ITV

Tag: Indian Premier League

  • IPL: Justice Lodha committee bans CSK, Rajasthan Royals for two years

    IPL: Justice Lodha committee bans CSK, Rajasthan Royals for two years

    MUMBAI: In a landmark judgement, which has come as a major blow to the Indian Premier League (IPL), the Supreme Court appointed Justice Lodha Committee has suggested that two teams namely Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) be suspended for two years from playing in the cash-rich tourney.

     

    Moreover, Gurunath Meiyappan, the son-in-law of ex-BCCI chief and CSK owner N Srinivasan, and Rajasthan Royals owner Raj Kundra have also been suspended for five years from involvement in any type of cricket matches with the BCCI. Additionally, Meiyappan and Kundra have been banned for life from any cricketing activity as they have violated the rules of IPL and cricket.

     

    “The purity of the game has been affected by the actions of India Cements and CSK. Fans have been cheated. India Cements did not take any action against Meiyappan. I propose to impose sanctions on India Cement’s franchise by suspending it from the league for two years. RR can’t shrink responsibility by saying Kundra acted in personal capacity. RR is also suspended for two years from IPL,” Justice Lodha said.

     

    Informing the media that Meiyappan suffered a loss of Rs 60 lakh in bets, Justice Lodha said that Meiyappan’s passion for the game was questionable and that he put the game into disrepute as a team official.

     

    “Three RR players were arrested for charges of fixing in 2013. Also a player was approached this year. This shows all is not well in RR. The purity of game must remain central to cricket,” he added.
     

    Speaking about the future of the two franchisees that have been suspended, Justice Lodha said that it was for the BCCI to decide whether CSK or RR will be bought by another franchise.

     

    Clarifying that the committee had not decided any criminal liability, Justice Lodha said that the committee had acted on behalf of BCCI. “The law will take its own course. No criminal liability has been decided by us,” he said.

     

    The Lodha Committee was appointed by a Supreme Court Bench on 22 January. Its verdict will be final and binding on the BCCI, the promoters and owners of the IPL.

     

    The IPL match fixing scandal came to light in May 2013 when the Delhi Police arrested three Rajasthan Royals players S Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan for being involved in match fixing.

     

    Pertinent to note here is that the broadcasting rights of IPL, which currently vest with Multi Screen Media (MSM), are slated to come up for bidding in 2016-17. MSM had the rights to the T20 tourney for a period of nine years, which is up to 2017. Whether this landmark outcome of the 2013 match-fixing scandal will have an impact on the bidding price remains to be seen.

  • CPL takes a leap with SRK as franchise owner; Hero as title sponsor

    CPL takes a leap with SRK as franchise owner; Hero as title sponsor

    MUMBAI: With two-wheeler manufacturer Hero MotoCorp as title sponsor and actor Shah Rukh Khan as the owner of Trinidad and Tobago franchise, the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is emerging as a substantial entity in the franchisee cricket fraternity.

     

    Both developments are of huge magnitude for the mushrooming league as Khan’s involvement will drive his fans to the sports too, which will result in increased viewership.

     

    The broadcasting right of CPL is with Multi Screen Media’s sports and entertainment channel Sony Six, which also telecasts Indian Premier League (IPL). A viewership boost will only help the channel generate more revenue.

     

    Not long back after Hero invested heavily on Indian Super League (ISL) and bagged the title sponsors tag speculations were drawn that the automobile company will permanently move away from cricket and endorse other emerging leagues. However, the one-year deal with CPL quashes all speculations. As part of the deal, CPL will now be called as Hero Caribbean Premier League, which is synonymous with other sports properties like Hero Indian Super league and Hero Hockey India League.

     

    Hero has been associated with cricket for over two decades in various capacities. In 2007, Hero was the Global Partner of the ICC World Cup, held in West Indies.

      

    Speaking to Times of India after signing the deal with CPL franchise Trinidad and Tobago, Khan said, “This is in line with our vision to expand globally. We are thrilled to become part of the cricketing tradition of Trinidad & Tobago. The passion for franchise cricket in the Caribbean is evident with the success of CPL and we hope to bring all the best practices of KKR to the T&T franchise.”

