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Tag: MCL

  • Sony Six set to enthral audiences with MCL featuring cricketing legends

    Sony Six set to enthral audiences with MCL featuring cricketing legends

    MUMBAI: Come 28 January, 2016 and cricket fans will be in for a treat as they’ll get an opportunity to watch cricketing legends like Sourav Ganguly, Virender Sehwag, Wasim Akram and their ilk padding up to take centre stage once again on lush green fields.

    As the Masters Cricket League (MCL) kicks-off, six franchises namely Libra Legends, Gemini Arabians, Sagittarius Soldiers, Virgo Super Kings, Capricorn Commanders and Leo Lions will tussle it out amongst each other, with the two best teams making it to the grand finale, which will be played on 3 February, 2016.

    And gearing up for the live telecast of the maiden cricketing tourney from Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah is Sony Pictures Networks (SPN) India’s sports channel Sony Six. The first match will be aired live tomorrow at 7.30 pm.

    While SPN India recently inked a JV with sportscaster ESPN and launched two new sports channels, the MCL will be aired on Sony Six and not on the new channels namely Sony ESPN and Sony ESPN HD.

    “From a fan’s perspective, a primary destination for a particular event is both convenient and essential. In this particular case, we decided that it would be Sony Six. We may provide an occasional match on Sony ESPN based on requirements,” SPN sports cluster EVP and business head Prasana Krishnan tells Indiantelevision.com.  

    World record holder Brian Lara, flamboyant opener Virender Sehwag and swinger Wasim Akram have already shared their excitement to be a part of the league. Apart from them, the Ashes-winning England captain Michael Vaughan, popular former South African captain Graeme Smith, former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly, recently retired Sri Lankan duo of Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, and former Pakistani all-rounder Azhar Mahmood are also amongst those who have signed up for the league. With participation from these names, the excitement around MCL is palpable.

    “The Masters Champions League has an impressive line-up of international cricket legends and all time stars, who have a huge fan following. Fans are really looking forward to the opportunity of watching cricket legends who have retired, extending their careers in the MCL,” adds Krishnan.

    The sportscaster is said to have signed the multi-year deal for close to $20 million. A media expert asserts, “This is a smart acquisition as I think it the MCL will continue to grow bigger with time. The tournament has big names associated with it and the matches will be competitive. If it starts well, cricket fans will be privy to something that they never expected and it has the potential to mark a new beginning.”

    The brand interest so far has been commendable, and there have been a few last minute deals, which Sony Six is juggling with. “Cricket is the most popular sport in India, which is extremely valuable to advertisers. We already have two leading brands on board for the Masters Champions League and are expecting to add a few more through the course of the event,” informs Krishnan without divulging any names.

    A senior sports media planner says, “The ad rates and number of sponsors on the first edition is not something that should be looked at. Any number is a good number; what is important at this stage is the nature of the tournament. Cricket always garners high eyeballs and the players are all brand ambassadors so if it picks up, it will be an exhibition.”

    Throwing light on the reason behind Sony Six going after the MCL, Krishnan says, “With the MCL, our aim is to bring high quality packaged content that will appeal to our audiences in the Indian sub-continent. We are glad to present to our viewers, a chance to connect with their favourite international legends and look forward to some great cricketing action in this exciting T20 tournament.”

    A cricket commentator, on condition of anonymity, adds, “I am excited to see the players I have grown up commentating on. I think the teams are a good mix of newly retired and previously retired players and hence it will be even-stevens. None of them have to prove anything to anyone but… ‘Once a warrior, always a warrior!’ Hence competition is ought to be there. I think it will be an entertaining voyage and if packaged properly, the MCL will be a great watch. I am sure there will be many trending hashtags all over as the tournament starts.”

    Sharing his thoughts on the concept, Krishnan concludes, “The Masters Champions League is presenting retired legends coming together in a first of its kind T20 cricket league. Viewers will get a chance to see their heroes in action once again and relive their finest nostalgic moments on the field.”

  • Sony Six set to enthral audiences with MCL featuring cricketing legends

    Sony Six set to enthral audiences with MCL featuring cricketing legends

    MUMBAI: Come 28 January, 2016 and cricket fans will be in for a treat as they’ll get an opportunity to watch cricketing legends like Sourav Ganguly, Virender Sehwag, Wasim Akram and their ilk padding up to take centre stage once again on lush green fields.

    As the Masters Cricket League (MCL) kicks-off, six franchises namely Libra Legends, Gemini Arabians, Sagittarius Soldiers, Virgo Super Kings, Capricorn Commanders and Leo Lions will tussle it out amongst each other, with the two best teams making it to the grand finale, which will be played on 3 February, 2016.

