ITV

Tag: sports

  • SSEN bids for FIFA World Cup 2026 and 2030, pledges free streaming for fans

    SSEN bids for FIFA World Cup 2026 and 2030, pledges free streaming for fans

    MUMBAI: Shrachi Sports Entertainment Network (SSEN), a dedicated sports OTT platform, has placed a bid for the broadcasting rights of the FIFA World Cup 2026 and 2030, valued at roughly 2 million dollars (Rs 18-20 crore). If successful, SSEN intends to stream both tournaments entirely free to viewers in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal and the Maldives.

    The bid signals a shift in sports broadcasting strategy, prioritising accessibility over subscription revenue. “This is more than a business move. It is a commitment to inclusivity and reshaping football consumption in the region. By offering the FIFA World Cup free to fans, we are democratising access and laying the foundation for a long-term legacy,” said SSEN chairman Tamal Ghosal.

    SSEN already streams marquee events including the Calcutta Football League and the I-League, and is the first Indian platform to cover the Women’s Bundesliga and the German Handball Bundesliga. The network’s move positions India as an emerging hub in the global football narrative while placing fan access at the centre of its strategy.

  • Apex and Baseline strike deal to boost sports investment in India

    Apex and Baseline strike deal to boost sports investment in India

    BENGALURU: Apex, a Europe-born sports investment firm backed by world-class athletes, has inked a strategic partnership with Baseline Ventures, one of India’s most prominent sports and entertainment outfits. The tie-up aims to unlock new investment opportunities in India’s booming sports ecosystem while giving Indian capital direct access to premium deals across Europe and the US.

    Baseline Ventures, founded in 2014, has carved a formidable position in Indian sport, with businesses spanning athlete management, league creation, licensing, and brand partnerships. The firm represents some of the country’s top names including Smriti Mandhana, Abhinav Bindra, PR Sreejesh, and Nikhat Zareen, and co-founded the Prime Volleyball League.

    Apex brings deep experience in venture capital, growth, and private equity across the global sports and media sectors. Its athlete-led model has drawn in investors such as Formula 1 drivers Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz, and footballers Trent Alexander-Arnold and Marcelo Vieira. Earlier this year, Smriti Mandhana became the first Indian athlete to invest in Apex — a symbolic milestone in its growing Indian play.

    Apex partner & chief commercial officer Pedro Felix da Costa said the move was a “natural step” for the firm: “India is one of the most dynamic sports markets in the world. Partnering locally helps us navigate it with intent, while also offering Indian capital high-quality exposure to Europe and US deals.”

    Baseline Ventures Co-Founder & Director Vishal Jaison called the tie-up a win-win: “Sports is now one of the most lucrative asset classes, delivering strong value appreciation. With Apex, Indian investors get a gateway to some of the biggest global sporting entities.”

    The deal marks a significant moment in the convergence of global capital and India’s sports industry — one where returns and fandom are racing side by side.

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  • Why Raj Nayak is getting into scalable IPs with the House of IP

    Why Raj Nayak is getting into scalable IPs with the House of IP

    MUMBAI: Is there still space in the content creation, event IPs, and the experiences verticals  despite the gadzillion or so producers, event organisers and individual creators  popping up from every nook and cranny all over India?

    Well, Raj Nayak, the former chief operating officer of Viacom18 and founder of House of Cheer, sure as hell believes there is. He has unveiled his next bold venture — House of IP — in partnership with digital marketing outfit Yaap.

    Positioned as a first-of-its-kind venture studio for event and entertainment IPs, House of IP promises to create, scale and monetise original properties across sports, music, digital content and branded experiences. From seed ideas to revenue engines, the studio aims to become a launchpad for immersive, culture-first experiences.

    “At a time when content is fragmented and brands are fighting for attention, scalable IPs are the future,” said Nayak who does not seem to be tiring despite being in the media and entertainment business for nearly four decades.

    He’s raring to go with his new venture, just like he was at the start of his career nearly 40 years ago.  “House of IP is built to turn bold concepts into cultural movements — and business success.”

    Yaap, known for its work in influencer marketing and digital media, brings its tech-driven, platform-first mindset to the collaboration. Founder Atul Hegde called the move a “natural evolution” of Yaap’s vision. “With Raj’s creative force and our digital DNA, this partnership will help build IPs that go the distance,” he said.

