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Tag: Rupay Prime Volleyball League

  • HRX joins forces with RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23 as official fitness partner

    HRX joins forces with RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23 as official fitness partner

    Mumbai: HRX, India’s pioneering homegrown fitness brand co-owned by Hrithik Roshan and Exceed Entertainment, is delighted to announce HRX as the official fitness partner for the upcoming season of RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23 (PVL), set to kick off on 15 February 2024. This collaboration between PVL and HRX is a testament to their shared commitment to promoting fitness, athleticism, and sportsmanship.

    HRX has become a symbol of fitness and lifestyle. The brand’s ethos aligns seamlessly with the values of Prime Volleyball League, and with this partnership – it further solidifies HRX position in the sports domain. As the official fitness partner, HRX will play a pivotal role in enhancing the overall well-being and performance of PVL athletes.

    HRX business and marketing head Ajay Singh, expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “At HRX, our mission has been to make Fitness more and more accessible to a billion Indians. Sports is at the core of a Fit Nation. Volleyball is a great example of a sport that demands agility, strength, and endurance, and we are thrilled to be associated with the Prime Volleyball League in supporting the athletes on their journey to excellence. Together, we aim to promote the importance of fitness and well-being in the sports community.”

    Prime Volleyball League’s MD and co-founder, Baseline Ventures India Pvt Ltd’s Tuhin Mishra also shared his excitement about the collaboration, saying, “We are proud to welcome HRX as the Official Fitness Partner for RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23. This partnership goes beyond just sponsorship; it is a shared commitment to fostering a culture of health and fitness within the volleyball community. We believe that with HRX’s expertise, our athletes will receive the best support to enhance their physical conditioning, ultimately raising the level of competition in the league.”

    The collaboration will include various initiatives to promote fitness awareness, training programs, and interactive sessions with HRX experts for PVL athletes. This partnership is expected to elevate the league’s profile and contribute to the overall growth of volleyball in the country.

    As RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23 gears up for an action-packed season, the association with HRX is set to bring a new dimension to the league, reinforcing the importance of fitness in the world of sports.

  • RuPay Prime Volleyball League onboards 19 sponsors and partners for season 3

    RuPay Prime Volleyball League onboards 19 sponsors and partners for season 3

    Mumbai: The RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23 on Tuesday announced a total of 19 sponsors and partners for the upcoming third edition of the league, which is set to kick off on 15 February 2024 in Chennai. RuPay, the flagship product of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), will continue its partnership as the title Sponsor. Meanwhile, the league will once again be Powered by online gaming platform A23, this year as well.

    With several sponsors from the previous seasons returning, the RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23, which is exclusively co-owned and marketed by Baseline Ventures, has truly cemented its position as a trusted brand. Last month, the league also announced Bollywood superstar Hrithik Roshan as the brand ambassador for the upcoming edition.

    With an exciting 15-point format, thrilling new concepts such as super serves and super points, star-studded player line-ups, and a plethora of celebrities, the second edition proved to be a tremendous success, with a nearly 55 per cent increase in viewership. Hence, the league once again attracted several top companies this year, with Nippon Paint, Amul Kool, State Bank of India (SBI), Indian Oil, and Cred, coming on board as associate sponsors, and Cosco and Indian Terrain joining as official sponsors.

    The third season of RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23, will take place at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium, Chennai with the support of host partner Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT). The fans can also witness the live action from the comforts of their home with Sony Sports Network and Sony Liv continuing as the Official Broadcast Partners in the Indian sub-continent while Volleyball World continues as the International Streaming Partners for the global audience.

    HRX, Gleneagles HealthCity Chennai, Radio City, PPL, Mera Hoardings, have come on board as Official Partners while Piston des Sports will continue to offer  Athlete Management services during the third season.

    The second season of the league, with a simultaneous broadcast in English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam on the Sony Sports Network, Sony Liv and Volleyball World, generated a total cumulative viewership of 206 million, as compared to 133 million in Season 1. In addition, the season garnered over five million fan engagements across various digital platforms, as well as forming massive regional connections through social media.

    Baseline Ventures Pvt Ltd managing director & co-founder Tuhin Mishra said, “We are delighted and honoured to witness the response from top businesses and organisations, showcasing their interest in partnering with RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23 each year. The fact that so many of our sponsors continue to support us every season is an indication of the level of trust that we have built in the industry over the years. We are all equally excited for the coming season and are confident that this time, it will be even bigger, better and bolder.”

