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  • 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.

  • Raja partners with Society Tea for IBSF Championship, brewing success

    Raja partners with Society Tea for IBSF Championship, brewing success

    MUMBAI: In a move that promises to steep the competition, Society Tea has teamed up with India’s cue sports champion, Venkateswaran Subramanian, fondly known as Raja, ahead of the International Billiards & Snooker Federation (IBSF) Championship in Ireland. The event, taking place from April 12 to 16, 2025, will see Raja don the Society Tea logo proudly on his waistcoat, representing a partnership that’s as strong as the finest brew.

    Raja’s journey in the world of billiards is steeped in perseverance. From his roots in local circuits to making his mark globally, he has become a beacon of resilience. Despite facing multiple disabilities, Raja competes against the world’s top cueists, showing the world that passion and skill know no boundaries. His journey from the grassroots to the global stage is a testament to his unwavering determination and talent.

    Society Tea director, Chintan Shah said, “Raja is more than just a champion in his sport, he is family. We have seen his journey up close, and supporting him as he represents India on the global stage is an absolute honor. At Society Tea, we believe in standing by our own, and Raja is a perfect example of that. We are proud to support him in this journey and look forward to celebrating his achievements as he represents India at the IBSF Championship.”

    Expressing his gratitude, Venkateswaran Subramanian (Raja) said, “India has secured an impressive 45 World Championships in the twin sports of Billiards and Snooker, showcasing its rich legacy of excellence. It is truly commendable that Society Tea is stepping forward to support and promote this magnificent sport, setting an example for corporate backing in the sporting arena.”

    With Society Tea by his side, Raja is all set to take the cue sports world by storm, proving once again that with the right support, champions can rise above all odds. Whether on the green baize or in the corporate world, this partnership is brewing up something special.

  • European T20 Premier League gets ICC nod

    European T20 Premier League gets ICC nod

    MUMBAI: There’s one more international T20 cricket league coming the way of fans of the willow. And it’s coming from where else, Europe, the one bunch of cricket playing nations,  that had been left out of the action. so far. 

    Called the European T20 Premier League  (ETPL) it is to be held from 15 July to 3 August 2025. The league got the sanction from cricket’s global ruling body the International Cricket Council on 4 January.

    The ETPL is a privately-owned franchise tournament with a unique twist – it is a partnership between three cricket nations – Ireland (Cricket Ireland), Scotland  (Cricket Scotland) and the Netherlands (Koninklijke Nederlandse Cricket Bond – KNCB). This collaborative approach gives the ETPL  a true European feel and will feature the best talent from those three nations playing alongside some of the best talent from around the world.

    The three cricketing boards  had tried to put together a tournament called the Euro T20 Slam in March 2019 but it had failed to take off. Not even one season was held. Hence, the trio are being a lot more careful now. They have put together an interim working group with a representative from each of them, strategic partner Rules Sport Tech, on behalf of the funding partners,  to guide decision making and oversee the  creation of a new administrative body to run the event. Cricket Ireland  chief executive Warren Deutrom has been elected chair of the interim working group. 

    Said  Deutrom:  “We are delighted to confirm the ICC sanction of the ETPL and agreements are now in place across the joint venture partners. This is an important day in the development of the event, as it effectively fires the starting pistol on work around three important areas – franchise ownership, broadcast and the player draft. These are exciting times for cricket in Europe, and for local cricket fans, as we showcase some of the best cricket talent from Europe and around the world.”

    A formal launch of the tournament and further details will be provided in due course, he added. 

  • ITW Consulting appoints Navneet Sharma as president, international strategy, sales & IP development

    ITW Consulting appoints Navneet Sharma as president, international strategy, sales & IP development

    MUMBAI: ITW Consulting, a global sports commerce specialising in crafting and executing multi-faceted brand management solutions across sports, entertainment and media, has appointed Navneet Sharma as president international strategy sales and IP development w.e.f. from May 2018.

    ITW Consulting has recently acquired the in-ground and broadcast production rights from Cricket Ireland and is organising the two T20s against India that will be played on 27 and 29 June 2018 at Dublin. The exclusive deal involves title sponsorship, on-ground and in-stadia advertising rights along with their broadcast production respectively.

