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Tag: Sanjay Gupta

  • Star’s Sanjay Gupta on India’s booming sports ecosystem

    Star’s Sanjay Gupta on India’s booming sports ecosystem

    MUMBAI: In 2017, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) had set a goal envisioning 30 crore kids playing at least one hour a day. This vision had to battle the mindsets of parents, schools and businesses, the main roadblock that would have come in the way.

    A year down the line, the CII Scorecard 2018 forum saw Star India MD Sanjay Gupta praising the thought and vision to make India play. He said, “It has been a year since then, and I cannot express how proud I am of the magnitude of change in just one year.”

    Gupta also compared the IPL viewership with the number of people who voted in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, stating, “Over 70 crore fans came in to enjoy IPL – 70 crore! Compare this to the number of people who voted in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the biggest elections that India has even seen, of 55 crore. And they all spent a lot more time, glued to their television sets or mobile screens, enjoying this spectacle. Such a growth in an established sport like cricket is truly remarkable.”

    Five years ago, the Indian sports industry only had two domestic leagues, but now there are over 15 leagues across kabaddi, football, wrestling, boxing and badminton.

    He believes that the Khelo India school games, launched this year are perhaps the best marker of this shift. For the first time, the spotlight was on a grassroots sports program. 16-year old Nisar Ahmed, who missed breaking the world record in 100-metre sprint by 0.2 seconds, has now been selected as one of the 14 athletes to undergo training by Usain Bolt’s coach in Jamaica. Another athlete is from Tamil Nadu named Sumathira Balakrishnan, who completed the 400 metre, just 1.38 seconds behind the Rio Olympics’ gold winner. With scholarships being given to 734 young and upcoming sports stars in this edition itself, it has provided a template for shaping the future of these boys and girls.

    Gupta believes that while there is no contention that sports is good for society, private enterprises have proven that sports is good for business as well. The sports start-up ecosystem is buzzing with activity. Entrepreneurs are building business models across the length and breadth of sports – from eduSports that enables schools to adopt sports education, Anthill Creations that creates cost effective play areas in unused spaces, ‘Sports For All’ to GoSporto that gives people access to playgrounds around them.

    “All the startups have resulted in a step change in the sports industry, which has grown from $1.3 billion to $2.7 billion in just a matter of five years. And in my mind, this journey has only begun. Sports is still at 0.1 per cent share of our GDP, while globally the industry is sized at ~0.5 per cent of GDP share. Given where we are, we have the momentum to become a $10 billion industry in the next five to seven years,” Gupta added.

    Large corporates have already shown interest and committed their support to CII’s “Making India Play” fund. The companies are Tata Trust, HCL, Ambuja Cement, Bharti Foundation and ACC.

    “Overall contribution towards corporate social responsibility is close to $1.8 billion or approximately Rs 12,000 crore every year. Even if we invest half this fund, Rs 6,000 crore towards building this infrastructure and capabilities, we will be able to touch 12 crore kids in the first year itself. Over the next few years, we will be able to reach out to every single kid in the country. It can truly catapult sports to another orbit,” he added.

    In the end, Gupta urged all stakeholders present at the event and across the country to invest their CSR fund towards building sports.

  • Uber launches 2nd leg of ‘Badhte Chalein’ campaign with Virat Kohli

    Uber launches 2nd leg of ‘Badhte Chalein’ campaign with Virat Kohli

    MUMBAI:  Ridesharing app Uber has recently launched an India-focussed brand campaign ‘Badhte Chalein’ which features brand ambassador Virat Kohli. The film, focusing on the driver partner community features Uber’s tenured driver partners from all walks of life.

    In India, more than four hundred and fifty thousand people choose to take a ride with Uber every day. These driver partners are central to Uber’s success across the country and Uber India is committed to serving them and unlocking opportunities for them to progress in life. 

