ITV

Tag: MSM

  • Videocon d2h targets advertising revenue; strengthens ad sales team

    Videocon d2h targets advertising revenue; strengthens ad sales team

    MUMBAI: Direct to home (DTH) operator Videocon d2h is looking at increasing its advertising revenues. In order to achieve this, the DTH operator will not just offer targeted advertising across its regional language and proprietary channels, but also launch new channels shortly.

     

    In order to achieve the target, the operator has formed a new executive advertising team to be headed by Indian media sales experts.

     

    The advertising initiative, which will target inventory opportunities on the Videocon d2h platform, comes in response to the positive feedback from the operators’ advertisers such as Volkswagen, Honda, Disney, Sony TV, Zee Group and Star Sports. Media buyers will also be able to advertise on Videocon d2h’s home channel and info bar when changing channels.

     

    The new Videocon d2h advertising sales team is led by media veteran Tanmay Srivastava, who joins the company after serving as MSM Network head, advertising sales.  Reporting directly to Videocon d2h deputy CEO Rohit Jain, the operator has also recruited two other senior executives with extensive local advertising sales experience.

     

    The operator began offering advertising on its platform only last year. The inaugural effort focused on its home channel and generated approximately US$1.5 million in fiscal 2015. With its expanded initiative, Videocon d2h is anticipating substantially bigger advertising revenue gains in fiscal 2016.

     

    Videocon d2h CEO Anil Khera said, “Today’s announcement reconfirms our commitment to continuously identify growth opportunities for our shareholders. With the goal of generating new revenue through an expansive, targeted ad sales platform, we have assembled a solid team that is more than capable of moving this initiative forward for us. We look forward to being a part of their success in tapping Videocon d2h’s reach of 65 million consumers with exciting, new options, and we anticipate the advertising program to expand even further as we launch our own branded channels in the future.”

     

    Silver Eagle Acquisition founder Harry Sloan further added, “During the recent NASDAQ listing process, we focused on advertising sales as one of the important high margin growth opportunities.  As we look to roll out a bouquet of new branded channels we will be able to use the extensive reach of our platform to turn ad sales into bottom-line dollars. This is a programme that will benefit our growing consumer base, as well as those advertisers seeking their stake in the lucrative Indian TV market. Given the exciting growth in overall Indian advertising and the television ad market in India, we are very pleased to see the development of an effective advertising sales force implemented quickly and effectively.”

  • Sony Six bags broadcasting rights to India vs Sri Lanka 2015 test series

    Sony Six bags broadcasting rights to India vs Sri Lanka 2015 test series

    MUMBAI: In a US $ 3.2 million deal, Multi Screen Media’s (MSM) sports venture Sony Six has acquired the rights of India vs Sri Lanka three test match series. The series to be held in Sri Lanka, will take place between 12 August, 2015 and 1 September, 2015.

     

    This 20-day tour includes three test matches to be held in the cities of Galle, Colombo and Kandy and will be shown live and exclusive on Sony Six.

     

    Sony Six and Sony Kix business head Prasana Krishnan said, ”We are delighted to partner Sri Lanka Cricket Board as the official broadcaster of the series. The fixture between the two Asian giants is one of the most sought after and keenly followed contests in cricket and we are proud to be bringing it live to our viewers. And it will be interesting to watch how the Indian squad fares under Virat’s aggressive style of leadership.”

     

    Sri Lanka Cricket chairman Sidath Wettimuny added, ”Sony Six has established itself as one of the most exciting sports channels in the industry and we are thrilled to be associated with them for this test series. The channel’s track record in showcasing premier sporting properties further cemented our decision in making them our broadcaster partner in bringing the high-quality sporting action. Through this deal, we believe we will be able to expand and reach out to a wider and newer audience.”

     

    It can be noted that the broadcasting rights for the Sri Lanka Cricket Board are with Essel Group’s sports arm Ten Sports. However, this series is a back up for the curtailed West Indies vs India series which ended mid way due to organisational differences between West Indies players and their cricket board. Subsequently, as the series was not a part of the calendar initially, it was not a part of the official broadcasting deal between Sri Lanka Cricket Board and Ten Sports.

     

    With the rights of the test series going to Sony Six, several reports linked it to the alleged differences between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Essel Group chairman Subhash Chandra. Clarifying the networks stand, Ten Sports CEO Rajesh Sethi told Indiantelevision.com, ”Firstly, this has nothing to do with BCCI- Subhash Chandra relationship and we have a very cordial relationship with the Sri Lanka Cricket Board as well.”

     

    He further added, ”This series was not a part of the deal and hence separate bidding took place, which is absolutely normal and technical. We also did bid for the series but we have to understand that it is a three test match series, with no ODIs or T20 matches and hence going ballistic was not our strategy. If it was a full-fledged series with Test, ODIs and T20s, we would have aggressively pushed for it.”