    House of IP is setting up shop in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Dubai, with plans to work both with original concepts and existing IP owners. The venture will offer strategic consulting, content creation, brand partnerships and monetisation models.

    “Think big ideas, deep culture connects, and long-term brand value,” Nayak added. “Welcome to the House of IP.”

    What should work in Nayak’s favour is the numerous relationships he has forged  and goodwill he has generated on almost every front throughout his career, whether amongst marketers or agencies or broadcast executives or event agencies.

    Then there is a bunch of startups as well as unicorns in almost every vertical which are looking for expertise to take them forward in the experiences department or their content needs. The new sports policy announced recently by the government is likely to see a plethora of new sports get a fresh impetus with administrators and the private sector getting together to make India a sporting nation and take it beyond just cricket. 

    Already, many leagues for many a sport have come up which need nurturing and guidance to make them grow a la the Pro Kabaddi League and the Indian Super League. Raj spent a large part of his early career selling sports and continues to do so with the Celebrity Cricket League, which should work in the House of IPs’ favour.

    Finally, with the overall live and experiential business literally exploding like never before, it’s most likely that his House of IPs will have a lot to cheer about. Just like his House of Cheer.

  • APOS 2025: How JioStar turns sports into co-creation, not just consumption

    APOS 2025: How JioStar turns sports into co-creation, not just consumption

    BALI:  JioStar is no longer content with just broadcasting sport—it’s rewriting the production storybook altogether. Speaking at APOS 2025 in Bali, JioStar head of sports production services & technology Prashant Khanna laid out a bold vision: India as the epicentre of global sports innovation.

    “We don’t just see ourselves as broadcasters or production partners,” Khanna said during a high-energy fireside chat. “We’re in the business of helping India create iconic sporting memories.”

    Khanna spotlighted JioStar’s end-to-end reimagining of the sports viewing experience—infused with tech, empathy, and staggering interactivity. Think sign-language feeds, descriptive audio for the visually impaired, vertical videos, motion-capture-powered kids’ streams, and multi-cam toggles.

    “The modern fan doesn’t want to just watch—they want to co-create,” Khanna stressed. “Millions are producing their own version of the game in real time. That’s the expectation.”

    A major catalyst behind this transformation? Starlab, JioStar’s in-house innovation unit that’s quietly building a cloud-native production stack in collaboration with AWS, creators, and start-ups. The result: hyper-personalised, scalable, and immersive experiences beamed across devices in formats fans choose.

    Khanna also highlighted JioStar’s deep investment in talent pipelines through its partnership with the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies—a government-led effort to skill the next generation in sports and live production.

    “It’s not just about what audiences see today. It’s about who shapes that experience tomorrow,” he said.
    Citing the recently concluded 18th season of the IPL as a “turning point,” Khanna revealed the company’s key takeaway: audiences don’t want passive content anymore.

    ““It’s been an eye-opener every single time, but this year, our biggest learning was how deeply involved the consumer is. They no longer want to passively consume what you’re serving them—they want to be part of shaping how the game unfolds over those 4–5 hours.”

    “We saw this play out every day for 2.5 months, through a variety of formats and platforms. Whether it was widescreen or vertical video, Sunday cohort feeds, or kids’ IPs brought to life through motion capture, the engagement was constant. It reinforced that delivering the game in a way fans understand and love is no longer optional-it’s essential,” he said.

    With India firmly on the front foot, JioStar’s playbook proves one thing: the future of sport is no longer just played. It’s produced, personalised, and powered by fans.

  • Disney’s magic numbers: Q2 2025 earnings cast a spell

    Disney’s magic numbers: Q2 2025 earnings cast a spell

    MUMBAI: The Walt Disney Company’s Q2 2025 earnings have delivered a star-studded performance, with revenues climbing seven per cent to $23.6 billion, driven by robust gains in entertainment and experiences. But it wasn’t all smooth sailing — sports struggled with soaring production costs, keeping the magic somewhat grounded.

    In the spotlight, Disney’s entertainment segment sparkled with a 61 per cent surge in operating income, hitting $1.3 billion. Direct-to-consumer revenues also soared, thanks to a 2.5 million bump in Disney+ and Hulu subscriptions, pushing the combined total to 180.7 million. The much-talked-about Disney+ subscriber base alone rose to 126 million, an addition of 1.4 million from the previous quarter.