    The second innings of the newly launched campaign, Badhte Chalein, reiterates the role that Uber plays in creating entrepreneurship opportunities i.e. a new way of working that leads to economic freedom, increasing productivity and financial inclusion for thousands of driver partners in India. With multiple ad sets targeted at different groups, the existing driver partner community and potential driver partners, this leg of the campaign will feature Kohli as a coach for the Uber driver partner community, motivating them to maximise their potential and become star performers:

    Uber India head marketing officer Sanjay Gupta said, “Uber is always finding ways to celebrate its driver partner community. Each day, our driver partners play a pivotal role in moving India forward and it is our constant endeavour to enable them to achieve greater heights. Through the representation of driver partners across the country in the ad film ‘Virat’s XI’, we want to showcase Uber as an inclusive platform that welcomes diverse backgrounds and provides entrepreneurship opportunities to millions of people. It further extends to strike the right balance between economic opportunity and dignity of the vocation.”

    Kohli said, “I was super thrilled to meet with these driver partners who work day and night behind the wheel in order to get India moving. This group was truly an interesting blend of people, beyond boundaries, age, gender and religion and the enthusiasm among them was infectious. Working with them on a campaign that is aimed at inspiring India move forward in every sense with cricket as a premise was an enriching experience. I am happy to be a partner to a company that has committed to keep India moving, not only in its functional sense but through its progressive and winning values as well.”

    Rakhi, a woman driver partner from New Delhi who was part of this campaign said, “It is a pronounced moment for all of us who come from different walks of life and societies to be part of such an exciting campaign. As a woman driver partner, Uber has given me an extraordinary opportunity of becoming my own boss. Hailing from an orthodox family, I have been given the chance to be independent for the very first time, and Uber has been extremely supportive throughout this journey. I sincerely hope that my journey encourages more women to step out of their comfort zones and experience the sweet taste of freedom. Being a part of such a huge campaign with a legend like Virat Kohli is extremely humbling. We are grateful and would like to thank Uber for giving us a platform and bring in a positive change in the way we work and earn a livelihood.”

    Concept of the brand film is narrated by Kohli which aims to highlight the experiences encountered by drivers daily behind the wheels of an Uber, thus acknowledging behavioural traits of a driver partner that lead to a six-star service. To bring alive Uber’s dream team on-screen, real-life driver partners are featured in the campaign.

    Uber’s relationship with Madison continues through 2018, to build and execute the media strategy for this intervention.

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  • VIVO IPL on Star is bigger than ever before… ever!

    VIVO IPL on Star is bigger than ever before… ever!

    MUMBAI: The opening game of the VIVO IPL 2018 tournament broadcast across the Star Network and live streamed on Hotstar has recorded the highest ever viewership in the history of the tournament. The inaugural match of the 11th season played between the Mumbai Indians and the Chennai Super Kings registered a blockbuster viewership on television of 6,355,000** impressions (India Urban, Males 15+AB) which translates to a 7.21 rating percentage (India Urban, Males 15+AB) on the Star Network. This is an unprecedented growth of 37% over last year’s opening game. These are simulcast ratings of the original telecast aired on Saturday April 7th at 8 pm across a bouquet of 10 channels (Star Sports 1; Star Sports 1 HD; Star Sports Select 1 SD; Star Sports Select 1 HD (English); Star Sports 1 (Hindi); Star Sports 1 HD (Hindi); Star Sports 1 Tamil (Tamil) along with Suvarna Plus (Kannada); Jalsha Movies (Bengali) and Maa Movies (Telegu).

    On Hotstar, the platform posted some of the largest numbers ever with a 42 Mn reach on opening day which was 2.3x of last year. This record has since then been surpassed on Tuesday, April 10th, by the CSK vs KKR game setting a new global record in sports viewership on digital with 5.5 Mn simultaneous viewers. In fact, if Hotstar were a television channel, the rating on the opening game would have an approximate average television percentage rating of 3.1.