    Commenting on the appointment, Joshey John to Director, ITW Consulting Pvt. Ltd. said,“Our objective is to propel the company on a faster growth trajectory as part of its multi-brand strategy. Navneet with exceptional leadership and international record has leveraged an influential contacts portfolio to secure brands, government, federations, corporates and broadcasters’ celebrity services. With his wealth of experience in the global sports industry,we are sure that his contribution will steer the company to greater heights.”

    Sharma will be responsible to create, develop and manage international relationships across shareholders with sports, entertainment and media businesses. He will be based out of ITW’s Dubai office. He will be developing and implementing new IPs in the global market across sports and other business lines and assist ITW consulting management in achieving its next level milestones.

    ITW Consulting co-founder Bhairav Shanth said, “As we further scale up our business in the market with new networks and offerings, we see great potential in bringing more synergy across different revenue functions.We are glad to have Navneet on board as his distinguished background, results-oriented outlook and overall passion for the job allowed him to seamlessly ascertain our goals and objectives. And in turn develop prodigious plans that will undoubtedly contribute to our continued success.”

    Speaking on his appointment, Sharma said, “I am excited to take up this role and explore newer possibilities. I look forward to working with the team to build and execute impactful strategies as I embark on this exciting journey.”

    With more than two decades of experience, Sharma has been developing revenue streams, managing sports franchisees and leagues, working with athletes, executing global sports properties. Sharma has worked with multi-million blue-chip sports, media and entertainment companies internationally. He has previously been associated with IMG, Lagardere Sports Asia, IPTL, Fidelis World, Total Sports Asia,World sport Nimbus among others.

    Also Read:

    ITW Consulting bags rights for T20I series against India in Ireland

    ITW Playworx bags the most innovative act of the year at EMMA Spotlight Awards 2018

  • ITW Consulting bags rights for T20I series against India in Ireland

    ITW Consulting bags rights for T20I series against India in Ireland

    MUMBAI: ITW Consulting, India-based Sports management company, has acquired in-ground and broadcast production rights from Cricket Ireland. Cricket Ireland is organizing the two T20Is against India that will be played on 27 and 29 June 2018 at Dublin. The exclusive deal involves title sponsorship, on-ground and in-stadia advertising rights along with their broadcast production respectively. 

    ITW Consulting won the rights as they offered value for the inventory amongst other agencies. ITW Consulting is permitted to market the in-stadia advertising rights and can enter into contract with potential clients and agencies towards exploiting the rights commercially. Additionally, the broadcast production will be done by the TSG-innovative, an independent broadcast vertical of ITW Consulting. 

    Commenting on the association, M.S. Muralidharan, Director, ITW Consulting Pvt. Ltd. (a Global Sports Commerce affiliate) said, “Our vision is to make ‘ITW’ synonymous to the idea of best in class organization in promoting, encouraging investments and laying the foundation to ‘sports’ as a leading industry. We are pleased to be associated with Cricket Ireland and with this partnership we are hoping to infuse more energy into them and looking forward to our journey together.”

    Talking about the rationale behind the deal, ITW Consulting Pvt. Ltd, Co-Founder, Bhairav Shanth said, “Our team has extensive catalogue of cricket work. Instilling innovation as a core of our business has enabled us to succeed in supporting various cricket boards and many global brands. Our sales team expertise and innovative on-ground technologies help the brands to stand tall and cherish seamless branding experience whilst enhance the fan experience during the matches. It is undoubtedly evident that the series will be a platform for brands across the world to build strong and strategic engagement. Additionally, our independent broadcast production vertical TSG-innovate – with its proven success in past – will help enhance optimum broadcasting quality to global viewers.” 

    Chief Executive of Cricket Ireland, Warren Deutrom said, “This summer pushes us forward as an organisation and as a sport – it is a real investment in making cricket a mainstream sport in Ireland. We anticipate that the T20I series against India will be the biggest worldwide TV audience of any event – sporting or otherwise – ever staged in Ireland. ITW’s innovation and production standards are widely acclaimed and we are delighted to form this partnership with ITW Consulting. It is great to be associated with such progressive team who has vast experience in this sector.”

    The Cricket Ireland will be organizing the Test Matches against Pakistan from 11-15th May 2018 followed by Afghanistan Series in August 2018.
     