    However, the sports division played a tougher game. Operating income tumbled by $91 million to $687 million, primarily due to bloated programming costs, which included airing three extra college football playoff games and an additional NFL clash. ESPN’s domestic advertising revenue shot up by 29 per cent, but it wasn’t enough to offset the spending blitz.

    Disney’s crown jewel — its experiences division — continued to enchant. Segment operating income hit $2.5 billion, a nine per cent rise, as domestic parks saw a 13 per cent boost in income, driven by higher spending and increased attendance.

    Net income soared to $3.4 billion from just $216 million a year ago, with adjusted earnings per share (EPS) hitting $1.45, a 20 per cent year-on-year jump. Free cash flow surged over 100 per cent to $4.9 billion, thanks to lower tax payments and tighter cost control.

    But not everything was a fairy tale. Disney’s Star India JV posted a $103 million loss, reflecting ongoing challenges in the competitive Indian market. There was also a equity loss from India JV of ~$300 million driven by purchase accounting amortisation. Amounts for the current period include impairment charges related to the Star India transaction ($143 million) and content ($109 million). Tax expense in the current period includes the estimated tax impact of these charges and a non-cash tax charge of $244 million related to the Star India transaction. Amounts for the prior-year period include impairments of goodwill ($2,038 million).

    Looking ahead, Disney is waving its wand at a 16 per cent rise in adjusted EPS for the full year, expecting $5.75 per share, as it bets on double-digit growth in entertainment and a fresh direct-to-consumer push with ESPN’s new offering.

    Disney’s CEO Bob Iger summed it up: “Our outstanding performance this quarter underscores our continued success building for growth and executing across our strategic priorities. Overall, we remain optimistic about the direction of the company and our outlook for the remainder of the fiscal year.” 

  • Lavin Hirani launches Hirani & Associates in Mumbai

    Lavin Hirani launches Hirani & Associates in Mumbai

    MUMBAI: Lavin Hirani, a seasoned name in India’s media and entertainment law circles, has rolled out his own banner—Hirani & Associates—a boutique firm set up in Bandra, Mumbai. With a script honed over years in the legal trenches, the new firm promises bespoke solutions across media, entertainment, sports, trademarks and tech law.

    Hirani, best known for his stints as head of legal at Red Chillies Entertainment and media practice head at MDP Legal, brings heavyweight experience and a high-profile clientele. He has represented marquee names like Shah Rukh Khan, Sunny Deol, Shraddha Kapoor, Raveena Tandon, Rana Daggubati, Rishabh Pant and Samantha Prabhu, as well as leading production houses and streaming platforms.

    “Media and tech are just getting warmed up—there’s massive potential ahead,” said Hirani. 

    Backed by a tight-knit team of legal talent—Anjana Menon (principal associate), Varun Gopala Krishnan (senior associate), and associates Ishan Puranik, Niharika Tiwari, Karisma Shah, Prachiti Joshi and Suhavi Arya—Hirani & Associates aims to blend personalised legal counsel with deep sector insight.

    And yes, in true Bollywood style, Hirani couldn’t resist a cinematic sign-off: “Starring a talented cast, directed by yours truly.”

  • Indian tech-caster SportVot goes Down Under

    Indian tech-caster SportVot goes Down Under

    MUMBAI: SportVot, the cloud-powered production outfit that has quietly revolutionised how the world watches second-tier sports, is making a play for Australia’s local leagues and community competitions. After sizing up the market down under, the Indian tech firm has appointed Tim Anderson to captain its Australian innings as managing director.

    With over 300,000 matches already under its belt across 30 sports in more than 20 countries, SportVot’s proposition is deceptively straightforward: professional-quality broadcasts without the eye-watering price tag that typically keeps smaller competitions in the shadows.
    Tim Andersen“Australian sport is deeply rooted in community engagement,” says Anderson, fresh in the hot seat at SportVot Australia. “We’re here to ensure every sport, every tournament and every athlete gets the attention they deserve.”

    The firm’s toolkit extends beyond mere live streaming. Its platform churns out quick-fire clips and highlights packages—social media catnip that sports administrators increasingly see as crucial for fan engagement and commercial pull.

