fans with an easier and more intuitive viewing experience on mobile phones that allows them to consume content on-the-go in the most convenient handheld position.

    For fans, this transformative approach to consuming ICC events will provide more access to World Cups than ever before. The vertical feed will provide a special experience with the addition of split-screens in its coverage. With a focus on building more context to the on-field action, the split-screen feature will unlock an additional dimension for the viewers and provide a further sense of proximity to the action and their heroes.

    The production will use a carefully curated array of dedicated vertically oriented cameras, whilst utilising the world feed cameras for split screens. The production will also feature match graphics and bespoke production enhancements to enhance the vertically oriented coverage.

    The vertical video feed will also make use of traditional technical and editorial storytelling tools to further elevate the coverage. Key features like ball tracking, player tracking and field plot will be tailored to fit the vertical format. The coverage will also have a world-class commentary panel calling the action.

    ICC chief commercial officer Anurag Dahiya said, “Cricket fans always look forward to the high-quality broadcast coverage of ICC events. With this in mind, the ICC TV team continuously strives to tailor our coverage to fan preferences. We are very excited to launch cricket’s first-ever vertical video production at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. This game-changing initiative promises to transform the fan viewing experience. It is an innovative approach to cricket coverage that will place fans at the centre of the action bringing them closer to the game than ever before and providing a world-class production to the biggest Cricket World Cup ever.”

    Disney Star head – sports Sanjog Gupta said, “Consumers’ preferences and habits are evolving more rapidly than ever before, catalyzing the emergence of new user experiences. Disney Star has always played a pioneering role in taking cricket viewing experiences forward and is now proud to collaborate with the ICC to bring to sports fans for the first-time ever the ‘vertical feed’, on ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. The ‘vertical feed’ aims to deliver to digital users, enhanced convenience, engagement and immersion, beyond the differentiated screen orientation. With its uniquely designed production style entailing cameras, graphics, direction, replays and other enhancements, it promises to change the way cricket is watched.”

    The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup kicks off on 5 October with a repeat of the 2019 final as England face New Zealand in Ahmedabad. Across 10 world class venues, 48 matches will be played in 46 days culminating in the Men’s Cricket World Cup Final on 19 November in the biggest cricket stadium in the world.

  • Mastercard and ICC partner for priceless cricket World Cup 2023 experiences

    Mastercard and ICC partner for priceless cricket World Cup 2023 experiences

    Mumbai: The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced an exciting association, with Mastercard becoming a Global Partner for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 to be held in India between 5 October and 19 November 2023.

    Mastercard will continue its rich legacy of sports sponsorships to provide unique experiences to its cardholders and customers through exclusive benefits. With cricket being one of the most popular sports in India, South Asia and many other regions across the globe, the World Cup places fans at the centre of the action enabling them to experience the game like never before.

    In addition to the exclusive 24-hour pre-sale window, Mastercard cardholders will be able to avail a number of benefits. These opportunities include the chance to meet cricket legends, get up close to the Men’s Cricket World Cup trophy and experience unique access on match days. Children of cardholders aged between 12-18 years will also have the chance to be a part of the flagbearer programme and there will be a wide range of offers for Mastercard cardholders on official ICC merchandise.

    Mastercard’s tie-up with the ICC highlights the brand’s commitment to cricket and adds to the global technology company’s prestigious international sports sponsorship portfolio which includes associations with the likes of UEFA Champions League and the PGA Tour.

    ICC chief executive, Geoff Allardice said: “We are delighted to announce Mastercard as a global partner for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, the pinnacle event of the one-day game. Mastercard brings its rich experience of sports partnerships to the table, and the ICC is looking forward to collaborating with a renowned global brand to bring many benefits to cricket lovers around the world.”

    Mastercard chief marketing and communications officer Raja Rajamannar said: “Cricket is a huge passion for millions of people across the globe, particularly in India and South Asia. We are excited to partner with the ICC for the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, allowing us to bring fans closer to their passion for the sport. We’re dedicated to connecting our customers, cardholders and all cricket enthusiasts to priceless possibilities throughout the tournament.”