    Following the success of the first two seasons, the third season of the ‘Asli Entertainer’ RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23 will be aired on Sony Sports Network in five languages – English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam. Fans can anticipate another thrilling season of RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23 and experience the excitement of top-tier teams battle it out on the volleyball court starting 15 February 2024, 6:30 PM onwards, Live on Sony Sports Network and will be available to livestream on SonyLiv.

  • RuPay Prime Volleyball League onboards Hrithik Roshan as brand ambassador for season three

    RuPay Prime Volleyball League onboards Hrithik Roshan as brand ambassador for season three

    Mumbai: The thrilling sport of Volleyball is set to sprinkle the flavour of Hindi cinema with superstar Hrithik Roshan joining the third season of RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23 as the brand ambassador. The multi-award-winning actor has garnered a reputation for his dedicated fitness and diet regimes over the past couple of decades. Hrithik, an avid sports fan himself, enjoys the physical nature of volleyball and described the partnership as a natural fit for him. To spike things up, Hrithik engaged in a discussion about the upcoming season of RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23 with some of the top volleyball stars who will be competing in the third edition.

    RuPay Prime Volleyball League Season 3 powered by A23 is all set to begin from 15 February 2024 and will be telecast live on Sony Sports Network.

    Baseline Ventures Pvt Ltd MD & co-founder Tuhin Mishra was elated to welcome the Bollywood superstar to RuPay Prime Volleyball League, “We are delighted to have Hrithik Roshan join us as our brand ambassador for the next edition. The actor has redefined the meaning of athleticism and fitness over the years and has been a true source of inspiration for many of our athletes. He has been quite vocal about the need to maintain physical and mental fitness, and hence we wanted a star personality such as him to be associated with our product. His presence will not only add glamour to RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23, but it will also make the overall product even more exciting and adventurous. We cannot wait for the third season to kick off.”

    Indian actor and HRX founder Hrithik Roshan shared his excitement on joining the RuPay Prime Volleyball League as the Brand Ambassador, “I’m thrilled to be a part of the third edition of RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23. My congratulations to the visionary team of Baseline Ventures, Sony Pictures Network & Sony Liv for putting up two remarkable Seasons of premium Volleyball that have gripped India. I’m amazed with the growing viewership and I’m positive that together we shall deliver yet another season of aspirational sporting opportunities to the youth of our country. The future of Volleyball seems bright in India and I look forward to discover newer talents through the course of the league.”

    The RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23, co-owned and exclusively marketed by India’s leading sports marketing firm, Baseline Ventures, will enter its third edition this year featuring nine franchises – Hyderabad Black Hawks, Ahmedabad Defenders, Kolkata Thunderbolts, Calicut Heroes, Kochi Blue Spikers, Chennai Blitz, Bengaluru Torpedoes, Mumbai Meteors, and the latest addition, Delhi Toofans. The second season of the league garnered a total cumulative viewership of 206 million, as compared to 133 million from Season 1, with simultaneous broadcast in English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam on Sony Sports Network. With the second season of the league witnessing over 371 million impressions, 113.9 million views, 92 million reach, five million fan engagements across various digital platforms, the sport gained formidable traction through social media.

    The match schedule and season dates for season three of RuPay Prime Volleyball League will be announced shortly.

  • PhonePe co-founders invest in RuPay Prime Volleyball League, pick up Mumbai franchise

    PhonePe co-founders invest in RuPay Prime Volleyball League, pick up Mumbai franchise

    Mumbai: As the second season of the league approaches, the RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23 is set to further expand its family. The founders of digital payments company PhonePe came on board as investors in the PVL league and acquired the eight franchises, including the Mumbai Meteors. The former Indian national volleyball team captain, Abhijit Bhattacharya, joins them as the general manager of the Mumbai Meteors franchise.

    PhonePe co-founder Sameer Nigam said, “As a regular volleyball player myself, I have a great sense of how enthralling the sport can be. And the RuPay PVL gives us a perfect opportunity to build this sport in a professional way to a world-beating level. I am excited about the opportunity.”

    PhonePe co-founder Rahul Chari said, “The Indian sports ecosystem is an exciting place with a lot of room for development, especially in the non-cricket space. The RuPay PVL seems like a great opportunity to work and contribute in this space.”

