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Tag: PWL

  • Backed by three sponsors PWL can rake in over Rs 25 crore in debut year

    Backed by three sponsors PWL can rake in over Rs 25 crore in debut year

    MUMBAI: Kartikeya Sharma and Vishal Gurnani’s joint venture Pro-Sportify’s decision to foray into wrestling is off to a flying start. The league has roped in Dabur Chyawanprash as the title sponsor while cola giant Thums Up has joined in as powered by sponsor. Jaguar Lighting has also been roped in as co-sponsor. 

    Gurnani and Sharma are both buoyed by the preparation. “We are all set for Pro Wrestling League season 1, we kick off today at seven and its certain that the sport will emerge as a clear number two after cricket in India” said the duo.

    The telecast rights of the league is with Multi Screen Media (MSM) and the network is planning to dish out the tourney in three different channels. Sony Six will relay the English feed while Sony Pal and Sony Max will broadcast the Hindi commentary.

    The network in association with DDB Mudra has unveiled an intriguing campaign to garner high number of eyeballs. “We are extremely happy with the marketing campaign that they have done. Over 600,000 television minutes spread across numerous channel with separate creatives for man and woman. It cannot get any better” said the duo.  
        
          
    A senior media planner on condition of anonymity said, “Wrestling as a sport in popular in India, it’s just it has never been packaged properly. They are putting in some serious money and the network is also promoting it aggressively too. Moreover the league will be aired on Sony Pal which is an FTA available on Sony Pal so with BARC Rural data in now I won’t be surprised if they emerge as the number two after cricket. Overall in my opinion the first year will create the buzz, but the packaging and follow ups will decide the long term fate.”

    If sources are to be believed then the league has already raked in close to Rs 20 crore as sponsorship revenue and have a few deals are still at the last stage. “I think season one will generate close to Rs 25 crore. Which will be shared among Sony and Pro-Sportify. The broadcasting rights were given to MSM for a little more than 100 crore” said a source.          

    The league kick-starts today (10 December 2015) and will conclude on 27 December 2015. The matches are slotted at a prime time slot of 7 Pm. 

  • Pro Wrestling League player auction on 3 November; bids to start at $50,000

    Pro Wrestling League player auction on 3 November; bids to start at $50,000

    MUMBAI: Over 200 players from 25 countries including India will go under the hammer on 3 November as the auction for the world’s richest Olympic style wrestling tournament Pro Wrestling League (PWL) is all set to take place in New Delhi. 

     

    Six franchisees will be bidding for players at the auction and each team will have a marquee player. The bid for the Olympic and World Championship winners will start at the base price of $50,000.

     

    “Each team has a player auction purse of Rs 2 crore. We are sure that all players picked will be delighted with the financial reward to play in the league,” said Wrestling Federation of India president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

     

    As many as 60 players will find buyers since each of the six teams will have a 10 players, including four women – a maximum of four overseas players and six Indians.

     

    Singh added, “The PWL Players’ auction will be a big landmark in the history of sport. It will give the six franchises the opportunity to bid for the best players and complete their squads. The player pool is so rich in talent that after the auction we will have six squads to offer highly competitive action for wrestling lovers.”

     

    About 100 top international wrestlers from 25 countries, including Olympic and World Championship stars, and over a 100 Indian wrestlers will come under the hammer. The wrestlers include more than 20 medal winners from the World Wrestling Championship held in Las Vegas last month. These include current European Games, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games champions and other international medal winners.

     

    Indian film industry’s Deol family and GMR Group, who also won the Delhi Daredevils IPL team, are among the six PWL franchisees.

     

    CDR Punjab team owner and veteran actor Dharmendra said, “I’m extremely happy that wrestling is being presented in a world class manner at a global platform, with Pro Wrestling League. I’m sure that Indian wrestling lovers will get abundant opportunities at a grass-root level.”

     

    Three-time women’s world champion Adeline Gray from the US has called the League a historic move in international wrestling. She said, “By bringing Pro event with huge sums of money, Indian organisers have taken a bold step in popularizing wrestling at the world level.”

     

    The mood is upbeat in India too. Double Olympic medalist Sushil Kumar is confident that the League will give a big boost to Indian wrestling.

     

    “It will be a great boost when the cream of world wrestling comes to India. This will be a great opportunity for our players to travel with them and learn a lot. Besides the League will keep the focus on the sport and motivate the upcoming wrestlers,” said Kumar.

     

    The PWL is a joint venture of Wrestling Federation of India and its commercial partner – Pro Sportify Pvt Limited, which is also the promoter and organiser of the league.