  • TradeIndia encapsulates buzz around T20 World Cup

    TradeIndia encapsulates buzz around T20 World Cup

    Mumbai: TradeIndia has rolled out a new campaign encapsulating the nationwide buzz during the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The ad film for the campaign features TV sensation Shaleen Malhotra.

    To carry out this campaign, TradeIndia partnered with Dream Slate Pictures, who conceptualised and amplified the campaign on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

    Cinematically blending the flavours of cricket with TradeIndia’s offerings, the campaign, “#SabMilegaYahinMilega,” highlights the bulk buying services it offers MSMEs.

    The idea behind “#SabMilegaYahinMilega” derives from TradeIndia’s key offerings. Just as every over in cricket needs the batsman to choose a different strategy, every business, big or small, has different needs.

    One such critical need is bulk buying, which requires a lot of legwork and finding the right supplier can take a great deal of research. TradeIndia makes the entire process easier and more seamless by giving users a quick way to gauge the trustworthiness of a particular supplier through transaction levels and response rates. The B2B e-commerce site features suppliers from across the world, giving businesses a platform to buy goods in bulk at wholesale prices.

    Elaborating on the campaign, TradeIndia CEO Sandip Chhettri said, “In India, cricket isn’t just a sport but a shared emotion that connects billions of fans across genders, generations, and cultures. In our country, where the Cricket World Cup is celebrated as a festival, this film provides an opportunity to connect with consumers, manifesting offerings in a language everyone understands. TradeIndia has always leveraged innovative ways to reach out to consumers and this campaign stands testimony to the memorable experiences they can have with the brand while enjoying the cricket craze.”

    Speaking from the creative perspective, Dream Slate Pictures executive director Kushaal Chawla stated, “Being part of the TradeIndia World Cup cricket campaign is an exciting experience as the company is one of the most reputed B2B marketplaces. With the World Cup underway, we believe our concept capitalising on the nationwide cricket mania will be a massive hit for the brand. Through this film, we want fans to be entirely engrossed from the outset, eventually associating their love for cricket with TradeIndia. That’s how the “Cricket Matlab India, Business Matlab TradeIndia” campaign emerged. This promo aims to foster robust trust and recall value between the brand and its cricket-loving users.”

  • Nissan partners with INOX as title sponsor for ICC T20 Men’s World Cup 2022

    Nissan partners with INOX as title sponsor for ICC T20 Men’s World Cup 2022

    Mumbai: INOX Leisure has announced a partnership with Nissan India to be the official sponsor of the World Cup screening at INOX.

    The partnership will see Nissan India and INOX working across various digital media platforms including on-screen and video wall advertisements, as well as hosting live match screening sessions for their exclusive clientele and dealer partners.

    The Super 12 stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup commenced from 22 October, with the finals scheduled on 13 November in Melbourne. INOX will showcase all group matches to be played by Team India starting with their first match on 23 October against Pakistan, followed by the semi-finals and the final match.

    INOX will screen the live matches at multiplexes in all major cities in India. INOX’s initiative, in partnership with Nissan, to screen live matches is a great opportunity for the fans who wish to experience the stadium-energy in a carnival-like, safe and hygienic atmosphere. Furthermore, fans will be able to enjoy INOX’s extravagant food-combos and gourmet options served at the multiplexes.

    While commenting on this partnership, INOX Leisure chief operations, sales and revenue officer Anand Vishal said, “With an aim to provide a holistic experience to our patrons, we have constantly been working on our alliances to help us elevate their cinema-going experience. The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is one of the much-awaited cricketing events across the globe, and it is a privilege for us to screen the matches live at our cinemas. The partnership with Nissan India adds a new dimension and further strengthens our brand offering, and we invite our patrons to come and experience the unparalleled and stadium-like feeling when they watch the World Cup matches together on our giant screens cheering for Team India. We thank Nissan for partnering with us as we offer this unique experience which brings together India’s two most profound passions, cricket and cinema.”

