ITV

Tag: Sports Broadcasting

  • Olympic films triumph at Monaco’s glittering Sportel Awards

    Olympic films triumph at Monaco’s glittering Sportel Awards

    MONACO: Monaco pulsed with sporting glamour on 20 October as the 36th Sportel Awards crowned this year’s finest films at the Grimaldi Forum. Two Olympic Channel productions—Personal Best and I’m Carl Lewis—walked away with coveted golden podiums, the ultimate accolade in sports broadcasting.

    Personal Best, a South African production by Anant Singh, claimed best thematic documentary. The film shadows eight athletes through their Olympic Games Paris 2024 journey, offering a raw glimpse into medal-chasing drama. I’m Carl Lewis, produced by Noah Media Group for Olympic Channel, secured best biopic honours. The British production explores the uncompromising life of the nine-time Olympic champion whom the International Olympic Committee declared “Sportsman of the Century” in 1999.

    Prince Albert II presided over the ceremony, broadcast live on TV Monaco, before a packed Salle Prince Pierre. The prince personally handed athletics legend Marie-José Perec the autobiography award for her book Ma Vie Olympique, whilst motor racing icon Jacky Ickx received the lifetime sport achievement award.

    Other winners included NBC Sports, which took best slow motion for Ilia Malinin: Relatable Awe, and Welcome to Wrexham, which won best docu-series. France’s Comme tout le monde claimed best report, whilst Canal+’s La Quête secured best advertising. ESPN Deportes’ Las Amazonas de Yaxunah won the Peace and Sport documentary prize.

    Tennis star Henri Leconte presided over a jury featuring handball champion Allison Pineau, cyclist Masomah Ali Zada and footballer Lonsana Doumbouya. Marine Picoulet, executive director of Sportel Awards, called the 2025 edition “one of the most powerful and inspiring” yet.

    Both winning Olympic films are currently streaming free on Olympics.com—territorial restrictions permitting. For once, the podium finish comes without the sweat.

    GOLDEN PODIUMS
    Best Slow Motion Georges Bertellotti
    Supported by Comité National Olympique et Sportif Français
    Ilia Malinin: Relatable Awe
    Eric Hamilton, Max Rahamin, Ryan Yeager, Eric Girgash, Sam Tydings, Jack Felling – NBC Sports
    USA

    Best Thematic Documentary
    Supported by TVMONACO
    Personal Best
    Ady Walter & Amal Doghmi – Videovision Entertainment – Distant Horizon
    South Africa

    Best Report
    Supported by
    Comme tout le monde
    Pierre-Etienne Léonard et Mohammed Khouadja – WAA ULTRA
    France

    Best Biopic
    Supported by
    I’m Carl Lewis!
    Julie Anderson & Chris Hay – Noah Media Group for Olympic Channel
    United Kingdom

    Best Docu-Series
    Supported by Les Barbagiuans de Monaco
    Welcome to Wrexham
    Bryan Rowland, Josh Drisko and Jeff Luni – NEO Studios / Boardwalk Pictures
    United Kingdom

    Best Advertising – Christian Blachas
    Supported by A.S.Monaco Basket-Roca Team
    La Quête
    Sébastien Bovier – CANAL+
    France

    Jury Special Prize
    Laure ! Laure ! Laure !
    Guillaume Priou & Laurie Delhostal – CHENGYU
    France

    SPECIAL PRIZES
    Peace and Sport Documentary Prize
    Las Amazonas De Yaxunah
    Alfonso Algara – ESPN Deportes
    USA

    Sports book Prize  Renaud de Laborderie
    Supported by Comité Olympique Monégasque
    Rainer W. Schlegelmilch – Porsche racing moments
    Switzerland

  • Raj Kamal Singh, sports television’s reluctant pioneer passes on

    Raj Kamal Singh, sports television’s reluctant pioneer passes on

    Raj Kamal Singh, known simply as RK to friends and protégés, never quite fit the mould he was born into. A Haryana-cadre bureaucrat with the air of a genial civil servant, he somehow found himself reshaping Indian broadcasting in the 1990s. First came DD Metro, conjured up with Rathikant Basu and Urmilla Gupta to inject a dash of freshness into the government-owned Doordarshan’s lumbering edifice Then came ESPN India, and later ESPN Star Sports — ventures that took him from government files to live sport, a journey no “babu” had probably attempted before.