    And gearing up for the live telecast of the maiden cricketing tourney from Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah is Sony Pictures Networks (SPN) India’s sports channel Sony Six. The first match will be aired live tomorrow at 7.30 pm.

    While SPN India recently inked a JV with sportscaster ESPN and launched two new sports channels, the MCL will be aired on Sony Six and not on the new channels namely Sony ESPN and Sony ESPN HD.

    “From a fan’s perspective, a primary destination for a particular event is both convenient and essential. In this particular case, we decided that it would be Sony Six. We may provide an occasional match on Sony ESPN based on requirements,” SPN sports cluster EVP and business head Prasana Krishnan tells Indiantelevision.com.  

    World record holder Brian Lara, flamboyant opener Virender Sehwag and swinger Wasim Akram have already shared their excitement to be a part of the league. Apart from them, the Ashes-winning England captain Michael Vaughan, popular former South African captain Graeme Smith, former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly, recently retired Sri Lankan duo of Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, and former Pakistani all-rounder Azhar Mahmood are also amongst those who have signed up for the league. With participation from these names, the excitement around MCL is palpable.

    “The Masters Champions League has an impressive line-up of international cricket legends and all time stars, who have a huge fan following. Fans are really looking forward to the opportunity of watching cricket legends who have retired, extending their careers in the MCL,” adds Krishnan.

    The sportscaster is said to have signed the multi-year deal for close to $20 million. A media expert asserts, “This is a smart acquisition as I think it the MCL will continue to grow bigger with time. The tournament has big names associated with it and the matches will be competitive. If it starts well, cricket fans will be privy to something that they never expected and it has the potential to mark a new beginning.”

    The brand interest so far has been commendable, and there have been a few last minute deals, which Sony Six is juggling with. “Cricket is the most popular sport in India, which is extremely valuable to advertisers. We already have two leading brands on board for the Masters Champions League and are expecting to add a few more through the course of the event,” informs Krishnan without divulging any names.

    A senior sports media planner says, “The ad rates and number of sponsors on the first edition is not something that should be looked at. Any number is a good number; what is important at this stage is the nature of the tournament. Cricket always garners high eyeballs and the players are all brand ambassadors so if it picks up, it will be an exhibition.”

    Throwing light on the reason behind Sony Six going after the MCL, Krishnan says, “With the MCL, our aim is to bring high quality packaged content that will appeal to our audiences in the Indian sub-continent. We are glad to present to our viewers, a chance to connect with their favourite international legends and look forward to some great cricketing action in this exciting T20 tournament.”

    A cricket commentator, on condition of anonymity, adds, “I am excited to see the players I have grown up commentating on. I think the teams are a good mix of newly retired and previously retired players and hence it will be even-stevens. None of them have to prove anything to anyone but… ‘Once a warrior, always a warrior!’ Hence competition is ought to be there. I think it will be an entertaining voyage and if packaged properly, the MCL will be a great watch. I am sure there will be many trending hashtags all over as the tournament starts.”

    Sharing his thoughts on the concept, Krishnan concludes, “The Masters Champions League is presenting retired legends coming together in a first of its kind T20 cricket league. Viewers will get a chance to see their heroes in action once again and relive their finest nostalgic moments on the field.”

  • Sony Pictures Networks’ Sony Six acquires MCL rights

    Sony Pictures Networks’ Sony Six acquires MCL rights

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks (SPN) India (formerly Multi Screen Media) has bagged the exclusive telecast rights to the first edition of the Masters Champions League (MCL), a T20 cricket league, which is slated to begin on 28 January, 2016.

    Further expanding its bouquet of international sporting events, Sony Six will telecast all the 18 matches of the inaugural edition of the tournament live and exclusive from Dubai and Sharjah across the Indian sub-continent.

    The MCL has also roped in Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the current captain of the Indian national cricket team as the brand ambassador. Six teams will take part in the tournament led by an iconic player and each team has been named after zodiac signs, such as Libra, Gemini, Sagittarius, Virgo, Capricorn and Leo.

    The first MCL match has been scheduled with two former teammates, Sourav Ganguly from Libra Legends and Virender Sehwag from Gemini Arabians, leading their teams to play against each other at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium (DICS). Iconic players like Brian Lara, Muttiah Muralitharan, Adam Gilchrist, Paul Collingwood, Brett Lee, Jacques Kallis, Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara among others have also been drafted in the MCL teams. The final match of the MCL will also be staged at the DICS on 13 February, 2016.

    Commenting on the acquisition Sony Six and Kix business head Prasana Krishnan said, “Most fans have grown up watching these International and Indian legends play and the tournament gives them an opportunity to connect with them again. Viewers of Sony Six can look forward to some great cricketing action and we are excited to partner with the Masters Champions League as a result.”