     

    Speaking about the deal, Hero MotoCorp CEO and managing director Pawan Munjal said, “Hero MotoCorp has been associated with sports, and particularly cricket, for well over two decades. The game of cricket has for long remained the most popular sport in India, and also in the Caribbean. As Hero rapidly expands its global footprint, we have been forging strong associations with sporting icons and events as part of our global brand building initiatives. Caribbean cricket and cricketers have always been highly popular in India and in many other parts of the world, and our title sponsorship of the CPL is a logical extension of our long-term association with the game. We look forward to a highly exciting month of cricket in the Caribbean.” 

     

    Hero Caribbean Premier League chairman Richard Bevan added, “It is our pleasure to have the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer, Hero MotoCorp, as title sponsor of CPL. Hero has been one of the leading sponsors of cricket throughout the game’s history, and it is a testament to CPL’s growing success that the event will now be known as the Hero CPL. We look forward to Hero’s support and to making season 3 of the CPL the biggest yet.

     

    CPL started two years back and has been growing in terms of both players’ participation and global viewership. Renowned international cricketers like Kevin Pietersen, Jacques Kallis and Shahid Afridi will join the Caribbean’s finest cricketers namely Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo. The tournament will also witness participation of talented local players from the Caribbean region.

     

    CPL 2014 attracted a massive global audience in excess of 65 million. This number is expected to break all previous records to post record participation of spectators from around the world.

     

    Speaking to Indiantelevision.com a senior cricket expert asserts, “Caribbean cricketers have always been the best entertainers of cricket. If we see in recent times in the IPL, it has been Gayle. Pollard and Bravo have always been crowd pullers. Indian cricketers not participating will hamper viewership in India but if quality cricket is exhibited, then people will tune in provided there is no India match happening simultaneously.”

     

    He further added, “Shah Rukh Khan owning a franchise is a big boost for the league, as he will make efforts to promote the franchise. KKR was the first franchise to start generating profit from IPL so with his business mind, he will make sure he gets good returns.”

     

    A veteran media planning expert feels that though there are big names associated with the league, it is highly unlikely that the brand interaction will go anywhere close to IPL or any other India involved cricket match. “The game is clear, you have India playing cricket… it’s a festival. You have matches played in India, it is a celebration but cricket without Indian players will find it tough to garner viewership. Hero and Shah Rukh joining the league is good news for the league as well as for the broadcaster. However, at the end of the day, it’s the quality of cricket and cricketers that will get brands and viewers.”

  • Star India eyes big revenue from Pro Kabaddi League 2

    Star India eyes big revenue from Pro Kabaddi League 2

    MUMBAI: Kabaddi – a sport, predominantly known as villagers’ entertainment, successfully garnered cumulative reach of 435 million and managed to change popular perception when it made its debut in 2014. Star India’s Pro Kabaddi League became an avenue that has the potential to generate enormous revenue.

    While in the first edition, Star Sports was the title sponsor of the league instead of a brand, given the high ratings; it is unlikely that the second edition will see a similar occurrence. According to sources close to the development, in the first week of June, Star India will formally announce the sponsors and date of the tournament.

    So far, 2015 has been an action packed calendar for sports with the ICC Cricket World Cup, followed by the Indian Premier League (IPL). The entire sports loving fraternity is buoyed, which is a positive for broadcasters and organisers. However, an issue they might have to contend with is advertisers’ fatigue since multiple brands have spent heavily on the two cricket tournaments.        

    Pro Kabaddi League is a Mashal Sports initiative, which was initially a joint venture between quizmaster and commentator Charu Sharma and industrialist Anand Mahindra. However, Star India, in April 2015, acquired 74 per cent stake in Mashal Sports.

    Speaking about the second edition of the tournament, Sharma tells Indiantelevision.com, “It is going to be bigger and better than last year. The previous edition ended even before people got into it. While they wanted tickets, the stadiums were full. Pro Kabaddi League is an exhibition of athleticism and action. People liked the innovation because of the raw nature of the sport. This year, I am sure Star will back it with aggressive and accurate promotion, which will apprise the viewer of each and every minor occurrence. I am sure we are going to have an exquisite extravaganza this year.”

    A senior executive from the media fraternity is of the opinion that the ad rates for a 10 second slot during the tournament will be somewhere between Rs 75,000 – 80,000.

    Madison Media COO Dinesh Singh Rathod says, “Last year, it delivered the ratings and hence brands, who missed out on it or probably were unsure will aggressively forge for it. I see the sport as a good medium for promotions and subsequently won’t be surprise if there are brands galore in this edition.”