  • My11Circle’s launches new campaign for T20 World Cup

    My11Circle’s launches new campaign for T20 World Cup

    Mumbai: Games24x7 has launched a captivating new campaign for the ICC T20 World Cup on its fantasy sports platform, My11Circle.

    ‘My11Circle pe team banao, har din SUV jeeto’ is a three-film campaign which features brand ambassadors Sourav Ganguly and Shubman Gill to celebrate the spirit and enthusiasm of Indian cricket fans by rewarding their skills and knowledge of the sport.

    The campaign takes an enticing approach to capture the audience’s interest. Shot in varied backgrounds, these films intend to reinforce the brand promise of rewarding the passion, skill, and knowledge of Indian cricket lovers and My11Circle players.

    The campaign gives expression to the sheer euphoria experienced by cricket lovers in creating a winning team on the My11Circle platform. The palpable excitement in the air and the resounding announcement of the win reach a crescendo with an uplifting background score, followed by the larger-than-life appearance of the brand ambassadors on the screen, surprising the fans with the grand win. The films make an exciting watch, capturing the fun and frenzy associated with the T20 World Cup, and are sure to enthral cricket lovers across the nation. This campaign was designed by The Script Room.

    The campaign is live across TV, YouTube, and OTT and on other digital platforms today.

    Commenting on the campaign and its expected response, My11Circle senior vice president Saroj Panigrahi said, “As the fastest growing fantasy sports platform in India, My11Circle offers an entertaining space for cricket aficionados to test their skills and knowledge, and rejoice in the glory of their favourite teams. This campaign will not just bring cricket lovers across the country together but also build an integrated and extended game-playing experience for them. We are positive that this campaign will add to the excitement and fervour of the tournament and further help in strengthening our user base.”

    Speaking about his association with the My11Circle campaign, Sourav Ganguly said, “I am happy to be a part of this exciting campaign as it is centred around Indian cricket fans. It will provide them with the perfect opportunity to sharpen their acumen. It takes tremendous skill and knowledge of the game to make a winning team. There is no greater joy than adding to the spirit of cheer and excitement for the game. I am sure cricket fans will enjoy the challenge immensely.”

    Adding to it, Shubman Gill said, “This campaign will in a way unite cricket fans as it is being launched during the T20 World Cup. It will encourage them to engage with My11Circle and apply their skills and knowledge to create a great team. I wish all passionate fans the very best. I hope they are ready to take on the ultimate challenge and emerge as winners.”

  • Inox brings T20 Men’s World Cup 2022 in cinemas; inks deal with ICC

    Inox brings T20 Men’s World Cup 2022 in cinemas; inks deal with ICC

    Mumbai: Inox Leisure on Wednesday announced signing an agreement with the International Cricket Council (ICC) for live screening of ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 matches on the cinema screens at its multiplexes across the country.

    The eighth edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup commences on 16 October, with the super 12 stage kicking off on 22 October, and the final scheduled for 13 November in Melbourne.

    Inox will showcase all group matches to be played by Team India, starting with their first match on 23 October against Pakistan, followed by the semi-finals and the final match. The live matches will be screened across Inox multiplexes in more than 25 cities. Inox’s initiative of screening live matches will provide a supreme stadium-like experience in movie theatres. The comfort of the cinema hall in an air-conditioned environment will add to their overall cricket watching experience in the company of like-minded fans of the game of cricket. In addition, fans will be able to enjoy exciting food-combos and scrumptious gourmet options served at Inox cinemas while enjoying the matches.