     

    According to Sethi, the duration and format of the series does not allow the broadcaster to monetize the property well. Besides, the weather under which the test series will be played will have an impact on the broadcaster. Paramount possibilities of rain enhance the chance of interruptions and that’s something which will be on advertisers mind too.

     

    The series is highly important as Team India will go all guns blazing to write off the critics and restore fans’ faith after its debacle in Bangladesh. It should also prove to be one of the most vital one for Virat Kohli as he captains the India squad in what will be his first ever complete test series. Not just that, legendary batsman Kumar Sangakkara will bid adieu to the world of cricket after the series. So competition, agony, history and team spirit can make the series an exquisite experience for the cricket lovers.

  • Sony Liv opens voting phase for ‘Indian Idol Junior 2’

    Sony Liv opens voting phase for ‘Indian Idol Junior 2’

    MUMBAI: Multi Screen Media’s (MSM) digital video entertainment brand Sony Liv is currently hosting the digital telecast of Indian Idol Junior season two (IIJ) which launched on 20 May.

     

    The show features budding singers from around the country competing with each other for the grand title of the next IIJ2.

     

    The voting process, which commences on 4 July will take place exclusively through the digital medium and closes on 5 July at 8 am. Audience need to simply download Sony Liv app from app store and vote for their favourite contestant through the app.

     

    Indian Idol Junior, India’s foremost singing talent show for young singers, was extremely well received by the audience during its first season. With contestants from as far as Dubai participating in the musical extravaganza in its second edition, the show promises to be bigger and more challenging in its return outing.

     

    With a jury comprising Vishal Dadlani, Sonakshi Sinha, Salim Merchant and Shalmali Kholgade, it promises to reprise its knack of scouting for young talent aged five to 15 and offering them a nationwide platform to showcase their vocal skills to become household names.

     

    The 13 contestants entering voting phase are Subhankar sarkar, Ranita Banerjee, Yumna Ajin, Niharika Nath, Ajay Bhirjwasi, Vaishnav Girish, Ananya Sritam Nanda, Nahid Afrin, Vidhi Jaswal, Srilakshmi Belmannu, Moti Khan, Nithyashree Venkataramanan, Surendra Singh Panwar. The show is hosted by hosted by charming Hussain Kuwajerwala and Asha Negi.

     

    SET EVP and digital entertainment head Uday Sodhi said, “Indian Idol Junior was extremely successful in its debut season and showed that music really has no boundaries. With the show set to provide a bigger and grander stage this time, Sony Liv aims to increase the outreach of the programme by providing anytime digital access to its diverse user base. The fact that voting lines are now open exclusively through the app or our online interface proves how the show is increasingly establishing a digital presence for its audience.”

  • MSM to acquire telecast rights of Italian Serie A?

    MSM to acquire telecast rights of Italian Serie A?

    MUMBAI: Italy’s premier football championship Serie A, which was jointly aired by Star India’s Star Sports and Zee Entertainment Enterprises’ Ten Sports so far, is all set to change airwaves in India.

     

    Sources close to the development tell Indiantelevision.com that the asset is no longer associated with Star Sports and Ten Sports and will most definitely be on another network. Pertinent to note here is that while Star acquired the broadcasting rights of German Bundesliga earlier this year, it also has the English Premier League, Football Association Cup and La Liga (Spain) in its plump kitty. Besides the international assets, Star also owns the broadcasting rights of the burgeoning home-made Indian Super League (ISL).

     

    On the other hand, Ten Sports has the rights to UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League, which are both continental based football championship featuring top ranked teams of leagues across Europe.

     

    It may be recalled that Multi Screen Media (MSM) recently launched Sony Kix – a paid sports channel and has been looking to acquire quality content. While the company has the broadcasting rights of the FIFA World Cup and Euro Qualifiers, it is currently relaying Copa America. Moreover, in the recent past, the broadcaster also aired the Africa Cup of Nations. The missing feather in MSM’s kitty is quality club football.

     

    During a recent interaction with this website, MSM CEO NP Singh had said, “Football is garnering huge viewership in India. Whenever and wherever there are opportunities to acquire any other football properties, we will aggressively go for it. We are working to settle a deal, which we will be able to announce in a couple of months.”

     

    Given the scenario, it is most likely that Serie A will soon be reaching viewers through MSM’s sports channels. However, when contacted to confirm the news, MSM officials refrained from giving a statement.