    Star India – Managing Director, Sanjay Gupta said, “When we reimagined the VIVO IPL 2018, we were confident our immersive, multi-lingual, interactive and technology-driven presentation across TV and Digital would resonate strongly with IPL fans across India. We are pleased with the initial record-breaking numbers, which indicate that all the innovations this year have resonated with fans. As the tournament progresses, we look forward to delivering even greater all-round value to all stakeholders.”

    Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) – Chief Executive Officer, Rahul Johri said, “The VIVO Indian Premier League has once again proven that it is the largest media property in this country. This is IPL’s first year of partnership with Star India and I am delighted to see with the innovations that we have introduced, viewership has set new records and the tournament is set to reach a wider audience globally than ever before. It’s setting up to be a great tournament with some fantastic cricketing action for the fans who can enjoy the games in 6 languages, live across TV and Digital for the first time. As always, we are seeing a tremendous response from both stadiums and fan parks and the  atmosphere across the country has been very encouraging.”

    For the first time, Vivo IPL 2018 is connecting with many Indians in their relevant language – six different languages, Hindi, English, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Bengali. By leveraging the combined reach of digital and television the tournament will be broadcast, for the first time ever, on 10 TV channels and live streamed on Hotstar with an aim to reach out to more fans across TV and digital in India than ever before. This is one of the first few leagues in the world which has used virtual reality to bring live action from the stadium to the fans at home. This immersive VR experience will make it possible for fans to come closer to the high-octane matches from the comfort of their homes. Along with dedicated language feeds, the network also has the Star Sports Select feed, #SelectDugout, which is a bespoke offering for the ardent cricket fan who likes to stay ahead of the game, too received a positive response from fans who appreciated the presence of legends and the quality of analysis and its overall presentation available across cable, DTH. 

  • Star India lines up innovation filled IPL 2018

    Star India lines up innovation filled IPL 2018

    MUMBAI: With the biggest cricketing tournament of the country waiting to commence over the weekend, Star India is lining up a list of new technological additions to make the experience an unforgettable one for viewers as they will witness the action on a new channel after a decade.

    7 April 2018 will see the commencement of Star’s hot new property – Indian Premier League (IPL) season 11 with a set of gee-whiz innovations. It will be a litmus test for Star India which just also snatched away the media rights of BCCI’s home matches from under the nose of deep-pocketed rivals.

    For a tournament that has always generated high ratings, Star will look to milk this opportunity but the challenges are aplenty for every endeavour runs the risk of being compared to its predecessor Sony Entertainment Television which has created benchmark after benchmark for the tournament. So while a whole new IPL-watching experience is upon us, Star’s plans will go a long way in not just taking the legacy forward but also create one of its own.

    Star is initiating a feature called #SelectDugout which will provide analysis, interesting data, expert opinion and in-depth content throughout the season. There’s also the Star India Re.Imagine Creative Awards that will award two best advertisers who will come out with the most innovative campaigns on TV (Star Sports) and digital (Hotstar).

    The broadcast network  has decided to share the feeds of select games with a one hour delay with pubcaster Doordarshan. The aim is simple – it wants more viewers and especially the part of India that is untouched by private channels. Speaking to Indiantelevision.com 21st Century Fox Asia president Uday Shankar said, “It’s good for IPL that new audiences (not subscribing to pay TV) will get to sample it.”

    Till now, the regional viewers were shielded from the IPL since it was only available in Hindi and English. This year, Star is planning to telecast it in six different languages – English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali and Kannada. One of the important data points that triggered the change was that it was losing out on 50 per cent of potential viewership from Tamil Nadu because of the language barrier. Though Star was unable to get a full-fledged Kannada channel up and running in time, it has ensured that viewers don’t miss out on the action. It will broadcast the games on Star Suvarna Plus, the Kannada GEC.

    Along with dedicated language feeds, the network will also have a Super Fan Feed available across cable, DTH and Hotstar. This will be a curated feed for intense fans who want more than just to watch the game. It includes features like data layers about the teams and players during the telecast and multiple camera angle options while viewing. The Super Fan feed is also a monetisation avenue for Star on its video streaming platform Hotstar.