    At ESPN’s makeshift south Delhi office in the early days — a converted garment-export bungalow with half a floor to itself — Singh presided over what would become a generation-defining team. “He was the reason I found my calling in television,” recalls Anurag Dahiya, now the ICC’s chief commercial officer, who was one of the early recruits. RK, he said, was the avuncular figure in a scrappy start-up atmosphere, a mentor who mixed bureaucratic calm with private-sector mischief. He helped build up a pay television business for ESPN in cable television’s infant days. 

    “For us, he was an approachable CEO. (We could) walk into his cabin – just like a friend. (He was fond of) taking us for bowling…Opening his house for parties along with his loving wife and kids. (We went for) river rafting trips, His famous lassi During lunch that was open to all – endless memories that we all forever cherish with him – shining our careers,” adds NDTV special projects associate vice-president Rachna Oberoi. 

    Later came Zee Telefilms, where Singh sparred with cable operators, shrugged off boardroom spats and, with a trademark guffaw, told anyone who fretted: “It’s all part of business. You can’t take it very seriously. It will get sorted out.” It usually did.

    Colleagues remember a man who taught by example rather than sermon. Many he hired went on to lead, or to found, sports businesses across the globe. His greatest legacy was not the channels he ran, but the people he groomed.

    Eventually he walked away from the industry altogether, setting up a lodge in the forest  (if we have got it right) — a suitably idiosyncratic ending for a man who had long made light of television’s supposed seriousness. On 15 August he died of a heart attack, aged 75.

    The sports-broadcasting world owes him more than it realises. RK would probably chuckle at the thought, suited and booted as he was vaunt to be, dismiss the fuss, and pour another drink.

  • India vs Pakistan clash smashes TV records with 20.6 crore viewers

    India vs Pakistan clash smashes TV records with 20.6 crore viewers

    MUMBAI: There are rivalries, and then there’s this-India vs Pakistan, a battle that grips the subcontinent tighter than a Virat Kohli cover drive. The latest chapter of this age-old sporting saga was played out in the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, and, surprise, surprise-it shattered television records! JioStar, the broadcaster with a flair for the dramatic, powered the showdown to an eye-watering 20.6 crore TV viewers, making it the second most-watched cricket match in BARC history outside of World Cup games.

    For a match hyped as The Greatest Rivalry by Star Sports since 2021, it sure lived up to its billing. The 23 February contest in Dubai even outperformed the high-stakes India-Pakistan face-off during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 in Ahmedabad, registering an 11 per cent higher TV rating (TVR). With a staggering 2609 crore minutes of TV watch-time logged, it was clear that cricket lovers weren’t just watching-they were glued to their screens as if their remotes had vanished into the couch abyss.

    A JioStar – sports spokesperson, basking in the afterglow of this mammoth success, summed it up, “JioStar is scaling new heights as far as India’s experience of marquee sporting events is concerned. Combining the power of deep consumer focus, immersive storytelling, universalised access and incisive marketing, Star Sports has galvanised the interest in this age-old rivalry. We remain committed to serving fans, deepening fandom and recruiting new cohorts.”

    And if the cricket wasn’t drama enough, the internet exploded when cameras panned to an iconic duo in the stands—former Indian captain MS Dhoni and Indian cinema’s very own Sunny Deol, casually enjoying the match. Because, honestly, what’s an Indo-Pak clash without some cinematic flair? Memes were minted, tweets were fired, and even those who had no idea about the match were suddenly very invested.

    But JioStar didn’t just rely on the match to pull in viewers—it went full throttle with a pre-game content blitz. Star Sports rolled out an engaging line-up of shows, including Thank You Pakistan…Jeetega Hindustan, featuring cricketing legends Navjot Singh Sidhu, Yuvraj Singh, Shahid Afridi, and Inzamam-Ul-Haq. Meanwhile, Follow the Blues documented India’s meticulous preparations, ensuring fans were as hyped as an IPL auctioneer on caffeine. The build-up reached fever pitch on match day, kicking off with Dil Se India at 8:00 am, setting the stage for the epic clash.

    Not to be left out, Oaksmith Cricket Live, Star Sports’ live pre, mid, and post-match show, also enjoyed its moment in the spotlight, drawing in 2.2 crore viewers who tuned in for expert analysis, insights, and, presumably, the occasional hyperbolic cricket metaphor.

    And just when you thought the drama was over, the action is far from done. With Team India still undefeated, the Men in Blue are now set to take on New Zealand in the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 final on 9 March. With another shot at glory on the line, will India lift another ICC trophy, following their T20 World Cup 2024 triumph? Fans will find out soon enough when coverage kicks off at 8:00 am across the JioStar network.