  • Sky Sports retains IPL rights for UK, Ireland

    Sky Sports retains IPL rights for UK, Ireland

    MUMBAI: Sky Sports has signed a new multi-year deal to broadcast the Indian Premier League (IPL) in the UK and Ireland. The deal allows Sky to retain the IPL broadcast rights for the territory.

    In 2014, Sky had signed a three-year deal to broadcast the IPL for the first time in the UK and Ireland.

    Under the deal, Sky Sports will broadcast 60 IPL matches live each year in the UK and Ireland, starting with the 2018 edition. The 11th season of the IPL is slated to go on air from 7 April.

    The Sky-Star deal also includes digital rights. This means that Star’s video-on-demand (VoD) service Hotstar will not be streaming the T20 tournament in the UK.

    Star was planning to use the IPL to strengthen Hotstar’s presence in global markets like the US and the UK.

    Last year, Star India had acquired all IPL media rights for Rs 16,347.5 crore ($2.55 million) for a five-year (2018-2022) cycle.

    Also Read:

    IPL auction: Gayle to play for KXIP, Unadkat most expensive Indian player

    Star India gets IPL to change match timings for 11th edition

    Star ushers in IPL’s new era with a bang

  • Netflix expands in Europe, brings in two originals, hires 400

    MUMBAI: Netflix, the world’s leading global internet TV service, has announced the creation of 400 jobs at its new European customer service hub which opened this week in Amsterdam. Supporting customers across 11 European countries (Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Sweden and the UK), the multilingual hub will employ initially a workforce of 170, growing to 345 by the end of 2017 and surpassing 400 by the end of 2018.*

    Amsterdam is the location also of Netflix’s recently expanded European, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) headquarters, which has doubled its workforce since the beginning of 2016.** More than 120 employees from 18 countries work at the EMEA HQ in business development, marketing, PR, public policy and corporate functions such as finance, legal and recruiting.

    The ongoing expansion of Netflix’s workforce in Europe complements the company’s ever-growing investment in European productions (licensed, original and co-productions). Marking the global launch last month of Las Chicas del Cable, Netflix’s first original series from Spain, the company confirmed plans to announce at least six new European original projects before the end of 2017. The first of these, Dogs of Berlin, was announced on 28 April and will be written, produced and shot in Germany before launching in 2018. The second, a new French original called Osmosis, was announced today and is expected to begin production in France in 2018. Netflix has committed more than $1.75 billion to European productions since entering Europe in 2012, including to date more than 90 original productions in various stages of development.

    “We are delighted to announce the creation of jobs in Europe and the opening of our new customer service hub in Amsterdam, as well as two new European original series. Europe is a creative centre for great storytelling that resonates around the world and we continue to invest in European content,” said Reed Hastings, Netflix co-founder and CEO.

    “The decision by Netflix to add a customer support centre along with its EMEA headquarters in Amsterdam illustrates that our business climate is exactly what leading companies are seeking when investing in their future,” said Jeroen Nijland, Commissioner for Foreign Investment, Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA). “The Netherlands’ fast internet speeds, e-commerce strengths and multilingual talent pool make our country a great match for the Netflix expansion to support its rapidly growing European market.”

    *Netflix’s new European customer service hub in Amsterdam is the latest addition to the company’s growing portfolio of internal service centers, the others being located in the USA (Salt Lake City and Utah) and Yokohama, Japan.

    Netflix’s European original series are available to Netflix’s more than 100 million members around the world and include:

    Marseille, Netflix’s first original series from France, now in production for a second season;
    the Golden Globe-winning The Crown set in the UK, now in production for a second season;
    Las Chicas del Cable, Netflix’s first original series from Spain, launched 28 April and already in production for a second season;
    Dark, Netflix’s first original series from Germany, due to launch late 2017;
    Suburra, Netflix’s first original series from Italy, due to launch late 2017;
    Dogs of Berlin, Netflix’s second original series from Germany, due to launch in 2018; and
    Osmosis, Netflix’s second original series from France, due to begin production in 2018.

  • Discovery’s D-Sport goes live today

    Discovery’s D-Sport goes live today

    MUMBAI: D-Sport, a Discovery channel, has planned to launch home of live sports action in India. With significant investment, it plans to reach 35 million households.