    SportVot  co-founder & CEO Siddhant Agarwal is bullish about the Australian market: “Australia is one of the most passionate sporting nations in the world,” he notes, playing a straight bat. “Our technology is built for scale, and we are excited to see it empower Australian sports like never before.”

    The move follows months of quiet courtship with national and state sporting bodies across Australia. For community leagues accustomed to shaky smartphone footage or no coverage at all, SportVot’s arrival could mean the difference between playing to empty stands and building genuine digital followings.

    Whether Australia’s sporting landscape is ready for this democratisation remains to be seen. But with SportVot now padded up and taking guard, the country’s grassroots competitions may soon find themselves enjoying exposure previously reserved for the big leagues.

  • Banijay group boasts bumper year 2024

    Banijay group boasts bumper year 2024

    MUMBAI: Entertainment powerhouse Banijay group has posted phenomenal financial figures for 2024, with profits perking up considerably in the final quarter. The firm, flying high after a fabulous fiscal year, smashed its own guidance with a whopping 22 per cent growth in adjusted EBITDA.

    The titan tallied total revenue of Euro 4,803 million, up a tidy 10.9 per cent, with momentum mounting magnificently in Q4 with a 14.8 per cent surge. Adjusted EBITDA jumped by 21.6 per cent to Euro 900 million, with a particularly powerful performance in the final quarter, rocketing up by 32.8 per cent.

    Margins moved up markedly by 160 basis points to 18.7 per cent compared to 2023, while adjusted net income climbed by 29.3 per cent to Euro 418 million. The company’s coffers are considerably healthier, with a cash position of Euro 482 million and leverage ratio trimmed to 2.9x (down 0.2x since December 2023).

    Shareholders can smile at a suggested dividend of Euro 0.35 per share, equating to 35 per cent of adjusted net income.

    CEO  François Riahi remarked that since listing three years ago, Banijay has increased revenue by 37 per cent and adjusted EBITDA by 50 per cent, with streaming content revenues doubling, as has the number of unique active players.

    Despite industry headwinds hampering the first half, Banijay’s content production and distribution division delivered revenue of Euro 3,348 million, up by a slim but significant 0.5 per cent. The final quarter finished with flair, showing a 6.7 per cent rise thanks to major scripted show deliveries.

    Banijay's Hit shows

    Content production revenue specifically stood at Euro 2,615 million, down 2.8 per cent compared to 2023, but bounced back brilliantly with a 6.2 per cent boost in Q4. Content distribution dipped by 1.5 per cent to Euro 397 million in 2024, but rebounded robustly in Q4 with a 33.2 per cent increase.

    “Banijay group enjoyed a record year in 2024,” said Riahi. “Even in a challenging global content prouction market, we continued to see strong demand – especially from streaming platforms – for our iconic brands and deep content catalogue as the number one European studio for scripted content and a world leader in global format launches.”

    The streaming success story continued with top-performing titles including Like Water for Chocolate, which ranked first among Spanish-language content on HBO Max, while Supersex, La Vita che Volevi and The Law According to Lidia Poet dominated Netflix’s top four scripted titles in Italy during H1.

    Banijay maintains its mantle as the number one studio worldwide for global format launches. Six legacy formats ranked among the top 20 most-traveling TV formats globally, including Deal or No Deal (#2), MasterChef (#4), Big Brother (#6), Survivor (#7), Minute to Win It (#11), and The Money Drop (#14).

    The company’s catalogue has expanded enormously, growing by more than 20,000 hours over the year to reach 207,000 hours of content, a 12 per cent increase compared to 2023.

    Live experiences & other revenue rose remarkably by 42 per cent to Euro 336 million, driven by robust growth from brand licensing and the full-year contribution of Balich Wonder Studio. Throughout 2024, Balich Wonder Studio produced 119 shows including the opening ceremony of Euro 2024 in Munich and the Uefa Champions League in London. Cultural conquests included the award-winning Viva Vivaldi: The Four Seasons Immersive Concert in Verona and the 400th edition of the Festino di Santa Rosalia, which attracted more than 350,000 spectators.

    Banijay's Hit shows

    The Independents impressed with 642 shows including the Vogue Festival in Paris and Spring/Summer 2025 runway shows for luxury labels like Christian Louboutin and Khaite.