    The sports rules and regulations were twisted and turned to make the format interestingly elite says entrepreneur and franchisee owner Ronnie Screwvala. “When Charu introduced me to the facts and figures associated with the sport, I was surprised to know the number of players across the country who actively play Kabaddi and hence I was quite sure that the sport will work on television but for that it was necessary to make few changes and the federation (International Kabaddi Federation) was immensely cooperative. Mat came in, the sport from muddy outdoor land went indoor, the raider instead of chanting ‘kabaddi kabaddi’ without break of breath were given a time span to ensure fair judgment as it is impossible to make out for the referee if the raider broke the breath in an indoor stadium that is packed. So all this subtle changes made Kabaddi what it is,” Screwvala tells indiantelevision.com in an exclusive chat.

    Besides players and the innovations in the format, celebrities also played a vital role in the success of the tournament.  All eight franchises had a celebrity connect and names like Amitabh Bachchan and Aamir Khan were spotted sidelines screaming ‘Kabaddi ek Kabaddi do,’ which in turn drove their fan base to the sport.

    It now remains to be seen how many brands go aggressively to use Pro Kabaddi League as a platform to grab eyeballs and whether the sport turns out to be a productive asset for the Rupert Murdoch owned Star Sports.

  • IPL 8: MSM rakes in Rs 1000+ crore in revenue

    IPL 8: MSM rakes in Rs 1000+ crore in revenue

    MUMBAI: After defeating Chennai Super Kings by a huge margin in the final of the Pepsi Indian Premier League (IPL) 2015, Mumbai Indians emerged as the champion for the second time! However, it’s not only the Reliance owned Mumbai Indians that is celebrating. IPL 2015 was also a champagne opener for Multi Screen Media (MSM), as the official broadcaster is speculated to earn an unprecedented Rs 1200 crore from the tourney.

     

    IPL 8 came in right after the ICC Cricket World Cup, which started with substantial performances from team India, which made brands go ballistic. Naysayers speculated that IPL might face the plight of brand’s fatigue. Also the Supreme Court intervention raised several questions over the integrity of the tournament.

     

    The speculations and controversies were anything but a hurdle for the progressive league feels a senior media expert. “This is the best IPL Sony has ever had since inception. They had Rs 1000 crore before the first ball was bowled. More brands associated with them and hence the inventory was packed. Hence the argument of fatigue and integrity was null and void. In fact, in my opinion, they raised more than Rs 1200 crore so IPL is here to stay and will grow bigger and better,” he said.

     

    However, a senior official from MSM says that the broadcaster fetched around Rs 1000 crore this IPL, which is on a ‘slightly’ conservative side from the speculated Rs 1200 crore figure!

     

    Not only in terms of brand engagements, IPL 2015 was a pioneer for cricketainment too, GroupM ESP national director Vinit Karnik told Indiantelevision.com, “This year I think we had the most number of last over finishes. In fact, the number of last three balls finishes was relatively high, quality of cricket was great and naturally the positive aspects reflected in the ratings, which were also higher than before. Overall, IPL just exhibited another year of exquisiteness and left a subtle answer who doubted the longevity of the tournament.”

     

    “IPL 2015 was an enlightening year, which sent a strong message about the coming generation of Indian cricket. Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya, Pawan Negi showed their talent and that’s the beauty of IPL. This year, the experience was even better because five teams had opportunities till the last ball of the final league match was played and only two teams were declared eliminated before the last week of the tournament. So all this signifies that the tournament is becoming more unpredictable and competitive, which is exactly what cricket lovers want. This IPL is a step back for critics and forward for the tournament,” opined former first class cricketer and veteran cricket analyst Hemant Kenkre.

     

    MSM holds the rights to the IPL till 2017 until it goes under the hammer again. When asked if there are possibilities of an increase in the broadcasting rights of the tourney, when it comes up for bidding again, Karnik said, “I certainly think it will go up and by a significant margin because the ratings are going up and in two years, it will manage to reach more people, which will naturally add to the value.”

     

    New sporting leagues in the heart of India are establishing the nation’s vision on sports but all the mushrooming leagues are dependent on a solitary revenue source and that is advertising. The first edition of Indian Super League (ISL) succeeded to garner huge publicity and hence will be in the mind of brands and so will the soon to be played Pro Kabaddi League. With this, the revenue pie is no doubt getting distributed among various avenues.