    Cancel those morning meetings, fake a cough, and restock on beers-cricket fever is about to hit like a Jasprit Bumrah yorker at 150 km/h.

  • Spotv’s game-changing playout tech: Fast, reliable & future-ready

    Spotv’s game-changing playout tech: Fast, reliable & future-ready

    MUMBAI: When it comes to live sports, there’s no room for buffering, glitches, or lag—unless you want angry fans and viral memes.

    South Korea’s leading provider of linear and digital sports content, Spotv knows this all too well. To keep the action seamless across southeast Asia, the broadcaster has rolled out a turnkey, fully automated playout system from Imagine Communications, ensuring top-tier reliability and rapid turnaround times.

    Broadcasting from a state-of-the-art teleport and broadcast centre in Cyberjaya, Malaysia, Spotv’s setup is powered by Imagine’s Versio™ integrated playout platform and ADC™ automation. This future-proof ecosystem is built to scale with evolving demands, simplifying operations while delivering world-class transmission.

    Why the upgrade? Spotv isn’t just any sports network—it’s the go-to destination for Wimbledon, the U.S. Open, MotoGP™, Roshn Saudi League, and Major League Baseball, among others. As the audience demand for high-quality sports broadcasting continues to skyrocket, Spotv sought a robust, flexible, and proven solution to keep up with the pace. And that’s where Imagine Communications came in.

    “Imagine Communications understood our requirements and equipped us with a tightly integrated, highly reliable playout infrastructure that can grow as our needs change,” said Spotv head of broadcast operations and engineering Prakash Maniam. “We know that many media companies around the world have successfully deployed Imagine playout technology, and we are confident that our modern, new system will be able to support our channel playout requirements for years to come.”

    Spotv’s newly deployed 6+2 channel origination workflow runs on Imagine’s Versio playout system, featuring embedded ADC automation software. The system integrates seamlessly with more devices and business systems than any other automation product, ensuring a smooth, end-to-end workflow.

    Here’s the play-by-play of how it all works:

    . High-performance video servers: The Nexio+™ AMP® servers with automatic input format detection take care of ingesting content effortlessly.  

    . Seamless content management: The Versio Content Portal and Nexio Motion™ asset management software ensure that the right content is prepped and loaded for playout—way before game time.

    . Less hardware, more efficiency: Versio reduces the number of physical devices needed in Spotv’s transmission chain, enabling a leaner, more efficient operation.

    . Single-user interface: Spotv’s team can now monitor and manage playout seamlessly from a single interface—because who needs unnecessary complexity?

    Spotv’s selection of Imagine Communications’ technology isn’t just about keeping things running smoothly today—it’s about preparing for tomorrow’s broadcasting needs. The Versio platform’s scalability allows Spotv to easily expand and adapt to new content demands, ensuring it stays ahead of the game.

    And it’s not just Spotv that’s impressed. Imagine Communications is celebrating yet another successful implementation of its cutting-edge technology in the global sports broadcasting industry.

    “We are honoured that Spotv has joined the ranks of leading global media companies who have made Versio their playout platform of choice,” said Imagine Communications SVP & GM EMEA and APAC, Mathias Eckert. “This implementation reflects Spotv’s commitment to excellence in live sports broadcast in the region and will enable them to work more efficiently today and prepare for whatever their future holds.”

    The new playout system at Spotv was implemented in collaboration with local Imagine partner and systems integrator JAA Systems (JAA.S).

  • Planetcast Media Services sets new standards in live sports broadcasting

    Planetcast Media Services sets new standards in live sports broadcasting

    Mumbai: Planetcast Media Services is proud to announce its faultless delivery of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season, with zero downtime or glitches across 74 matches held in 13 stadiums. This exceptional performance continues Planetcast’s legacy of providing top-tier media services for major cricketing events, including the recent T20 World Cup (2 to 29 June), which ended with India defeating South Africa.

    Having established itself as a leader in seamless, high-quality broadcasting and streaming solutions, Planetcast has been a trusted technology partner for the IPL for the last 17 years and, in 2024, ensured that cricket fans enjoyed coverage of the T20 World Cup via Star Sports, Hotstar and Times Internet Group’s Cricbuzz. Planetcast’s advanced media services enabled the delivery of advertising of around $450 million for the IPL rightsholders (almost equally split between broadcast and digital platforms, and on par with the $465 million in 2023).