     

    Sony Six registered high viewership last year courtesy to FIFA World Cup, India’s tour of New Zealand. What’s more, 2015 has also been action packed so far. Serie A has many renowned players and league champion Juventus made substantial mark in European Level too as they played the final in Berlin against Spanish La Liga champion Barcelona. The league did not manage to garner high viewership in the past, since no serious coverage was done and it was often suppressed by other leagues. However, if the league is telecast by Sony Six and Kix, it will get special treatment as the tourney will be the only club league is MSM’s kitty.

     

    Football in India is opening avenues for advertisers and there are huge revenue generating possibilities that the sport offers broadcasters. A senior sports media planner opines, “We have seen pop-up banners in the bottom of the screen during EPL matches, so this can be one mode of advertising for broadcasters to look out for. Italian SerieA won’t be as popular as EPL but a Milan Derby or a match involving Juventus is certain to get eyeballs. Viewership also depends on the treatment given by broadcaster. If planned properly, it can be beneficial for the broadcaster that pockets the rights.”

     

    It now remains to be seen if indeed MSM seals the deal and whether Sony Six and Kix become the new screens for Serie A lovers in India.

  • 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.”

  • BARC Week 20: Sony channels dominate sports airwaves courtesy IPL

    BARC Week 20: Sony channels dominate sports airwaves courtesy IPL

    MUMBAI: The week 20 of Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) ratings saw Multi Screen Media (MSM) emerging as the clear dominant in the sports category courtesy the Indian Premier League (IPL).

     

    Sony Max and Sony Six, official broadcasters of the IPL were placed on the first and second slot with 180940, down from 187924 (000’s sum) and 53362, up from 52731 (000’s sum) respectively. Ten Sports stood at the third position with 22089, up from 15954 (000’s sum).

     

    On the other hand, week 20 saw no change in the pecking order of the Hindi general entertainment channels (GECs). Star Plus continued to dominate the satellite waves with 171144, up from 163554 (000’s sum).

     

    Colors sat comfortably at the number two position with 132637, down from 144899 (000’s sum). Life OK stood at number three with 113817, down from 121931 (000’s sum).

     

    Zee TV took the fourth spot with 97905, down from 99794 (000’s sum). Last but not the least, Sab with 79098, up from 73738 (000’s sum) was the only channel from MSM to feature in the top five channels in GEC category.

     

    Amongst the top three shows, Star Plus’s Saath Nibhaana Saathiya ruled the charts with 2710, up from 2442 (000’s sum). Colors’ Sasural Simar Ka was second with 1726, down from 1818 (000’s sum) followed by Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat with 1523 (000’s sum).

     

    In the news broadcasting space, Aaj Tak continued its numero uno position with 13121, down from 14155 (000’s sum). While the last week saw close battle for the second spot between ABP News and India TV with the former securing the second spot, week 20 had a different story to say.

     

    India TV secured the second position with 11439, down from 12589 (000’s sum), whereas ABP News at number three scored 10616, down from 12981 (000’s sum).

     

    Times Now continued its dominance in the English News broadcasting space with 373, down from 378 (000’s sum) followed by NDTV 24/7 at 211, down from 236 (000’s sum). Headlines Today was placed third at 191, down from 236 (000’s sum).

     

    Viacom’s Nick led the kids’ genre with 74551, up from 70516 (000’s sum) closely followed by Turner International’s Pogo with 69247, up from 67397 (000’s sum). Disney with 53301, up from 52086 (000’s sum) was placed at the third place.

  • 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 records 145 million unique viewers for first 14 matches

    IPL 8 records 145 million unique viewers for first 14 matches

    MUMBAI: The official broadcaster of the Indian Premier League (IPL) – Multi Screen Media – has reason to rejoice.

     

    According to TAM Media Research data for Sony Max, Sony Six and Sony Aath for the matches played during 7 – 18 April, the eighth season of the IPL saw 54 per cent of the All India Universe tuning in to watch the matches. A total of 145 million unique viewers sampled 14 matches of IPL 8.

     

    As teams battle it out, TAM research data also showed that time spent by viewers per match increased to 49 minutes and four seconds; which is 17 per cent more compared to the previous season of the IPL.

     

    Compared to the 14 matches of IPL season seven, which received an average of 8,430 TVTs, this season saw an average of 11,050 average TVTs being registered, which is a jump of 31 per cent.

     

    The data also states that 14 matches of IPL 8 have garnered 4.1 per cent average TVR, which was 30 per cent more compared to its previous edition.

     

    Note: Data excludes the opening ceremony and is for the TG CS 4+ Years. The market is all India and for the period from 7 to 18 April, 2015. The channels covered under the same data are Sony Max, Sony Six, Sony Aath and the recently launched MSM channel Sony Kix. Data for Sony Kix began from 10 April onwards.

     

  • MSM and BBC Worldwide to bring BBC Earth in India

    MSM and BBC Worldwide to bring BBC Earth in India

    MUMBAI: As the world celebrated Earth Day yesterday, Multi Screen Media (MSM) and BBC Worldwide have announced their intention to form a strategic partnership to launch BBC Earth.