    Post-year developments include the January 2025 acquisition of Lotchi, a French producer of immersive experiences combining architecture with video-mapping, light and classical music. February saw the launch of Banijay Live Studio, set to create cutting-edge out-of-home entertainment experiences with a “Black Mirror” project already underway.

    The online sports betting and gaming division delivered dazzling results, with revenue racing ahead by 45.4 per cent to Euro 1,456 million and an exceptional Q4 performance showing 49.3 per cent growth.

    Online sportsbook revenue rose by 48.4 per cent to Euro 1,144 million, while online casino, poker and turf grew by 35.5 per cent to Euro 311 million. The betting business bagged market share across all products and territories, enjoying a 37 per cent increase in unique active players compared to 2023.

    The division debuted a fully redesigned sportsbook app and launched a new proprietary poker platform in December 2024. The group strengthened its responsible gaming policy, with 99 per cent of its online sports betting & gaming revenue generated in locally regulated markets in 2024.

    Online betting and sportsbook revenue Banijay

    Looking forward, Banijay forecasts further fiscal fortunes in 2025:
    * Mid-single digit growth for content production, distribution and live experiences
    * Mid-teens growth for online sports betting and gaming
    * Mid-to-high single digit growth in adjusted EBITDA, despite a Euro 20 million hit from higher betting taxes in France (effective from 1 July 2025)
    * Adjusted free cash flow of approximately 80 per cent of adjusted EBITDA

    Riahi, announced that several board members, including himself, will be purchasing shares in the company – a vote of confidence in future growth.

    “Banijay Group’s value proposition in the entertainment industry is unique,” Riahi concluded. “We have a clear track record of performance, and we aim to expand our free float and stock liquidity so that shareholders can benefit from the value we are creating.”

  • Fox, Disney & Warner Bros Discovery abort Venu Sports

    Fox, Disney & Warner Bros Discovery abort Venu Sports

    MUMBAI: The ambitious Venu Sports streaming service, a joint venture between Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery, will not be launching after all.  The only launch  – if you can call it that –  it is having is – out of the window. The decision comes despite earlier indications that the project was moving forward, following the resolution of a lawsuit with Fubo.

    Venu had promised to shake up the sports streaming landscape by combining content from major networks like ESPN, ABC, TNT, and Fox into a single platform for $42.99 per month. However, persistent legal and market pressures ultimately derailed the effort.

    On Thursday, DirecTV and EchoStar signaled the possibility of their own lawsuits against Venu, citing unresolved antitrust concerns that were central to Fubo’s earlier legal challenge. By Friday, Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery announced  that they were drawing the curtains on the project in a joint statement:

    “After careful consideration, we have collectively agreed to discontinue the Venu Sports joint venture and not launch the streaming service. In an ever-changing marketplace, we determined that it was best to meet the evolving demands of sports fans by focusing on existing products and distribution channels. We are proud of the work that has been done on Venu to date and grateful to the Venu staff, whom we will support through this transition period.”

    DirecTV, in its own statement, added: “We look forward to working with our programming partners — including Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery — to compete on a level playing field to deliver sports fans more choice, control, and value all-in-one experience.”

    Venu was first announced nearly a year ago and was slated to launch last fall. However, a judge halted the rollout after Fubo filed an antitrust lawsuit, claiming the service would unfairly dominate the sports streaming market

    The service aimed to consolidate premium sports content from its parent companies’ linear TV networks, offering fans an all-in-one experience. It had even appointed former Apple executive Pete Distad as CEO to lead the charge. 

    While Venu has been shelved, Disney is still moving ahead with its plans to launch a standalone ESPN streaming service, currently referred to as “ESPN Flagship,” by the end of the summer. Analysts speculate that Fox may eventually license its sports content for inclusion on the new platform.

    This pivot underscores the complexities of navigating legal challenges and evolving consumer expectations in the highly competitive sports streaming market. For now, fans will have to rely on existing platforms to access their favorite sports content.

    (The visual for this story has been generated using Microsoft Designer. No copyright infringement is intended. It is just a depiction of the fate of Venu Sports with the three main partners aborting the venture. And there is no attempt to cause any injury or damage to the reputation of  either Fox, Disney or Warner Bros Discovery or to hurt anyone’s sentiments. In short, there is no malafide intent and no malice is intended either.)