    MCL chief executive director Sam Khan added, “We are delighted that we are partnering with Sony Six. They have an outstanding reputation as a sports broadcaster and have played an integral role in promoting and growing the game. We are very confident that they will do all that is necessary to do the same for the MCL.”

    The acquisition of MCL further adds to the network’s line-up of live cricket T20 events, which presently include the Vivo Indian Premier League (IPL), Karnataka Premier League, Ram Slam T20 Challenge and Caribbean Premier League.

    MCL launched the official ticket sales of the tournament earlier this week with the brand ambassador Dhoni giving a special video message to fans.

  • Sporty Solutionz inks media rights deal with MCL

    Sporty Solutionz inks media rights deal with MCL

    MUMBAI: Media rights business company Sporty Solutionz has acquired the exclusive rights to market the MCL media rights worldwide.

     

    Sporty Solutionz has entered into a multi-year deal with the MCL’s Dubai-based promoters GM Sports. The deal to distribute the MCL media rights in the global market is priced at multi-million dollars.

     

    Master Champions League has a 10-year understanding with the Emirates Cricket Board to stage Masters 20-20 league in the UAE. The first edition of the league, slated between 20 January and 13 February, 2016, will feature global cricket stars like Saurav Ganguly, Brian Lara, Kumar Sangakkara, Virender Sehwag, Brett Lee, Jacques Kallis and Adam Gilchrist. The league features six teams involving 90 cricket stars.

     

    Sporty Solutionz chief executive Ashish Chadha says, “The MCL is going to feature a big number of the all-time cricket greats. The league is not just generating tremendous interest in the native countries of these megastars, but this galaxy of cricket stars to be in action in the MCL is also creating a buzz the world over. The dynamics of cricket bazaar are changing. MCL is adding a new chapter to this. The league is going to be watched in four continents. Sporty Solutionz’s endeavor is to ensure MCL’s reach to every single cricket lover the world over.”

     

    “We have got the global icons of cricket together to create a world class cricket league. Sporty Solutionz has a global reach in the sports media rights market. We are confident our relationship will set new benchmarks for cricket viewership. The league will be beamed across the globe,” says GM Sports chief executive director Sam Khan. 

  • MS Dhoni named brand ambassador for Grand Midwest Group

    MS Dhoni named brand ambassador for Grand Midwest Group

    NEW DELHI: Eminent cricketer and Test captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been named as the brand ambassador of Dubai based hotel chain The Grand Midwest Group.

     

    The contract with Dhoni is initially for three years, and this will be his first international endorsement.

     

    The Grand Midwest Group has been established by Emirati businessman Zafar Shah Khan. It comprises hotels and hotel apartments across Dubai, Ireland and UK.

     

    The company currently owns a cricket league in the United Arab Emirates by the name of MCL (Masters Champion League), which will commence in 2016.

  • DDB MudraMax to be chief consultants in outdoor solutions for Ludhiana

    DDB MudraMax to be chief consultants in outdoor solutions for Ludhiana

    MUMBAI: Post a multi-agency pitch, the Municipal Corporation of Ludhiana, Punjab, has appointed DDB MudraMax as its consultant for the preparation of a ‘Master Plan for Outdoor Advertisement’ in Municipal Corporation Limits of Ludhiana, Punjab. The agencies who were present for the pitch included Delhi Integrated Multi Modal Transit System, Tandon Urban Solutions and IBI Consultancy India. There is no incumbent on this account.

    Currently, outdoor advertising in Ludhiana is regulated by MCL, LDA, GLADA, PUDA Indian Railway etc, and each of these bodies have their own set of rules and regulations, tender process, revenue generation and sharing.

    As a fallout of different rulings and existence of different viewpoints there is a lack of a cohesive policy on the subject. Along with MCL, LDA, PWD and other government bodies, the other stake holders involved in advertising have also voiced the need to define a comprehensive policy on outdoor for Ludhiana. These include the city; the industry, the citizens and individual NGOs.

    As a consultant, DDB MudraMax will be responsible for providing the best and most innovative ideas and recommend best practices to be adopted for Ludhiana’s outdoor advertisement industry including street furniture for Ludhiana City. The scope of work involves a thorough study of the existing outdoor advertisement policy and preparation of a concept plan that explains the ideas and provides the best practices and applications to be adopted in the case of Ludhiana. This will also include a master plan for outdoor advertisement, street furniture for Ludhiana City including the detailed design specifications, material and dimensions along with incorporating the essential signs.

    Commenting on this DDB Mudra Max outdoor and experiential retail President Mandeep Malhotra said, “We were excited to partner Municipal Corporation of Ludhiana in the master plan for the outdoor policy. It is going to be a first-of-its-kind for the city in the coming times. Ludhiana being a forward looking entrepreneurial city had to be the first to take the initiative. We ourselves are looking forward to make the city look wonderful and aesthetically great.”