     

    When queried if this division of pie could impact cricket and whether BCCI’s low revenue generation in the previous financial year was due to that, Karnik informed, “BCCI’s low revenue was due to lack of international cricket in domestic conditions and has nothing to do with emerging leagues. Cricket in the near future is unlikely to get effected by any other sporting event. The new leagues will find a new source and at the same time new brands will associate with cricket. At this point of time, there is no competition to cricket and events like IPL with safely prevail.”

     

    MSM, in association with BCCI, launched Fan Park initiative to bring IPL action closer to cities not hosting IPL matches and that venture also saw good success. Apart from that, the broadcaster took the multilingual feed route to target regional audiences but did not monetize it separately and went for similar inventory. However, rumours are rife that after garnering good ratings from the regional feeds, MSM may have different inventories for different feeds in the coming year.

     

    Overall it remains to be seen if this mix of new and old, cricket and entertainment, brands and viewership continues to propel and establish itself as a goose that laid the golden eggs for fans, broadcasters and BCCI. 

  • IPL 8: Vodafone, Amazon dominate advertising blitz

    IPL 8: Vodafone, Amazon dominate advertising blitz

    MUMBAI: The ongoing season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) saw telecom operator Vodafone Cellular as the top advertised brand on the basis of secondages during the live coverage.

     

    As per Television Audience Measurement’s (TAM) analysis, Vodafone was closely followed by e-commerce giant Amazon.in, which is IPL’s presenting sponsor this season.

     

    Invading new territories PayTm.com was placed in the third position, while the Aamir Khan endorsed brand Snapdeal.com bagged the fourth berth.

     

    The fifth spot was occupied by the ad for Vimal Pan Masala featuring Ajay Devgn, signifying the brand’s 25 years celebration.

     

    Websites like Cardekho.com, Freecharge.in and Cartrade.com also featured in the list of top ten brands.

     

    On the other hand, the on screen presence was dominated by ACC Cement, which was closely followed by PayTM.com. Brands like Yes Bank, Intex Aqua Speed, Amazon.in and Vodafone Cellular Phone Service followed in chronological order.

     

    TAM’s analysis reflecting on ground presence of brands – Instadia, successfully managed to penetrate through the lenses and grab a slot in the television screen during the match. The category saw title sponsor Pepsi (the cola giant) in the pole position, followed by Pepsi IPL (the cricket tournament). Star India’s VOD platform Hotstar, which is also the official online streaming partner of IPL, is placed in the third spot. Yes Bank and Vodafone Cellular Phone Services followed at the fourth and fifth spot respectively. It must be noted that Hotstar is the sponsor of ‘Hotstar of the Match’ award, whereas Vodfone has ‘Fan of the Day’ and Yes Bank sponsors the ‘Maximum Sixer Award.

     

    Snapdeal brand ambassador Aamir Khan led the celebrity chart on the basis of ad volumes, followed by Ajay Devgn and Indian cricket team captain MS Dhoni.

     

    The list of new advertisers that were endorsing in the multi-million dollar tourney for the first time was led by PayTm.com. Intex Technologies and Vimal Pan Masala and Cardekho.com followed in descending order.

     

    IPL 8 viewership up 23 per cent cumulative reach up 2 per cent

     

    The eight edition of the IPL also received a boost in viewership. As compared to IPL 7, 23 per cent more fans tuned in to various channels of Multi Screen Media (MSM) to enjoy IPL action. After 45 matches, the current season registered 9,823 TVTs (000’s) whereas in 2014 the championship manage to garner 7,985 TVT’s (000’s) after same number of matches.

     

    The cumulative reach also went up compared to the previous edition. After 45 matches IPL 8 garnered 182 million viewers as compared to 179 million in 2014 edition, which signifies a growth of two per cent.

     

    The average time spent witnessed a growth of nine per cent as the current registered 45.04 minutes per match compared to 41.22 minutes of 2014 edition.

     

    IPL 8’s viewership so far has been dominated by males aged between 15 to 24 and 35 above. 

     

    Source: TAM Peoplemeter System; TG: CS 4+ Yrs, Market: All India; Period: 8 April – 9 May, 2015; IPL 7: 45 matches played between 16 April – 19 May, 2014

     

    To view the entire presentation, click here.

  • MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings dominate Facebook fandom map

    MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings dominate Facebook fandom map

    MUMBAI: Facebook has been mapping fans of the eight teams playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL), which shows the most-liked teams on Facebook across all of India’s states and districts. Led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are the kings of IPL when it comes to their Facebook likes.

     

    The map shows that every team is the most supported team in their home states. In states that do not have a team, CSK dominates. 

     

    Interestingly, more people in Delhi like the CSK team than their home team. In fact, the Delhi Daredevils do not have a plurality of fans in an Indian district. And in Gurgaon, Mumbai Indians are the most popular among Facebook fans. 

    The Facebook fandom map is created by the Facebook Data Science team, shows fans of all eight IPL teams across India. Each district is color-coded based on which official team Facebook page has the most likes from the people that live in that district.

     

    What’s more, from 1 April to 10 May, approximately 26 million people had nearly 250 million Facebook interactions around the IPL wherein people engaged in the conversation their favorite teams, players, and with their friends around IPL content. In India, 19 million people had nearly 200 million interactions.

  • Essel Group to enter global sports biz; focus on cricket

    Essel Group to enter global sports biz; focus on cricket

    MUMBAI: Essel Group has rubbished media reports stating that the Subhash Chandra owned company was registering entity with names that appear to be rival national cricket boards.

     

    It may be recalled that way back in 2007, Essel Group had launched the Indian Cricket League, which did not meet with success.

     

    In an official statement, Essel Group pooh-poohed reports, which said that Ten Sports Network was registering certain entities pertaining to cricket as a sport.

     

    “We would like to clarify that the same is not true, since Ten Sports Network has no connection to this initiative, it being a sports network owned by Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd., a publicly listed company on Indian stock exchanges. Ten Sports Network holds the broadcast rights for five major cricketing boards namely South Africa (CSA), Zimbabwe (ZC), West Indies (WICB), Sri Lanka (SLC) and Pakistan (PCB) and many other premier sporting events like UEFA Champions League, US Open and WWE. It is a dominant player in the cricket broadcasting and production arena,” the company said.

     

    That said, Essel Group, however has been analysing the sports market and is looking at entering the sports business at a global level, with a focus on cricket.

     

    “The reports reflect an extremely positive trend, indicating our nation as a sports-loving nation, than just a cricket-loving nation. Our nation has produced several sports heroes in the realm of badminton, tennis, wrestling, golf, air rifle, etc. that have earned significant reputation not only for themselves but also for India. In order to enhance the overall sports business, we look forward to the entry of other Indian business houses as well. Essel Group is now geared up to enter the sports business at a global level, focusing on cricket, since it has been limited to Commonwealth countries. Our research reflects that there is an immense opportunity to make it a global sport,” the company said.

     

    The official statement also clarified that Lalit Modi had no linkage whatsoever with Essel Group in this initiative. “Essel Group is independently taking up this initiative on its own accord,” it added.

     

    The statement further read, “Essel Group takes immense pride in being the pioneer to grow and develop the domestic cricket market in India, with the launch of Indian Cricket League way back in 2007. Indian Premier League followed the footsteps of Indian Cricket League. Essel Group also owns the Mumbai Football Club for the last seven years.” 

  • IPL Season 8’s growth has been unprecedented: Rohit Gupta

    IPL Season 8’s growth has been unprecedented: Rohit Gupta

    MUMBAI: The eighth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has offered all that it is known for – full houses, power packed performances and nail-biting last over match finishes.

     

    While the million dollar league offers a lot of players a chance to showcase their prowess, it also offers brands a platform that promises to multiply their reach and visibility. While Amazon India has upped itself as a presenting sponsor, brands like Hero Moto Corp, Cardekho.com and Vimal Pan Masala are debutants.

     

    Official broadcaster Multi Screen Media (MSM) started the eighth edition with a packed ad inventory. When queried as to whether there was a possibility of new brands coming on board, MSM president Rohit Gupta said, “We have an absolutely packed inventory and there is no room for new brands to explore the option this year.”