    Commenting on the announcement, Inox Leisure chief operating officer Anand Vishal said, “By screening cricket in cinemas, we are bringing together the thrill of the giant screen experience and thunderous sound with the most loved sport in our country, and that is cricket. The excitement and emotions of the World Cup would add to this combination, resulting in a virtual treat for cricket lovers. We are grateful to the International Cricket Council for providing us with an opportunity yet again to offer an all-immersive cricket-viewing experience for the fans. We are prepared to welcome our guests and let them take their festive spirits to a new level with this cricket festival on the giant screen.”

  • Thums Up’s ‘Stump Cam’ campaign engages consumers

    Thums Up’s ‘Stump Cam’ campaign engages consumers

    Mumbai: Thums Up, Coca-Cola India’s first billion-dollar homegrown brand, has unveiled a new ‘StumpCam’ campaign, just in time for the ICC T20 Men’s World Cup. This will provide audiences with exclusive access to match footage and content. The brand will be adopting a digital-first, multi-tech marketing approach to drive consumer engagement for the content-led campaign.

    The campaign, which features renowned cricketers and superstar bowlers Jasprit Bumrah, Umran Malik, and Brett Lee, aims to amplify Thums Up’s new “Stump Cam” offering, which will offer a thrilling view into exclusive ’Toofani’ match moments, straight from the pitch. After each World Cup match, the Stump Cam video of ‘Toofani’ cricketing moments will be accessible to viewers by scanning a QR code on the Thums Up bottle. The offering will enable cricket lovers to access unique content from the tournament like never before.

    Commenting on the new campaign, Coca-Cola India & Southwest Asia vice president & head – marketing Arnab Roy said, “Cricket is a shared passion which connects billions of fans across genders, generations, and cultures. We are always finding innovative ways to activate passion points like cricket and especially the ICC T20 World Cup. Thums Up’s “Stump Cam” will offer audiences the most ‘Toofani’ view of key moments of the tournament – leveraging the Stump Cam footage was a disruptive opportunity that would bring to fans a complete new way of experiencing the game. We are elated to have on board with us India’s lead bowler and star Jasprit Bumrah, who is an indispensable asset for the Indian team; Umran Malik, who is touted as the fastest bowler in the country today; and one of the legends of the game, Brett Lee. This is the first time we are doing a content-led campaign, voiced by cricketing stalwarts like Harsha Bhogle”.

    Commenting on his association with Thums Up, Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, said, “Thums Up has been a longstanding partner and supporter of events and athletes across sporting formats and I’m extremely happy to have been associated with it for over a year now. It’s exciting to bring to cricket lovers and fans the brand’s new offering “Stump Cam” which will enable them to access thrilling cricketing content from a never-seen-before angle, straight from the pitch and get closer to the game.”

    Australian former international cricketer and one of the fastest bowlers of his time, Brett Lee added, “I am ecstatic to be partnering with India’s most iconic soft beverage brand Thums Up, for their new StumpCam campaign. I have lived and breathed cricket all my life, and I am thrilled to be part of Thums Up’s “Stump Cam” offering, which will excite consumers beyond measure as it gives them the ultimate view of key match moments as if they were watching it right from the pitch. #WicketSeCricket!”

    The campaign film has been conceptualized by Ogilvy India. Ogilvy India chief creative officer Sukesh Nayak stated, “Thums Up’s ‘Stump Cam’ is the most daring end-to-end experience idea. It’s the most Toofani, the closest possible view of the ICC T20 Men’s World Cup. And the ticket for this is the Thums Up bottle. We are proud to conceptualise and execute this end-to-end engagement idea in partnership with some incredible partners from the world of content. #WicketSeCricket campaign is an invitation for every Thums Up drinker to experience a Toofan he or she hasn’t had so far.”