    For the 2024 IPL season, Planetcast provided the following services:

    1   Star Sports: Delivering domestic TV broadcast to 17 channels in 11 languages with services such as encoding, live transmission, playout, packaging, and delivery solutions.

    2   Viacom18: Supporting over-the-top (OTT) streaming on JioCinema.

    3   Times Internet: Facilitating international OTT streaming and playout for Cricbuzz.

    “Our long-standing partnership with IPL rightsholders underscores our capability to handle live events of significant scale that generate advertising revenues of $450 plus million,” said Planetcast Media Services’ CEO Sanjay Duda. “With the financial stakes so high, it’s critical that we remain dedicated to performing flawlessly and that we enhance match coverage across all the platforms we handle. We are also incredibly excited to have provided media services for the T20 World Cup, which concluded last weekend with India hoisting the trophy after the exciting win against South Africa.”

    The IPL’s exponential growth is evident in the record-breaking viewership figures year after year. Star Sports, Disney Star’s broadcasting channel for IPL 2024, drew a record-breaking audience of 546 million over the first 67 matches, according to figures from India’s Broadcast Audience Research Council. JioCinema’s streaming figures show a 38 per cent increase in viewers streaming IPL in 2024 over 2023, with 620 million viewers watching matches on the Viacom 18 service. IPL’s opening 2024 match alone attracted 111 million fans on JioCinema, marking a staggering 51 per cent increase from the year before.

    Building on its IPL success, Planetcast is also providing comprehensive services for the T20 World Cup, including:

    1   Star Sports: Managing the world feed via satellite, covering 17 channels in three languages, and providing encoding, live transmission, playout, packaging, and delivery solutions.

    2   Hotstar: Delivering disaster recovery services, channel content replacement, and vertical feed delivery.

    3   Times Internet Group (Cricbuzz): Implementing AI-based editing for instant highlight creation, near-real-time ad insertion, and graphic insertion and playout for the US market.

  • Netflix to take a bold step by broadcasting WWE Raw next year

    Netflix to take a bold step by broadcasting WWE Raw next year

    Mumbai: According to a new media report, Netflix will start streaming the WWE program as part of their collaboration with TKO Group Holdings. From the next year, Netflix strategically collaborated with TKO Group Holdings. According to media reports, the regulatory filling company mentioned the tenure of an alleged deal for 10 years valued at $ five million.

    Netflix will air ‘ Raw ‘ as part of a special program. Netflix also has the option to terminate the deal after 5 years and can extend the deal as part of future decisions. Netflix also has exclusive broadcasting rights in the US, Latin America, Canada, Uk.

    According to the latest media reports, Netflix has decided to amplify revenue by cutting subscription prices. For that purpose, Netflix decided to support ad-tier membership plans. It will be the first time, Netflix broadcasts live sports and WWE programs. The company also estimates viewership potentially increases by leveraging its user base.

    In the last few days, OTT platforms decided to expand their viewership across the globe. To make it commercially successful many OTT platforms are started with an Ad supported revenue model. As a part of covering cost exercise, this model has also worked to face stiff competition in OTT platforms.

    Giants like Amazon (Amazon miniTV) also have many Indian OTT platforms like Aha, Zee 5, and many others rolled out such plans earlier. Netflix is considered a premium entertainment app and generally, it is believed that Netflix costs more compared to other OTT subscription plans worldwide.

    To enhance financial strength Netflix started to support ad tier membership plans. This will be a mutually beneficial coalition between Netflix and TKO group holdings. Earlier Netflix was focused on original GEC content including web series, movies, and documentaries.

    Now taking one step further, Netflix elevated its commercial base by introducing such live sports streaming on its platform. As per media sources, Netflix also plans to develop new content that is in line with and similar to WWE sports.

    According to many industry experts, advertising-based videos on demand (ADOV) will grow faster in the upcoming two years. These ad-supported models provide economies of scale benefits to the platform simultaneously with existing audiences on particular OTT platforms getting access to sports content. This move helps larger popular sports broadcasters like WWE to secure better viewership.

    As an aggregator platform for national, and international content, this proactive step taken by Netflix can encourage other OTT players to upgrade its offerings.

    According to media reports, Netflix can also become a favorite stop destination for WWE shows like SmackDowns, NXT, and Wrestle Mania. The paradigm shift of Netflix from GEC to a Sports streaming platform lies in commercial factors.