     

    It may be recalled that Sony, in association with BCCI, took an initiative to give on-ground experience to spectators who could not make it to the stadiums with Pepsi IPL Fan Park. Terming the initiative a huge success, Gupta said, “Fan Park was a joint initiative to make spectators feel more engaged. IPL is an event of happiness and joy, which can only come with mass gathering in India and Fan Park is the platform, which caters to that need of followers. There is no motive behind monetising or putting ads in Fan Parks. It’s just a joint initiative to give audience an enhanced experience.”

     

    As the television industry goes through a rating dull phase due to unavailability of official records, Pepsi IPL season 8’s reach and viewership figures cannot be determined. Not the one to be perturbed by it, Gupta opined, “There is no problem with the non-availability of ratings. We have social media analysis, which signifies much more engagement. Not only that, IPL always offers something new and extraordinary and fans closely follow the tournament.”

     

    On the response so far, he said, “The growth has been unprecedented so far and by the end of the tournament, we will have one of the best IPL in its history. All the advertisers are happy with the progress so far and that certainly makes me happy.” 

     

    IPL in its history. All the advertisers are happy with the progress so far and that certainly makes me happy.”

     

     

     

  • Royal Challengers Bangalore ties in Midea as official home appliances partner

    Royal Challengers Bangalore ties in Midea as official home appliances partner

    MUMBAI: Carrier Midea India’s home appliances brand Midea has come on-board as the official home appliances partner for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for season eight of the Indian Premier League (IPL). 

     

    Carrier Midea India managing director Krishan Sachdev presented the team with a good luck charm on the eve of their first match of the eighth season.

     

    Sachdev said, “We are delighted to partner with Royal Challengers Bangalore. RCB is a team of global cricketing icons and resembles a youthful approach and innovative ideas, characteristics that have a strong, connect with the Midea brand. Midea has a long-term commitment to the Indian market and cricket helps us in connecting with consumers across segments. Midea is associated with various sports across the world and this association is an extension of the brand’s philosophy to enhance customer delight through stylish state-of-the-art products.”

     

    RCB vice president – commercial operations Russell Adams said, “Royal Challengers Bangalore is extremely pleased to join hands with the globally renowned brand Midea. This association enables us to connect further with multiple cricket enthusiastic demographics and we look forward to the benefits of this association. We welcome Midea on-board for the season and anticipate a strong affiliation that will be mutually beneficial.”

     

    Through the years, Midea has been associated with global sports, including being the official partner of FINA, the international governing body of water sports. With their foray into cricket with RCB, they have fortified their commitment to sports globally.

     

    Carrier Midea India has made elaborate plans to maximise this partnership through a series of promotional and engagement initiatives with consumers.

  • Royal Challengers Bangalore ropes in Tata Motors as principal sponsor in IPL

    Royal Challengers Bangalore ropes in Tata Motors as principal sponsor in IPL

    MUMBAI: Indian automobile company Tata Motors’ Tata Bolt has hopped on board as the principal sponsor of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Indian Premier League’s (IPL) eighth season, which starts from 8 April 2015. 

    Tata Bolt will occupy the leading arm position on RCB’s playing jersey. This association will extend the brand’s existing relationship, which was established during IPL 2014.

     

    Tata Motors and RCB will shortly launch campaigns to promote this association and roll-out joint initiatives across mediums to engage their customers and RCB fans across India.

     

    Tata Motors president passenger vehicles Mayank Pareek said, “We are delighted to extend our partnership with Royal Challengers Bangalore this season. RCB has established itself as a strong contender and the Bolt, our latest offering, is a stylish sporty premium hatchback. Through this association, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Division and RCB have brought their stars together to offer a unique platform with an objective of engaging with customers and the youth of today around one of the biggest and passionate cricket tournaments, the IPL. We wish the team all the luck this season and look forward to engaging with our audience through one of the most popular sport in India.”

     

    RCB VP commercial operations Russell Adams said, “Royal Challengers Bangalore is delighted to extend the partnership with a globally recognised brand like Tata Motors going into the eighth season of Indian Premier League. Tata Motors is respected as a world leader in technology and innovation. This is a marriage of two very prestigious and popular brands with similar attributes. Tata Bolt will be occupying the leading arm on the RCB playing jersey for IPL8 and IPL9. We look forward to this partnership and hope it grows from strength to strength.”

     

    Bolt will be used to transport team personnel and it will also have significant brand exposure at RCB’s home ground, the Chinnaswamy Stadium, along with in-stadium promotional rights. There are several on-ground activities planned for Bolt customers.