    Star India aims to reach 700 million viewers on TV and digital with IPL 2018 and hopes to get a significantly higher number of advertisers for the tournament. The network also has the advantage of multiple channels and now new language feeds as well a big following via digital on Hotstar. While he refused to divulge details on advertisers and sponsors for the IPL this year, Star India COO Sanjay Gupta was confident that with a six-month-long period of IPL and related content broadcast and technological innovations, more brands than the current 60-70 that advertise on the league will be attracted to the tournament. Star was upping the IPL fever since months before the league was set to begin.

    In 2017, the IPL was seen by 410 million people on TV and another 130 million tuned in on digital (Hotstar).

    This IPL season will be one of the first few leagues in the world, which proposes to use virtual reality (VR) and to bring live action from the stadium to fan homes. Star says that this immersive VR experience would make it possible for fans to come closer to the high-octane matches from the comfort of their homes.

    The IPL is sure to be a game-changer for Star India It is pulling out all stops to give viewers a sticky experience. That should help it in some way to monetise the big bet it has paid for the media rights even better.

    Also read:

    The rise and rise of Uday Shankar the gambler, the decisive risktaker  who does not flinch

    Comment: The rise and rise of Uday Shankar

     

  • Wipro highlights importance of bright light

    Wipro highlights importance of bright light

    MUMBAI: Wipro consumer care and lighting has launched its new TV ad campaign – wider light for brighter homes.

    The ad campaign highlights the importance of choosing Wipro Garnet LED bulb, which claims to be 70 per cent wider than ordinary LED bulbs giving more brightness for homes.

    Featuring two 30-second ad films, the campaign focuses on common life situations of the difficulties faced by individuals with a low beam ordinary LED bulb and the transformation to a better life with a wider and brighter light through wide beam Garnet LED bulb.

    Wipro consumer care and lighting senior vice president and business head of consumer lighting and switches Sanjay Gupta says, “Our endeavour is to provide better benefits and comfort to our consumers. We were the first to launch colour changing LED tube lights in which one can change the colour as per the mood. With wider lights for brighter homes campaign for Garnet we are confident that we will further enhance our connect with consumers, emphasising the unique value proposition and innovative offerings.”

    FCB ULKA chief executive officer Nitin Karkare adds, “When we were tasked with working on the lighting business, we couldn’t have been more excited. In the case of this campaign, the fact that the product had such a clear differentiator made our job that much easier. We used family dynamics to bring to light the trouble that the wrong light can create for one, and how the simple act of switching to Wipro Garnet can make such a big difference to seeing things right.”

  • India set to roar in unision with the launch of the VIVO IPL 11 #BESTvsBEST Anthem

    India set to roar in unision with the launch of the VIVO IPL 11 #BESTvsBEST Anthem

    MUMBAI: Nothing unites India like Cricket does! With VIVO Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018 all set to begin this April, in a first, BCCI & Star India have collaborated to co-create the campaign this year. It puts the spotlight on ‘Best vs Best’, that is, the best in global cricketing prowess competing against each other. An enthralling anthem which brings alive the unifying spirit of VIVO IPL 2018 herald the start of a thrilling face-off of best vs best.

    Conceptualized by Ogilvy and Mather the anthem titled Best vs Best, focuses on VIVO IPL as the embodiment of the best of cricketing action with the best of global talent showcasing their prowess as match winners. The premier cricketing tournament stirs up a mix of emotions for Indian fans– pride, excitement, and euphoria. While IPL has grown each year since its inception, 2018 promises to be an inflection point in its history, as Star India re.imagines the VIVO IPL 2018 making it deeply local with technology at the heart of the experience.

    The anthem, is being released simultaneously in 5 languages – Hindi, Tamil, Bengali, Kannada and Telugu across all platforms, TV, Radio, and Digital. Building great synergies, Star India, BCCI and O&M have collaborated with a talented team, comprising of South African film maker, Dan Mace, music director, Raajeev V Bhalla and vocalist Siddhart Basrur, who sung the anthem in 5 different languages.

