ITV

Tag: IMG

  • Uberoi ascends to Google APAC, taking vendor partner reigns

    Uberoi ascends to Google APAC, taking vendor partner reigns

    MUMBAI: Tanveer S. Uberoi, a seasoned Google stalwart, has hopped over to Singapore to take on the role of director of vendor partner management sales for APAC. After nearly a decade navigating the labyrinthine Indian market, he’s now tasked with supercharging the region’s small and medium-sized business (SMB) ecosystem.

    Uberoi’s LinkedIn profile reads like a Google career highlight reel, with stints as director of mid-market sales and director of agency partnerships and sales, all within Google customer solutions (GCS). Before his Google days, he was cutting deals at Times Network and IMG.

    His time at IMG saw him rubbing shoulders with the big leagues, handling sponsorship sales for the IPL, ATP 250 (Chennai Open), and Lakme Fashion Week. He even dabbled in naming rights, commercialising projects like the Rapid Metro in Gurgaon. It’s a proper sports and entertainment extravaganza.

    Before IMG, Uberoi was spinning tunes at Fever 104 FM, where he was responsible for commercialising on-air inventory and developing sponsorship properties. And before that, he was flexing his marketing muscles at LG Electronics, managing brand portfolios and handling hefty marketing budgets. It’s safe to say he’s seen a bit of everything.

    Now, at Google APAC, he’s tasked with partnering with key vendor partners to grow the SMB scene.

  • Premier League to move production & distribution of matches in-house

    Premier League to move production & distribution of matches in-house

    MUMBAI: This one is for football fans. The Premier League today announced that it will establish a new house in-house media operations business come season 2026-27. This was approved by all clubs at a Premier League shareholder meeting on 22 November. For 20 years, this service has been provided in partnership with IMG, operating as Premier League Productions (PLP).

    Since 2004, PLP has been the gateway to the action and emotion of Premier League football for broadcasters and hundreds of millions of fans in more than 180 countries. Throughout this time, the Premier League and IMG have worked together to bring quality and innovation in live events production, pioneering new technologies and on-screen talent to provide full coverage of all 380 Premier League matches each season, as well as wide-ranging support programming.

    Premier League Productions

    The two organisations will continue to deliver the next two Premier League seasons to broadcasters and remain committed to providing a first-class viewing experience for fans around the world.

    Premier League Chief Media Officer Paul Molnar said: “IMG has been a fantastic partner for the Premier League over the past 20 years. They have worked tirelessly on our behalf to provide world-class content and services to our international partners. During this time, our partnership has been at the forefront of broadcast innovation to deliver top-class programming week in, week out throughout the season. This has all come together to play a vital role in growing our global audiences and popularity.

    “As we move the media production operations in-house, we remain steadfast in our commitment to providing a best-in-class content service to our partners and millions of passionate fans around the world.”
    IMG EVP, Studios Barney Francis said: “Our work with the Premier League has been game-changing, both for how fans enjoy football, and for the growth of the Premier League’s international audience and business. Working at the cutting edge of sports production for 20 years, we are proud to have launched many innovations together – from PLTV in 2010, which opened up the global TV rights market, to the transition from SD to HD, and then to 4K.

    “We have built a state-of-the art virtual studio, produced award-winning digital content and introduced new cameras and feeds that have made the Premier League’s programming a gold standard for global sports broadcasting. With IMG’s wider production work for rights holders such as the EFL, MLS and Apple, the Saudi Pro League, EuroLeague and ETP, we are continuing to power live sports broadcasting, leveraging new technologies and reaching wider audiences as our business continues to grow internationally.”   
    Further details regarding the Premier League in-house media operations business will be announced in due course, prior to its launch in 2026.   
     

  • Indian Baseball Dreams’ docu-series premiers nationwide on Disney+Hotstar

    Indian Baseball Dreams’ docu-series premiers nationwide on Disney+Hotstar

    Mumbai: Major League Baseball and Disney Star’s docuseries ‘Indian Baseball Dreams’ will premiere nationwide on Disney+ Hotstar on November 4, 2023, and will be free to stream for all audiences. This follows a successful launch on Star Sports Select 1 & Star Sports Select 2 on October 18, 2023.