    In the inaugural season of the RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23, which is co-promoted and exclusively marketed by sports marketing firm Baseline Ventures, 24 games were played. The league had a cumulative television viewership of 133 million, with the choice of English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, or Malayalam commentary.

    In addition, the RuPay Prime Volleyball League managed to reach over 84 million fans across India, along with over five million engagements from audiences through various digital platforms. A massive regional connection was also established through the contemporary social media platform Share Chat, while substantial viewership was gained on videos through Moj. In total, the videos distributed across social media platforms garnered over 43 million views.

    For season two, which is expected to commence in early 2023, the commercial arm of the global body of volleyball (Fédération Internationale de Volleyball, FIVB), Volleyball World, has joined hands with PVL. It has come on board as the international streaming partner in a multiyear association. Sony Sports Network continues to be the host broadcaster. There will be 31 games to be played in the second season of the RuPay Prime Volleyball League, powered by A23.

    RuPay Prime Volleyball League CEO Joy Bhattacharya noted, “We are delighted to have Sameer and Rahul on board with us as franchise owners as the league continues to grow bigger and better. It is exciting to see hugely respected corporate leaders not only showcasing their support for the sport but also backing the business model that we have worked so hard to build. I am confident their expertise will help us in further expanding the league to an even wider audience as we go along.”

    Kochi Blue Spikers owner Thomas Muthoot said, “It’s fantastic to hear that Nigam and Chari have acquired the Mumbai Meteors. Their business acumen and passion for sport will be a major asset for the RuPay Prime Volleyball League this time around. We are confident that the addition of the Mumbai franchise will help us in taking the league to even greater heights.”

     

  • Volleyball World announces to stream the RuPay Prime Volleyball League globally

    Volleyball World announces to stream the RuPay Prime Volleyball League globally

    Mumbai: As season two of the RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23 approaches, Indian volleyball is set to go global.

    Powered by A23, the RuPay Prime Volleyball League has signed a multi-year deal with the leading global streaming website, Volleyball World, as international streaming partners. Along with existing host broadcast partners, Sony Sports Network, who will be broadcasting season two of the Prime Volleyball League in the Indian subcontinent, the entire season will also be available on Volleyball World globally to showcase India’s elite talent. The Prime Volleyball League is co-owned and exclusively marketed by sports marketing firm, Baseline Ventures.

    Launched in 2021, Volleyball World, a product of a partnership between the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) and CVC Capital Partners, is aimed at driving growth, innovation, and investment in volleyball around the globe with a key focus on bringing the global volleyball community together. The association with Volleyball World will offer a golden opportunity for Indian volleyball players to showcase their skills and talent across the world. It will also help the Indian fans to get access to top global volleyball events, which will further help in increasing the sport’s popularity in the country.

    Speaking on the partnership, Volleyball World CEO Finn Taylor said, “We are delighted to associate ourselves with the Prime Volleyball League. The standard of volleyball that we saw in India has made us extremely optimistic about the future of the sport. We believe volleyball fans around the world will be pleasantly surprised to see the passion for the sport in India. We see this as an enduring partnership to build the world’s most popular family sport in one of its largest markets.”

    Baseline Ventures MD & co-founder Tuhin Mishra said, “We are thrilled with our multi-year partnership with Volleyball World, which has already established itself as the go-to platform for global volleyball fans across the world. We truly believe in our country’s volleyball stars and we cannot wait for the world to appreciate the talent that is present today in the country. The partnership with the global body of volleyball, Volleyball World, will help us in accessing the best global practises in the sport, which will help in nurturing and grooming the youngsters in the country.”

    Volleyball World was launched in order to drive innovation, growth, and investment in volleyball around the globe. It has grown to become the commercial entity for the sport around the world for FIVB. Volleyball World is already working alongside top volleyball leagues and federations in the world with the goal of increasing the profile and popularity of the sport through fresh investment for the benefit of fans, players, and national federations.

    Volleyball is the fourth most popular sport globally, with more than 800 million fans and high participation across attractive markets, including Italy, Brazil, Japan, Poland, China, and the US. Volleyball was the most watched sport at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, with 2.6 billion viewer hours globally. Even during the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, indoor volleyball was among the most viewed sports in India.

