ITV

Tag: McLaren

  • Star Sports & McLaren-Honda to create exclusive content

    MUMBAI: Star Sports India has been unveiled as a Corporate Partner of McLaren-Honda as part of an agreement that will include the production of exclusive viewer content and fan competitions.

    Already a broadcasting innovator, Star Sports India has transformed sports coverage in its native country. The country’s leading sports network, Star Sports India engages audiences across ten dedicated sports channels (Star Sports 1, 2, 3, 4 and Star Sports HD1, HD2, HD3 and HD4 and Star Sports Select HD1 & HD2).

    Star Sports, as the exclusive broadcast partner of the FIA Formula One World Championship, plans to showcase the best-in-class Formula 1 experience on its Star Sports Select HD channels and continue to grow the sport’s fan base throughout India.

    The partnership will see McLaren-Honda and Star Sports India work together to create bespoke content, including exclusive interviews, for their TV and digital channels that will help bring viewers and fans even closer to the team and the global sport of Formula 1.

    As part of the agreement, viewers will have the opportunity to win an exciting range of prizes, including the chance to win a trip to join the team trackside at a grand prix race weekend, ride in a McLaren high-performance road car or meet the McLaren-Honda drivers.

    Star Sports India branding will be displayed prominently on the drivers’ overalls of McLaren-Honda teammates Fernando Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne throughout the season.

    Star Sports India is part of the Star India network which reaches around 650 million viewers every month and has been entertaining viewers for over 20 years. Boasting over 40 channels in eight languages, Star India is now one of India’s leading media forces, owns an entertainment channel portfolio that includes Star Gold, Channel V, Star World, Star Movies and Life OK. Star is a fully owned subsidiary of 20th Century Fox.

    As well as a leading presence in regional broadcasting, Star India also produces and distributes film content through Fox Star Studios, an affiliate joint venture company.

    McLaren Technology Group executive directo Zak Brown: “It’s always exciting to bring a new Partner onboard. I’ve had that feeling a few times in my career so far! With Star Sports India joining a brand as eponymous as McLaren the fit is as obvious as it is compelling. We are a sports and technology company – racers at heart, of course, and, therefore, innovators in everything we do. And talking to Star Sports India, we quickly discovered a similar innovative mind-set and shared passion for how we engage sports fans through great content. That’s why I’m really looking forward to working with the great team at Star Sports India and seeing what we can achieve together to bring fans even closer to the sport we love.”

    Commenting on the agreement, a Star India spokesperson said: “Star Sports India has always strived to build a multi-sport culture in the country and our strategic partnership with McLaren-Honda furthers this agenda. McLaren-Honda is one of the most successful teams in F1 history and their passion for technology and pushing the boundaries on innovation aligns with our mission here at Star Sports. Indian sports fans have always shown interest in engaging with multiple sports and this association will help viewers to closely engage with all the on ground action of Formula 1.

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  • Starsports.com races ahead with McLaren Mercedes F1 team

    Starsports.com races ahead with McLaren Mercedes F1 team

    MUMBAI: After testing waters with badminton through IBL (Indian Badminton League) and football through the Barclays Premier League, the Star network is all set to build its portfolio by connecting with other sports and introducing Indian viewers to thrills other than cricket.

    The latest is a tie up between Star Network’s sports digital channel starsports.com and the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team for the 2013 Formula 1 Indian Grand Prix that will be held between 25 to 27 October. As a part of the deal, the rear wings of the McLaren Mercedes cars will sport the logo of starsports.com.

    This apart, the website will also live stream the race live on 26 and 27 October (qualifying and final race) as well as develop programmes such as exclusive interaction with the team drivers Jenson Button and Sergio Perez as well as management including team principal Martin Whitmarsh and sporting director Sam Michael.

    Interviews with team engineers will help viewers understand the mechanics of the garage. ESPN Software COO Vijay Rajput says, “We believe this partnership will help in promoting starsports.com as the definitive destination for sports on digital. We will present an unrivalled live video experience as well as a place for replays and catch-up. The service will feature original content not screened on television, including outstanding video stories and insightful contributions from experts.”

    Although feature videos are free to watch, the live streaming is not. Viewers have to pay Rs 500 to watch the whole F1 series that includes already gone by Korean and Japanese Grand prix and upcoming Indian, US, Abu Dhabi and Brazil ones. Live streaming of other sports is also a paid privilege with the ongoing India-Australia series priced at Rs 100 for all the matches. There is no delay in the stream.

    “It is not just about putting a TV signal on the website but about giving viewers a fully different experience,” expounds ESPN Software India’s spokesperson. The live stream is accompanied by a video timeline to catch up on the event as well as ongoing statistics. F1 will also feature prominently on the site as well as be integrated into the ongoing cricket series between India and Australia. Star Sports plans to promote other sports through cricket since the Englishman’s game strikes a chord with Indian people like none other.

    Social media will also engage viewers but it is only complimentary to the actual experience of watching it on the website. The live telecast on the two days will see Petronas and Rolex as presenting sponsors while Samsung, Micromax, Pernord Ricard and Vodafone will be associate sponsors apart from several spot buyers. As of now, the channel does not plan to have any Hindi commentary.

    This year, the channel aims at expanding its portfolio by introducing a wide variety of sports to Indian viewers. The availability of live streaming for all kinds of sports is an effort to build the website as the only destination sports fans go to for catching live action in HD as well as provide additional data and analytics that are integrated into the video experience through their gadgets.

    “Over the years, F1 has developed a strong following in the country. The introduction of Indian Grand Prix has further helped in broad basing the fan following. The live telecast of India Grand Prix last year generated average TVTs which were more than double the average TVTs generated by other races. Even on reach front, Indian GP delivered far higher numbers as compared to other races,” says Rajput.
    Though Star India is aware that cricket is the dominant sport in the country, it feels that there is space for other sports to also grab eyeballs.