     

    According to the two companies, BBC Earth will be a new premium factual television channel in India.

     

    BBC Worldwide will draw on its extensive catalogue of programming from the BBC’s foremost factual film makers and reputation for excellence in the factual genre, while MSM which runs the Sony network of television channels in the country, has experience in operating and distributing television channels in India.

     

    BBC Earth inspires audiences by sharing the incredible wonders of our universe. The channel showcases the work of the world’s foremost factual filmmakers as it seeks to take audiences on a thrilling journey of discovery. From the smallest creature under the microscope to the limitless expanses of space, BBC Earth brings viewers face to face with heart pounding action, mind blowing ideas and the wonder of being human.

  • 8 Reasons to tune in to Indian Premier League 8

    8 Reasons to tune in to Indian Premier League 8

    MUMBAI: India has Diwali, Christmas and Eid. And then India also has the Indian Premier League (IPL). No other celebration than the IPL can unite a Bengali and a Tamil in the same vein.

    In its eighth season now, the sports property has grown by leaps and bounds. It continues to get bigger and better with international participation each passing year.

    While India may have lost its mauka at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, this is one celebration where India wins with every new wicket taken and every ball crossing the boundary. As the teams battle on field and Kolkata Knight Riders sets out to pick their trophy once again, Indiantelevision.com gives you eight reasons why you should tune in to the eighth season of India Ka Tyohaar!

    Perform or Perish for star players

    For players like Yuvraj Singh, Virender Sehwag, Zaheer Khan, Gautam Gambhir and Harbhajan Singh, who missed out on playing at the Cricket World Cup 2015, this is the ultimate chance to prove themselves and set the record straight about their playing capabilities on field. Delhi Daredevils even paid a whopping Rs 16 crore for Yuvraj for this season, making him the highest fetched cricketer. Tales of united sportsmanship that brought teams together during this World Cup will stand divided now, as the battle of the ultimate champions begins during India Ka Tyohaar!

    Think Global, Act Local

    The IPL is India’s product and as such should be accessible for all. Official broadcast network Multi Screen Media (MSM) knows that and in this season, it has even decided to launch a brand new channel Sony Kix with IPL feeds in Tamil and Telugu. Its sister channel Sony Aath will ensure Kolkata Knight Riders fans are closer to their champions (And Shah Rukh Khan) with its Bengali feed. Max, again from its stable, will cater to the Hindi speaking audience, while Six will carry the English feed. No one will be a stranger to the IPL season 8!

    WAGs to watch out for

    Stuart Binny has Mayanti Langer, M.S Dhoni has Sakshi Dhoni and Kevin Pietersen has his posh spice of cricket, Jessica Taylor! But the star of the pack to watch out from the Wives And Girlfriends (WAGs) list is clearly Anushka Sharma. Post her innocent outing at the World Cup, Virat Kohli will have to really ensure his girlfriend’s oomph factor matches his own on the field. Mitchell Johnson’s celebrity wife Jessica Bratich and Michael Clarke’s Kyly Boldy are other reasons why you should tune in to this season of the IPL!

    Come One, Come All

    Fret not if you do not feel a little spendthrift this season. BCCI along with MSM will be treating fans to an exclusive fan park-screening cross 16 cities. The mass screenings are not only free but also come along with fireworks and music display. The experience promises to be one of a kind, treating fans to an experience as similar as the stadiums.

    Make in India, play in India

    Post its last outing to UAE last season, this season of the IPL will be played exclusively in India. It was then shifted out of the country for some time because of the Lok Sabha General Elections. However, now with Narendra Modi at the helm and his promising ’Make in India’ campaign, the IPL returns to India as the Indian made sports property will be played only in India and its diverse cities. 

    Women commentators and Cheer Leaders 

    Who said cricket was only a gentlemen’s game? Lending their wisdom and knowledge in IPL season 8 will be Anjum Chopra, Isa Guha, Lisa Sthaleker and Melanie Jones, who will be part of the 26-member strong commentary team. And then there will also be the sizzling set of cheer leaders ensuring their moves are in sync with the boys on field.

    Remote Mode: Only IPL Season 8

    During the seventh season of the IPL, households had tiffs over the remote as the general election was the eyeball grabber. However, post the tamasha and the country already gripped with India’s lost mauka, there is only one reason to settle for the remote: IPL.

    IPL season 8 on the Go

    No passes? Download Hotstar. Hotstar, which is Star India’s recent digital mammoth app, promises to provide netizens and the tech savvy audience seamless streaming of the IPL. People who are not near a television set can download the app and continue watching the playback continuously in as little as 64 kbps.