     

  • Sony records 41 million TV viewers for PVL maiden season

    Sony records 41 million TV viewers for PVL maiden season

    Mumbai: The inaugural season of RuPay Prime Volleyball League (PVL) reached 41 million television viewers across 24 games, according to data shared by broadcaster Sony Sports Network. The season concluded when Kolkata Thunderbolts defeated Ahmedabad Defenders on 27 February.

    Seven teams including the Ahmedabad Defenders, Bengaluru Torpedoes, Calicut Heroes, Chennai Blitz, Hyderabad Black Hawks, Kochi Blue Spikers and Kolkata Thunderbolts participated in the month-long competition that took place in Hyderabad.

    The matches were broadcast by Sony Sports Network and SonyLIV in India, while Willow TV telecast the matches internationally in the US. The league was also streamed live on Facebook outside the Indian subcontinent.

    “The first season of RuPay Prime Volleyball League has had a successful start with the tournament being live telecast in five languages and attracting a host of advertisers in its inaugural edition,” said Sony Pictures Networks India chief revenue officer distribution and head – sports business Rajesh Kaul. “In spite of clashing with multiple sporting events taking place at the same time, the league managed to hold its own with 41 million viewers. With a large number of volleyball fans in the country and the appealing format of the league, it has the potential to attract more fans & grow even more.”  

    The league managed to reach 84 million fans across India, along with over five million engagement from audiences around the world through various digital platforms, said the statement. The social channels through which the league was promoted included Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

    The regional audience was also reached through social media platform Sharechat and its short video platform Moj. In total, the videos distributed across social media platforms garnered over 43 million views.

    “We were confident that we would get decent numbers on television, but the digital numbers are just unprecedented,” said Baseline Ventures managing director Tuhin Mishra. “The athleticism and high adrenaline action have really captured a substantial fan base among younger viewers, and that reflects in the huge number of videos consumed online. It’s a great sign for the league and the sport of volleyball. The viewership of the RuPay Prime Volleyball also reflected gender inclusivity with 43 per cent of the viewers being female.”

    Spectators from 27 different countries engaged with and viewed the Prime Volleyball League during the first season, shared the company.

     

  • RuPay Prime Volleyball League onboards 13 sponsors for Season 1

    RuPay Prime Volleyball League onboards 13 sponsors for Season 1

    Mumbai: The RuPay Prime Volleyball League has onboarded as many as 13 sponsors for the inaugural season starting 5 February. 

    Apart from edtech major Byju’s, fintech company Cred and sports news website Dafa News that have come on board as associate sponsors, the league has also tied up with food platform EatFit, Amul Kool, and paint products manufacturing company Nippon Paint.

    The first edition of the RuPay Prime Volleyball League is all set to kick off in Hyderabad. As the athletes prepare to set the stage on fire, the league is looking to attract millions of viewers from around the country during the course of the competition. Global Card payment network RuPay has associated with the league as the Title Sponsor, meanwhile Online Gaming leaders A23 are on board as “Powered By” Sponsors in a multi-year deal. Sports, fitness, and lifestyle brand Cosco and Indian Hospital Chain Apollo Hospitals have been associated as the Official Partners of the league.

    Social media platform ShareChat, and short video app Moj have come on board as the Official Content Partners of the RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23, while the competition will be broadcast on SONY TEN 1, SONY TEN 2 (Malayalam), SONY TEN 3 (Hindi) and SONY TEN 4 (Tamil and Telugu) and SONY LIV from 5 February 2022 to 27 February 2022.

    Baseline Ventures co-founder & MD Tuhin Mishra said, “We are overwhelmed by the interest the tournament has received from a wide range of sectors and we are certain that all the sponsors will have a massive impact in taking the RuPay Prime Volleyball League to all corners of our country. We hope to build a long-lasting partnership with each one of our partners.”

    RuPay Prime Volleyball League CEO Joy Bhattacharya said, “As the tournament begins its new journey, the support from all the sponsors is vital for the success of the competition. All the partners are massively successful in their respective sectors and we couldn’t have asked for a better line-up of sponsors.”

    The League is exclusively marketed by Baseline Ventures and Piston Des Sports has managed the registration of all Indian and International players.

    The competition will witness seven franchises – Calicut Heroes, Kochi Blue Spikers, Ahmedabad Defenders, Hyderabad Black Hawks, Chennai Blitz, Bengaluru Torpedoes, and Kolkata Thunderbolts – fight it out for the coveted trophy. The Hyderabad Black Hawks will be up against the Kochi Blue Spikers in the opening match of the tournament at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium in Hyderabad on 5 February 2022.