    Lastly, Netflix is estimated to secure a position to ensure sports broadcasting which will cater predominantly to Gen Z and Sports fans worldwide.

  • SPNI bags broadcast media rights to Roland-Garros 2022-24

    SPNI bags broadcast media rights to Roland-Garros 2022-24

    Mumbai: Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) has bagged the exclusive media rights to broadcast Roland-Garros between 2022-24. The deal spanning over three years provides SPN with exclusive TV and digital rights of Roland-Garros.

    The broadcaster will televise the French Open on its sports channels across India and the subcontinent including, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives, and will also be available to live-stream on their premium OTT platform, SonyLiv.  

    The upcoming edition of the Grand Slam tournament is scheduled to be played between 22 May and 5 June. Sony Sports Network witnessed a viewership of 22 million for the previous Grand Slam, the Australian Open, the highest recorded viewership in recent years.

    “Following the successful broadcast of the Australian Open over the past years on our network, we are delighted to acquire the media rights of the prestigious Roland-Garros,” said SPNI chief revenue officer for distribution and head – sports business Rajesh Kaul. “The pedigree of the French Open will help us cater to the steadily growing tennis fanbase in India. With this acquisition, we reiterate our goal to position Sony Sports Network as the home to marquee global sports events.”

    “We are delighted with the signing of this Sony Pictures Networks India contract,” said French Tennis Federation president Gilles Moretton. “This new agreement ensures maximum exposure in India and its subcontinent. It means our tournament will be celebrated in this part of the world where tennis fans and Roland-Garros fans are increasingly numerous.”

  • Viacom18 announces the launch of Sports18 Khel on DD FreeDish

    Viacom18 announces the launch of Sports18 Khel on DD FreeDish

    Mumbai: Viacom18 on Monday announced the launch of Sports18 Khel – its free-to-air (FTA) Hindi channel, available on Prasar Bharati’s DTH service DD FreeDish. The announcement follows closely on the heels of the launch of its pay-TV channel Sports18.

    Sports18 Khel will allow fans to watch their favourite sports in Hindi, including the highlights of the 2021-22 NBA season, Abu Dhabi T10 League, Road Safety World Series, Santosh Trophy, glorious moments of Indian sports and other such offerings, said the statement.

    “Viacom18 secured a slot on DD FreeDish to make sports content easily accessible and expand the consumption of the genre across a wider audience,” says a Viacom18 Sports spokesperson. “Sports18 Khel will offer content relevant to the FTA subscribers across a range of sports in Hindi. This is also an opportunity to funnel a new audience to the pay-TV segment.”

    Effective 25 April, Sports18 Khel will be available on channel #25 on DD FreeDish. Meanwhile, Sports18 SD is available on channel #488 on Tata Play, channel #293 on Airtel Digital TV, on channel #262 on JioTV +, and Sports18 HD on channel #261 JioTV +. Viewers can continue to watch their preferred sports by downloading Viacom18’s premium video-on-demand platform Voot (iOS & Android) and JioTV (iOS & Android).

  • Viacom18 unveils its new sports channel ‘Sports18’

    Viacom18 unveils its new sports channel ‘Sports18’

    Mumbai: Viacom18 on Friday announced the launch of Sports18, the network’s dedicated sports broadcasting channel. The pay-TV channel, available in SD and HD, will offer fans the ‘best-in-class’ sports content in India, the network said.

    “Sports18 will be the new home to the world’s most premium sports properties, including the Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022, NBA, LaLiga, Ligue 1, Serie A, Abu Dhabi T10, and top ATP & BWF events. Apart from premier picks from the world of football, basketball, tennis, cricket and badminton, the channel will provide fans access to top programming covering international sports news, magazine and highlights shows,” said the media company in a statement.

    “We are pleased to launch a dedicated sports channel for an audience across demographics and geographies,” stated Viacom18 Sports CEO Anil Jayaraj. “Sports18 will strive to be India’s most-coveted broadcast network by providing fans easy access to a comprehensive bouquet of international and premier sports content.”

    As the LaLiga, Ligue1, Serie A, and the NBA come to the business end of their seasons, fans will be able to experience all the events on Sports18. “Viewers can continue to watch their preferred sports by downloading Viacom18’s premium video-on-demand platform Voot (iOS & Android) and JioTV (iOS & Android),” the statement added.

    Effective 6 p.m on 15 April, the channel will be available on leading DTH service providers across the country.