ITV

Tag: Jamie Davis

  • ESS launches SportsCenter in Malaysia

    ESS launches SportsCenter in Malaysia

    MUMBAI: MESPN Star Sports (ESS) and Malaysia’s Ministry of Youth and Sport (KBS) have announced the launch of the Malaysian version of SportsCenter.

    The show will air on ESPN from April.

    The localised version of SportsCenter will be produced in Malaysia, presented by Malaysians and cover the best international and local sports. With a focus on the latest news from the Malaysian sporting scene, Malaysian sports fans can expect to see more of their sporting heroes and follow the latest happenings on this sports news programme that will be broadcast every weeknight on ESPN.

    This initiative is a part of the multi-year strategic alliance signed by the Ministry of Youth and Sport and ESS in October 2005 to raise participation and interest in sport in Malaysia.
    TMalaysia Minister of Youth and Sport, Datuk Azalina Datuk Othman Said, said, “The Ministry of Youth and Sports is pleased to spearhead this project to bring Malaysian sports closer to the fans at home. SportsCenter is one of the most recognisable and award-winning sports news programmes. We are confident that the Malaysian version of SportsCenter will have a positive impact on all sports-loving Malaysians who will enjoy following their heroes on a show with renowned high production standards. KBS’ aim to create sporting icons and promote the sporting culture in Malaysia will be better served with this partnership.”

    ESS Asia MD Jamie Davis says, “We are delighted to work with the Ministry of Youth and Sport to bring our world-famous SportsCenter programme closer to home for Malaysian fans. The KBS has a vision and ambition to build a strong, long-term and active sporting culture in Malaysia and we are proud to play our part to bring this to reality.”

    Malaysia is home to world beaters such as Nicol David (squash), Shalin Zulkifli (bowling), Lee Chong Wei (badminton) and Siti Zalina Ahmad (lawn bowls). In addition, Malaysia plays host to a great number of international sporting events annually including Le Tour de Langkawi, Formula One Grand Prix, A1 Grand Prix and MotoGP, the Monsoon Cup, the Sultan Azlan Shah hockey tournament, and the World Badminton Championships.

  • ESPN Star Sports wins broadcast rights to Uefa Euro 2008

    ESPN Star Sports wins broadcast rights to Uefa Euro 2008

    MUMBAI: ESPN Star Sports has won exclusive broadcast and internet rights for the Indian subcontinent for the 2008 European Football Championship (Uefa Euro 2008).

    The territories that are covered in the deal are India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and the Maldives. With this acquisition, ESPN Star Sports will be broadcasting all 31 matches from the tournament live and exclusive.

    Uefa Euro 2008 is the most prestigious tournament in the football calendar after the World Cup. The competition will feature the top 16 national teams from Europe and will be held in Austria and Switzerland in June, 2008. In addition to its live coverage of matches, ESPN Star Sports will be producing exclusive pre-game, post-game, and halftime shows around Uefa Euro 2008 as well as other localised content designed to broaden the base of football viewers in the Indian subcontinent. This commitment to broadcast Uefa Euro 2008 continues the 14-year association between ESS and Uefa which goes back to the inaugural season of the Uefa Champions League in 1992/3.

    Commenting on the acquisition, ESS managing director Jamie Davis said: “I am delighted that the Uefa European Championship is returning to our networks in 2008. The fact that we are working directly with Uefa for the first time affirms their confidence in our efforts to deliver the best football programming to South Asian fans.”

    “We have expanded the football-watching audience in India through concentrated marketing efforts and programming initiatives such as the introduction of Hindi commentary. Viewers can expect an exciting presentation and fresh innovations for Uefa Euro 2008.” Davis added.

    Uefa director of marketing and media rights Philippe Le Floc’h said: “ESPN Star Sports is one of the most experienced sports broadcasters in the Indian subcontinent. We are excited to work again with ESPN Star Sports whose expertise and market position will further enhance the Uefa European Championship brand in the Indian subcontinent.”

    This latest acquisition follows the recent three-year extension of rights for the English Premier League for the Indian subcontinent. ESS football coverage also includes the Spanish Primera Liga and the English FA Cup. ESS also annually produces over 1,000 hours of original football programming, including Nokia Football Crazy, Football Focus, Goals, Tiger FC Locker Room, Here We Go, First Edition and Football Extra.

  • ESS Asia MD Jamie Davis to speak at sports television forum in China

    ESS Asia MD Jamie Davis to speak at sports television forum in China

    MUMBAI: The 2006 China International Sports TV Forum takes place in Beijing on 24 August.

    With technology breaking new ground for sports television decision-makers in sports, technology, branding, sponsorship, government and finance will debate and discuss the opportunities and future of sports television.

    The speakers include ESPN Star Sports (ESS) Asia MD Jamie Davis, Total Sports Asia COO Ian Ayre, Beijing Olympic Broadcasting COO Ma Guo Li and BBC Sport head of major events Dave Gordon.

    The topics for discussion include: Using creativity to attract the sports TV viewer, In Practice – A Case Study, A made-for-TV sports event – How and why it worked, The Future of Sports TV Production, Sports TV on the Move, In the Big League – Global sports media rights, Changing the landscape of sports sponsorship for Beijing and beyond and How China is setting the pace with new media solutions.