  • RuPay Prime Volleyball League onboards ShareChat, Moj as content partners

    RuPay Prime Volleyball League onboards ShareChat, Moj as content partners

    Mumbai: In the lead up to the RuPay Prime Volleyball League which begins on 5 February in Kochi, social media platform ShareChat and short video app Moj have announced their association with the tournament as official content partners.

    The RuPay Prime Volleyball League will witness seven franchises from seven different cities battle it out for the trophy next month. This will include Calicut Heroes, Kochi Blue Spikers, Ahmedabad Defenders, Hyderabad Black Hawks, Chennai Blitz, Bengaluru Torpedoes and Kolkata Thunderbolts.

    ShareChat and Moj boast a reach of 32+ million and 50+ million respectively. ShareChat has a 180 million monthly active user base while Moj has over 160 million MAUs. RuPay Prime Volleyball League will work closely with the two platforms and the players as well as the teams to bring content that will catch the imagination of volleyball fans, said the statement. “The teams and players will also be creating their profiles on the two apps to engage with fans through contests and challenges,” it added.

    “We are extremely delighted to associate with RuPay Prime Volleyball League as their official content partners,” said Sharechat and Moj senior director content strategy and operations Shashank Shekhar. “Volleyball’s popularity has been increasing over the years amongst users across India and we are eager to share engaging content around the sport with our community. We are looking forward to bringing Volleyball alive on our platforms with this association.”

    Sports marketing firm Baseline Ventures is exclusively marketing the RuPay Prime Volleyball League. The global card payment network from India RuPay has come on board as the title sponsor and Fantasy games brand A23 has signed on as ‘powered by’ sponsors in a multi-year deal. EatFit and Nippon Paint are associate sponsors, while Cosco is the official partner.

    “It is imperative for us to take the RuPay Prime Volleyball League to all corners of the country. This association with ShareChat and Moj will help us share engaging content with volleyball fans and give them an opportunity to experience the League from their respective locations,” commented Baseline Ventures co-founder and MD Tuhin Mishra.

    The RuPay Prime Volleyball League will consist of 24 games that will be broadcast live and exclusive on Sony Ten 1, Sony Ten 3 (Hindi) and Sony Ten 4 (Tamil and Telugu).

  • Sony Sports launches campaign for Prime Volleyball League

    Sony Sports launches campaign for Prime Volleyball League

    Mumbai: Sony Pictures Sports Network has launched the campaign called ‘Prime Volleyball Jahaan, Public Wahaan’ ahead of the upcoming Prime Volleyball League that will begin airing from 5 February 2022. The league will be aired on Sony Ten 1, Sony Ten 3 (Hindi) and Sony Ten 4 (Tamil and Telugu).

    The league has roped in Rupay as title sponsor and A23 as ‘powered by’ sponsor. 

    The campaign film is available in four languages – English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu across Sony Sports channels. It is based on the premise that every Indian has either grown up playing or watching volleyball at some stage of their life. Wherever volleyball is played, it attracts and engages an audience across demographics is the core insight that drives the campaign.

    The film is conceptualised by Sony Pictures Sports Network and executed in synergy with the sports marketing firm, Baseline Ventures, who are the co-owners and are exclusively marketing the league.

    “Sony Sports has always endeavoured to bring the best sporting properties to viewers in the country,” said Sony Pictures Networks India chief revenue officer for distribution and head of sports business Rajesh Kaul. “This film truly captures the sentiments of all Indian fans who have played the sport or watched the game in their community at some point in their life.”

    “Volleyball is a growing sport which provides high octane engagement and entertainment,” said Prime Volleyball League chief executive officer Joy Bhattacharya. “Indians have historically been fond of the sport as they have a lot of their childhood memories attached with it. We aim to revitalize the energy of the sport by showcasing the true talent of the country to the audience.”

    The league will feature seven teams – Calicut Heroes, Kochi Blue Spikers, Ahmedabad Defenders, Hyderabad Black Hawks, Chennai Blitz, Bengaluru Torpedoes and the Kolkata Thunderbolts. Ashwal Rai, Karthik A, Deepesh Kumar Sinha and Jerome Vinith are some of the prominent players in the tournament. While the schedule for the tournament is yet to be announced, the league will comprise 24 games.