    Major League Baseball and Disney Star have collaborated with IMG and Amped Pictures to produce ‘Indian Baseball Dreams’, a docuseries that tells the story of first-generation Indian American Arjun Nimmala. Nimmala was drafted in the first round of the MLB amateur draft in July by the Toronto Blue Jays, making history as the first-ever first-generation Indian American to be drafted at such a high position across any of the four major U.S. professional sports.

    The four-part documentary follows Nimmala’s journey to explore his roots in his parents’ hometown of Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh) and to uncover India’s sporting culture. Throughout the docuseries, Arjun meets India’s budding baseball talents whose stories are also featured.  The docu-series features Indian Cricket Icon, Ajinkya Rahane, as he plays a round of cricket with Nimmala. It also features Dinesh Patel, the talent that was discovered through MLB’s ‘Million Dollar Arm’ initiative in India back in 2011.

  • ‘Indian Baseball Dreams’ docu-series to premiere on 18 October on Star Sports Select

    ‘Indian Baseball Dreams’ docu-series to premiere on 18 October on Star Sports Select

    Mumbai: Major League Baseball and Disney Star have collaborated with IMG and Amped Pictures to produce ‘Indian Baseball Dreams’, a docuseries that tells the story of first-generation Indian American Arjun Nimmala. Nimmala was drafted in the first round of the MLB amateur draft in July by the Toronto Blue Jays, making history as the first-ever first-generation Indian American to be drafted at such a high position across any of the four major U.S. professional sports.

    The docuseries takes viewers along Nimmala’s journey to further explore his roots in his parents’ hometown of Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh) and to uncover India’s sporting culture – meeting up with Ajinkya Rahane for a bit of friendly cricket, the sport Nimmala grew up practicing. Throughout the docuseries, Arjun meets India’s own budding baseball talents whose stories are also featured.

    The four-part documentary has been launched on 18 October 2023, on Star Sports Select 1 & Star Sports Select 2 and the final episode will be aired on 21 October 2023, with repeat telecasts continuing until 26 October 2023. Additionally, ‘Indian Baseball Dreams’ will launch nationwide on Disney+ Hotstar in November.

    This docuseries is part of an expanded partnership renewal between MLB and Disney Star. Along with broadcasting the World Series as it has done since 2020, Star Sports is airing additional rounds of the Major League Baseball Postseason live throughout October and November for the first time on Star Sports Select 1 and 2. These telecasts are produced specifically for the Indian market for the first time, and feature MLB’s best teams as they chase a World Series title.

    “Indian Baseball Dreams follows Arjun Nimmala, a 17-year-old Indian American baseball prodigy, as he aims to make history by becoming the first first-generation Indian American athlete selected in the first round of a major US sport. This series highlights Arjun’s exceptional talent, dedication, and the growing influence of baseball beyond borders. It’s a captivating journey that bridges cultures, showcasing the universal power of sports to inspire triumph and heritage. Don’t miss this incredible story of breaking barriers and developing connections between India and baseball.”, said a Star Sports Spokesperson.

    Manish Batavia, who has called the games in India, spoke on the experience of bringing live baseball to the Indian audience.

    “The similarities between India’s biggest obsession Cricket and America’s favourite indulgence Baseball are what make it a joyride to be commentating on MLB! Drawing parallels between the two sports to build a certain familiarity and relatability with and around MLB for Indian fans has been the key objective for us,” Batavia said.

    Major League Baseball, since establishing an office in India in 2019, continues to grow interest in the sport of baseball, including by running its flagship MLB Cup program, a youth tournament that has grown to include 154 teams in 2023 from across the country.

    MLB India business development manager Ryo Takahashi commented, “We at MLB India continue to find ways to connect with our audience in India, where we really believe in the opportunity to grow interest in baseball. Star Sports has been a strong partner of ours to expand baseball’s reach while we continue to provide opportunities to play the game of baseball through our youth events.”

  • RIL completes acquisition of IMG Reliance

    RIL completes acquisition of IMG Reliance

    New Delhi: Reliance Industries has completed the acquisition of shares of IMG Reliance from IMG Singapore Pte Ltd. Going forward, IMG R is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Reliance Industries.

    The holding of the company along with IMG-R in Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) is 65 per cent and FSDL has become a subsidiary of the RIL.

    The company informed the development in a BSE listing. The sports ambition of Mukesh Ambani continues to grow as IMG Reliance will be soon rebranded.

    Previously, IMG and Reliance had joined hands to build a platform to help market sports, fashion and media and entertainment in India.