    Discovery has planned to offer 4000 hours of live content of under-served sports in India this year.

    It plans 2000 hours of horse-racing live content, football 900 hours, motor sports 160 hours. Telecast of cycling, rugby and all other sports have alo been planned.

    Top international racing events and horse-racing from the UK, Ireland, and the US will also be aired through the channel.

    Watch this space for more..

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    Sameer Rao joining Discovery in senior role

  • Vu2Vu enters India with video communication solutions

    Vu2Vu enters India with video communication solutions

    MUMBAI: Vu2Vu has signed a strategic partnership with India based premier satellite service provider LAMHAS Satellite Services with an aim to sell and distribute bespoke video communication solutions in Indian subcontinent.

    The companies signed the agreement in the presence of Minister for Employment and Small Business in Ireland H.E. Pat Breen TD and the Irish Ambassador to India in New Delhi H.E. Brian McElduff during the Enterprise Ireland Trade Mission to India.

    Vu2Vu Founding Director and CTO Andrew Collins said, “We are happy to extend our expertise with LAMHAS and look forward to increase our presence in Indian subcontinent. There has been a surge in telecommunication and teleconferencing facilities in India. Due to large geographical distances, business stretching beyond geographies and improved telecom infrastructure, teleconferencing is a necessity for doing business effectively and LAMHAS will help us extend our reach and acceptance here”.

    Vu2Vu™ is changing the way people connect; Easy to use and manage, Vu2Vu™ technology innovations put HD-quality, multipoint video communications within reach of anyone using any device, anywhere. All that’s needed is an Internet, LTE (Long-Term Evolution), 3G or 4G connections to join in a lifelike and truly collaborative meeting experience. Today, Vu2Vu’s™ video collaboration solutions power new workflow applications that close information gaps boosting customer interactions.

    LAMHAS MD Manoj Shah said, “This partnership with Vu2Vu is an important growth initiative for LAMHAS. With our wealth of experience in the Media & Broadcasting industry, we look forward to providing valuable commercial and legal insights in the day-to-day operations”.

    Vu2Vu has been providing video conferencing solutions to Enterprise Ireland and they have built a strong global cloud network and own cloud solutions. With this partnership with LAMHAS, Vu2Vu aim’s to mark their presence in Indian region, embarking their expertise in the Healthcare and Education solution.

  • Vu2Vu enters India with video communication solutions

    Vu2Vu enters India with video communication solutions

    MUMBAI: Vu2Vu has signed a strategic partnership with India based premier satellite service provider LAMHAS Satellite Services with an aim to sell and distribute bespoke video communication solutions in Indian subcontinent.

    The companies signed the agreement in the presence of Minister for Employment and Small Business in Ireland H.E. Pat Breen TD and the Irish Ambassador to India in New Delhi H.E. Brian McElduff during the Enterprise Ireland Trade Mission to India.

    Vu2Vu Founding Director and CTO Andrew Collins said, “We are happy to extend our expertise with LAMHAS and look forward to increase our presence in Indian subcontinent. There has been a surge in telecommunication and teleconferencing facilities in India. Due to large geographical distances, business stretching beyond geographies and improved telecom infrastructure, teleconferencing is a necessity for doing business effectively and LAMHAS will help us extend our reach and acceptance here”.

    Vu2Vu™ is changing the way people connect; Easy to use and manage, Vu2Vu™ technology innovations put HD-quality, multipoint video communications within reach of anyone using any device, anywhere. All that’s needed is an Internet, LTE (Long-Term Evolution), 3G or 4G connections to join in a lifelike and truly collaborative meeting experience. Today, Vu2Vu’s™ video collaboration solutions power new workflow applications that close information gaps boosting customer interactions.

    LAMHAS MD Manoj Shah said, “This partnership with Vu2Vu is an important growth initiative for LAMHAS. With our wealth of experience in the Media & Broadcasting industry, we look forward to providing valuable commercial and legal insights in the day-to-day operations”.

    Vu2Vu has been providing video conferencing solutions to Enterprise Ireland and they have built a strong global cloud network and own cloud solutions. With this partnership with LAMHAS, Vu2Vu aim’s to mark their presence in Indian region, embarking their expertise in the Healthcare and Education solution.