    Sanjay Gupta, Managing Director Star India said “The very essence of VIVO IPL is a thrilling, action-packed celebration of cricket where the best of talent take on each other in one of the most gruelling cricket tournaments in the world. It is a fantastic celebration of both the game and its millions of fans across the world. The Best vs Best campaign endeavours to showcase the pinnacle of cricket that this tournament is associated with.”

    Rahul Johri, Chief Executive Officer, Board of Control for Cricket in India “That cricket has been a religion in India and that the BCCI’s – Indian Premier League is perhaps the best manifestation of that is beyond doubt. For us at the BCCI, the focus has always been on increasing the fan base for the sport by engaging not only the hard-core cricket fans but also those who do not follow the sport on a regular basis namely women and children. Given that we are now ready to embark on the next chapter for the Indian Premier League with the start of the 11th edition, the BCCI, in collaboration with Star India has worked on co-creating a large multi-media campaign focussing on the ‘Best vs Best’. We hope this campaign spurs the non – cricket viewing public to engage more deeply with the VIVO IPL 2018 like never before.”

    Piyush Pandey – Executive Chairman and Creative Director South Asia “IPL is the legendary cricket tournament in the world where every team is equally balanced and has an equal chance to win. It’s truly the best v/s the best. The campaign not only reflects the energy but also captures the fact that this is the best platform for young cricketers. We had fun putting it together!” 

    The 11th edition of VIVO IPL starts on Saturday, April 07, 2018 with defending champions Mumbai Indians taking on Chennai Super Kings.

  • Virat Kohli becomes Uber India’s first brand ambassador

    Virat Kohli becomes Uber India’s first brand ambassador

    MUMBAI: Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli has now become the face of Uber, the ridesharing app.

    Kohli is the brand’s first brand ambassador in India. This is a first of its kind initiative across the Asia Pacific region for the brand.

    Uber India and South Asia president Amit Jain said, “We are extremely delighted to sign on Virat Kohli to bat as the brand ambassador for Uber India. His commitment to India on and off the field is commendable—from bagging world titles for the country to advocating positive change-he is invested in making a difference to the community at large. In Virat, we’ve found a partner who reflects the drive we share with everyday India while embodying our commitment to serving the country. Today, we are the most-preferred ride-hailing service in this market and we will continue to invest and innovate in ways that will benefit our driver partners and riders.”

    Commenting on his association with Uber, Kohli said, “As a cricketer, I travel a lot and I have personally enjoyed the seamless experience of booking an Uber. It’s great to see how the company is using technology to revolutionise the way people move around cities and is empowering millions by creating economic opportunities. I am very excited to join hands with a company that is so committed to the people and cities that it operates in.”

    Besides being the face of the brand, Kohli will be actively involved in a series of marketing and customer-experience initiatives to be rolled out by Uber India.

    Uber India and South Asia head of marketing Sanjay Gupta added, “Virat is the embodiment of India’s ambitions on the world’s stage; he anchors the aspirations of billions and it’s the little things he does that bring joy to their lives. It’s this balance of purpose with a larger responsibility to citizens of the world that makes him the perfect partner to realising Uber’s commitment to India.”

  • Khelo india school games attract over 100 million viewers in its inaugural edition

    Khelo india school games attract over 100 million viewers in its inaugural edition

    Star Sports produced Khelo India School Games (KISG) drew a remarkable viewership for the inaugural edition of the tournament by attracting 102 million* viewers on television. Whether it is with the vision of creating heroes through story telling or simplifying various sports on television to educate and engage viewers, Star Sports is pushing boundaries to make a diverse range of sports aspirational for today’s youth.

    With an aim to foster a comprehensive, multi- sports ecosystem in India, Star Sports took on the mantle of producing and broadcasting KISG. They are also the first private broadcaster to do so.