    Reliance has paid not more than Rs 52.08 crore for the acquisition. IMG-Reliance  had a turnover of Rs 181.70 crore  with net profit at Rs 16.35 crore in FY 2020, Rs 195.55 Crore with net profit at Rs 19.25 crore in FY 2019, and Rs 158.26 crore with net profit at Rs 15.82 crore respectively.

  • IMG Reliance to be rebranded following RIL acquisition

    IMG Reliance to be rebranded following RIL acquisition

    MUMBAI: The sports ambitions at the Mukesh Ambani-headed  Reliance Industries continue to grow. In the latest announcement, it is set to change the name of its Indian joint venture with the Mark McCormack founded firm International Management group (IMG), IMG Reliance. This will happen post its acquisition of the 50 per cent shares held by IMG Singapore in the Indian operation.

    Reliance informed regulators  that it will be paying out not more than Rs 52.08 crore for the acquisition.

    The duo had set up IMG Reliance to build a platform to help   market sports, fashion and media and entertainment in India.

    IMG-Reliance  had a turnover of Rs 181.70 crore  with net profit at Rs 16.35 crore in FY 2020, Rs 195.55 Crore with net profit at Rs 19.25 crore in FY 2019, and Rs 158.26 crore  with net  profit at Rs 15.82 crore respectively.

  • SPN India renews UEFA Euro Championship rights for Indian subcontinent

    SPN India renews UEFA Euro Championship rights for Indian subcontinent

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Network (SPN) India has renewed the media rights deal for the UEFA Euro Championship to telecast in the Indian subcontinent according to Insidesports.co. On the flip side, the broadcaster has lost one of its precious football properties, La Liga, to Facebook. The social media giant bagged the rights for the next four-year cycle.

    The 2020 European Championship edition will be played across 12 European nations between 12 June and 12 July.

    Sony in the earlier UEFA media rights cycle was also the official broadcaster for the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League, which were not the part of the UEFA Euro Championship deal.

    The UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying draw will be held on 2 December 2018 at the Convention Centre Dublin in Dublin, Republic of Ireland.

    Recently, UEFA has also renewed its worldwide master licensing deal with global sports and talent management agency IMG. The extended terms of the agreement will see IMG continue to serve as the exclusive master licensee for UEFA Euro 2020 and other major national team tournaments through to the end of 2022.

    The deal provides Sony Pictures Network with the right to broadcast the UEFA Euro 2020 Championship matches and the Championship Finals. In the previous three-year deal SPN aired 546 UEFA international matches over three years in the run-up to the 2016 finals in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal and Maldives.

    The media right for La Liga was acquired by SPN for $32 million in 2014 till May 2018.

    The Euro Championship games will be played at London, Munich, Rome, Baku, Saint Petersburg, Bucharest, Amsterdam, Dublin, Bilbao, Budapest, Glasgow and Copenhagen. Each city will host three group stage matches and one match in the round of 16 or quarter-finals. London will host the Group Stage matches, a round of 16 game, semi-finals, and final. Munich (Germany), Baku (Azerbaijan), Saint Petersburg (Russia) and Rome (Italy) Group Stage games and the quarter-finals. Copenhagen (Denmark), Bucharest (Romania), Amsterdam (Netherlands), Dublin (Republic of Ireland), Bilbao (Spain), Budapest (Hungary) and Glasgow (Scotland) will host Group stage and the round-of-16 matches.

  • Netflix to premiere multilingual original The Eddy by Academy award-winner Chazelle

    Netflix to premiere multilingual original The Eddy by Academy award-winner Chazelle

    MUMBAI: Netflix, a leading internet entertainment network, has announced The Eddy, a new Netflix original series from Academy Award-winning director Damien Chazelle. The eight-episode series comes from IMG and will premiere exclusively to Netflix members around the world.

    Executive produced by Damien Chazelle, who will direct two of the episodes, and written by five-time BAFTA Award-winning and Olivier-winning writer Jack Thorne (National Treasure, This is England, Wonder), The Eddy is an eight-episode musical drama series that will be shot in France and feature dialogue in French, English and Arabic. Emmy-winning producer Alan Poul (Six Feet Under, The Newsroom), will also executive produce, and original music will be written by six-time Grammy Award-winner Glen Ballard (Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill, Michael Jackson’s Bad). Following on the heels of other productions in Europe, including The Crown and the upcoming Dark, The Eddy continues Netflix’s investment in international and French content.