    Ogilvy India- North chief creative officer Ritu Sharda added, “From sitting on tree-tops, to gathering around paan shops, India has watched cricket in every possible way. But we wanted to give Thums Up fans an opportunity to get the most toofani ‘view’ in the house and frankly that’s where Thums Up Stump Cam found its genesis. We wanted people to really feel the rush of a ball coming right at them at 95 mph. We wanted them to experience cricket, like a cricketer does, right from the middle of the pitch. We are partnering with ICC and Oaktree Sports, for a 24-hour match to pack to screen marathon, making World Cup 2022, the most toofani World Cup you have ever seen. Dum hai toh dekho #WicketSeCricket”

    Thums Up has been a longstanding partner of the ICC (International Cricket Council). The Coca-Cola Company has a long history of partnering with major sporting events around the world, including an eight-decade long association with the Olympics, four decades with the FIFA, and nearly 25 years with World Cup Rugby. These associations with sporting events underscore the company’s philosophy of endeavoring to be a part of the joyous moments and occasions of its consumers.

  • Collective Artists Network signs cricketer Rishabh Pant

    Collective Artists Network signs cricketer Rishabh Pant

    Mumbai: Cricketer Rishabh Pant has signed with the agency Collective Artists Network for exclusive representation.

    The young star from Uttarakhand made his T20 international debut in 2017 and was named the ICC Men’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year at the 2018 ICC Awards.

    In February 2021, Pant was named the Men’s Player of the Month in the first edition of the ICC Player of the Month Awards. He was also the fourth youngest Indian to captain an IPL team and stood in for an injured Shikhar Dhawan for the 2019 Cricket World Cup.

    Collective Artists Network group CEO & founder Vijay Subramaniam said, “I’m truly excited to welcome Rishabh into the Collective Artists Network fold. His pure on-field brilliance and naturally amiable persona make him a truly unique proposition for his fans and partners. We look forward to taking the brand Rishabh forward with the infrastructure at Collective.”

    Commenting on this development, Pant said, “I’m thrilled to be working with Collective Artists Network. It feels incredible to be exclusively represented by India’s largest players in the talent ecosystem, and I’m sure this will be a very successful partnership.”

    Collective Artists Network head of sports Ritesh Nath said, “We’re so proud to announce our marquee signing in sports, Rishabh Pant. He is the poster child of a young and fearless India, which is a marketer’s delight. We are truly looking forward to what we can build together.”

    Collective Artists Network added that it delivers the best opportunities in popular culture to its clients across creative artists, brands, the investment community, and the entertainment ecosystem.

  • CricHeroes surpasses 15 million users, launches Shots for cricketers

    CricHeroes surpasses 15 million users, launches Shots for cricketers

    Mumbai: CricHeroes, an international cricket scoring platform, has announced that it has surpassed the 15 million registered user mark. The cricket network also announced the launch of Shots, an app for cricket short videos from the matches live streamed on CricHeroes.

    CricHeroes founder Abhishek Desai said, “We are extremely happy to achieve this milestone. Every day we are bridging the gap between grassroots cricket and international cricket with the help of technology. The consistent increase in our user base shows how CricHeroes is a useful and user-friendly platform for one and all who love the game of cricket. Such milestones certainly encourage us to come up with even more innovations and help spread the popularity of the game further. Shots is another step in that direction.”

    Shots will showcase curated moments from the matches live streamed on CricHeroes. All the videos are 10-20 seconds long, just like the very popular Instagram Reels. Cricketers will be able to submit their own “shots” very soon to make the game even more engaging.

    CricHeroes is the scoring home for many domestic cricket leagues in India and abroad. With several domestic and international associations as official partners around the cricketing world, CricHeroes helps streamline the scoring process, which can be accessed live and also at the same time by the players, coaches, and officials.

    The triumphs and achievements of our domestic cricketers have a permanent record because of CricHeroes. Recently, they have come onboard as the official scoring platform for the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) and Andhra Premier League (APL).

    More than three million matches have been scored using CricHeroes. More than 200 cricket associations are using CricHeroes as their official scoring platform. Major BCCI affiliated state associations such as Cricket Association of Bengal, Baroda Cricket Association, Tamil Nadu Cricket Association, and others, as well as ICC members such as Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Canada, and others, use CricHeroes officially for their leagues.