    The state of the art broadcasting capabilities contributing to quality coverage for the school games, have helped amplify the reach of KISG which in turn will play a catalyst’s role to garner the much-needed parent’s attention and aspire young minds and to go out and play and join the movement!

    Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, said, “I am delighted with the kind of response Khelo India School Games has evoked from sports fans all over India. The quality broadcast and the viewership that we have garnered for the inaugural edition is a proof to the kind of potential that we see in sports to shape India’s future champions. The broadcaster is working hand-in-hand with the team to help us realise the dream of India becoming a global sporting powerhouse. The athletes have tremendous potential and are already behaving like true champions whilst celebrating their triumphs on television. With this support, encouragement and partnership, I am confident that in about four-five years, these KISG athletes will be world-class.”

    Star India, MD, Sanjay Gupta said, “It is an honour for us to produce Khelo India School Games and reach out to millions via world class broadcast that inspires parents and teachers to encourage their kids to emulate the feats of future sporting stars. I believe with the inaugural edition of KISG, we have traversed a large part of that journey. The spectacular viewership we have received for KISG is a testament to the support and intent that India has shown towards embracing sports. The tremendous response we have received for the inaugural edition of the tournament has further motivated us to realize a vision of making 30 crore children actively participate in sporting activities for an hour, every day.”

    Earlier in January, Star Sports, launched an exclusive film for KISG – Kheloge, kudoge, toh banoge lajawab, which is a call for youngsters to pursue sports alongside education followed by the launch of the Khelo India Anthem, a spirited composition which resonated with the vision of the programme, of nurturing a rich sporting culture in the country.

    The anthem was followed by the launch of the Khelo India Pledge, which has been undertaken by more than 1.5 million people in the country so far.

    A crew of over 100 specialists spread over multiple arenas covering over 70 events delivered 8 hours of live coverage each day across 3 channels – Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1HD, Star Sports First as well as Hotstar. The highlights of the games were aired across Star India’s bouquet of channels in Asia Pacific, UK & continental Europe as well as the Middle-East to drive international exposure and recognition for India’s future sporting stars.

  • 46.5 million Fans tuned into VIVO IPL 2018 auction on the Star Sports Network

    46.5 million Fans tuned into VIVO IPL 2018 auction on the Star Sports Network

    The VIVO IPL 2018 auction event received an overwhelming response on television and digital in India, and globally on social. A massive 46.5 million-fans, approximately 6x more than last year, tuned in to watch the 2-day auction event on the Star Sports Network as per BARC data (Source: BARC 2+ U+R). Digital viewership too surged by 5x on Hotstar as compared to 2017. The auction was telecast on a bouquet of 6 channels including Star Sports 1 (SD+HD), Star Sports1 Hindi (SD+HD), Star Sports First & Star Sports 1 Tamil.

    Star India – MD, Sanjay Gupta said, “The huge surge in viewership numbers for the 2018 auction underlines the importance IPL holds for audiences. There’s tremendous enthusiasm and anticipation about the tournament and we are committed to making VIVO IPL 2018 a exciting experience for the fans, who will experience the combined power of Star Sports and Hotstar.”

    BCCI, CEO, Rahul Johri – “Over the years the Indian Premier League has captured the hearts of viewers not just in India but across the world. Going by the viewership so far, both, the anticipation and the quality of delivery have risen. With Star India at the forefront, we hope and our confident the VIVO IPL 2018 will serve the interests of cricket in India and the expectations of cricket lovers like never before. The 6-month IPL extravaganza this year will surely set new benchmarks and change the face of sports broadcasting in India.”

    On social media, as per a report by ‘The Distillery’, Star India’s social intelligence cell, the auction event was a global phenomenon with 843K mentions worldwide – a five-fold increase over the numbers in 2017. Hashtags #IPLAuction, #IPL2018 trended on Twitter, recording a 91% positive sentiment score amongst the audiences. The auction received maximum chatter from Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.