    The Eddy is a musical drama set in contemporary multi-cultural Paris revolving around a club, its owner, the house band, and the chaotic city that surrounds them.

    Said Chazelle, “I’ve always dreamed of shooting in Paris, so I’m doubly excited to be teaming up with Jack, Glen and Alan on this story, and thrilled that we have found a home for it at Netflix.“

    Erik Barmack, Vice President of International Originals at Netflix says, “From the intense, complex relationship between a jazz drummer and his instructor in Whiplash to his dazzling duo of lovelorn Los Angelenos in La La Land, Damien’s work is emotional and electrifying. His projects have a rhythm all their own, and we’re incredibly excited for him, Jack, Glen, Alan and the production team to bring their vision for The Eddy to Netflix. We couldn’t be happier that he will be shooting The Eddy in France and that we will bring this bold, global and multilingual series to our members around the world.”

    Chris Rice, WME | IMG Partner says, “The creative team behind ‘The Eddy’ is truly visionary, and we can’t wait to see the world that they create. This project is the definition of premium, global programming, and as one of the first projects of its kind from IMG, we couldn’t be happier to have Netflix as the home to take it to audiences around the world.”

    The series will be produced by Patrick Spence and Katie Swinden’s Fifty Fathoms. BAFTA-winning producers Spence (Guerilla, Fortitude) and Swinden (Luther, Peaky Blinders) will executive produce along with Chazelle, Thorne, Poul and Ballard.

  • IPL: Media rights race hots up after IMG renews events deal

    MUMBAI: IPL events rights holder – the International Management Group (IMG) has reportedly renewed its partnership with the Indian Premier League (IPL) for another five years. For the last 10 years, the UK-based organisation is the primary controller of the main events related to the IPL.

    IPL media rights’ race too seems to be getting intense with Amazon, Facebook, Discovery, Jio and Twitter in the fray

    IMG had been the official events rights holders since 2008 outliving bidders such as Rhiti Sports, Wizcraft, and Group of 4, with a Rs 270 million per year deal. The deal value in 2009 was escalated to Rs 330 million.

    Expecting another windfall, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has meanwhile invited tender for media rights to the IPL for the five-year period from 2018 wherein television and digital media rights both would be auctioned. The deadline for buying tender documents is 24 August and the auction process will close on 28 August with results being announced the same day.

    Eighteen top guns from across the globe purchased tender documents last year. Sony Pictures Network (SPN) holds the television rights (2008-2017) whereas Star India holds the digital rights.

    The new race seems to be getting hotter by the day. According to the new process, digital and television rights both will be for a period of five years period. The bids will be classified into three categories — subcontinent digital rights, subcontinent television rights, and Rest of the World media rights — and five territories.

    While it is anticipated that Star India and SPN may fight for the television rights in the subcontinent region, Discovery reportedly stated it will join the auction for the sake of DSport. The digital rights war too is anticipated to be neck-and-neck as video-streaming portals will be seeking to tap the huge potential in India.

    With Hotstar by its side, while Star has done a worthy job in the last two seasons, Jio which has seen a phenomenal growth in its customer base is eventually among the frontrunners for the rights. Twitter and Facebook depend on tremendous subscriber growth and deep pockets to pocket the new IPL deal.

    Also Read :

    Swamy seeks transparency in IPL media rights through SC

    Sports channels ratings dive in week 26

    Vivo wins IPL title rights for Rs 21.9 bn

  • Inter-Ministerial group examining TSPs’ system issues

    NEW DELHI: Communications minister Manoj Sinha has said that an inter-ministerial group (IMG) has been formed to examine systematic issues impacting viability and repayment capacity in telecom sector.

    He said the IMG would furnish recommendations for resolution of stressed assets at the earliest and recommend policy reforms and strategic interventions for telecom sector.

    The IMG has held wide consultations with Banks and telecom service providers and is likely to submit its report shortly.

    The Minister assured that the necessary corrective steps will be taken by the Government for ensuring orderly growth in this sector in terms of services to the common-man including in rural areas.

    The Minister said this in a meeting with promoters of telecom service providers where representatives of Department of Financial Services and State Bank of India were also present.

    The industry put forward the problems of telecom sector causing financial stress on the companies and roadmap for addressing the situation.