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Tag: sports

  • Ekalavya Bhattacharya appointed Offbeet Media Group’s chief digital officer

    Ekalavya Bhattacharya appointed Offbeet Media Group’s chief digital officer

    Mumbai: After successfully launching and running the OTT platform of Balaji – ALT Balaji, Ekalavya Bhattacharya has joined the new age media and content company, Offbeet Media group to set up and lead the esports and web3 verticals for the group. With this move, FusedBulb, a creative-tech company started by Bhattacharya that offers web3 and blockchain strategy, would also be merging into Offbeet Media.

    He joins Offbeet Media after a stint at Alt Balaji as chief strategy officer & creative director. Prior to that, as MTV India digital head, he was also instrumental in charting the map for the digital and social growth for MTV India with many award winning campaigns and properties to his credit.

    “The gaming industry today, globally, is bigger than movie + sports combined. It’s growing rapidly across mobile, PC and console markets in India as well. Within gaming, esports is capturing the imagination of everyone in the media industry and is the most attractive route to connect with GenZ and millennials today. With streaming and game-casting audiences growing month-on-month, this is a super exciting space to be in! We want to set up India’s most definitive Esports Academy and be the leaders in the event space for competitive gaming!” he said.

    He will also be setting up the web3 vertical for the group. “Web3 is the natural progression for the evolution of the web. The opportunities in the Metaverse, decentralised eco-systems, NFTs and blockchain tech is endless. Right from consumer engagement, immersive experiences, efficiency in supply chains, Web3 is the way to go and we are excited to be the go-to guys for brands in this space,” he said.

    Offbeet Media Group founder & CEO Jaideep Singh said “At Offbeet we have been continuously evolving and expanding, entering into new streams of business lines in sync with our vision of being a New Age media and content company and we are super excited to have Bhattacharya joining us. He will bolster our business offering and overall capabilities in the digital footprint across all our rapidly growing business lines.”

  • Disney+ Hotstar to stream UK show featuring David Beckham on 9 November

    Disney+ Hotstar to stream UK show featuring David Beckham on 9 November

    Mumbai: OTT platform Disney+ Hotstar has debuted the official trailer for the UK original series, Save Our Squad with David Beckham. The series is set to premiere exclusively on Wednesday, 9 November at Disney+ Hotstar. The announcement was accompanied by four new images from the series.

    It is co-produced by Bafta and RTS Award-winning production company Twenty Twenty, and Studio 99, the global content and production studio co-founded by Beckham. Save Our Squad with David Beckham is a series that sees David Beckham return to his East London roots to mentor Westward Boys, a young, grassroots team who are at the bottom of their league, facing relegation. However, this isn’t just any league… This is the same league that Beckham played in as a young boy. Working with the head coaches, he’ll try to turn the team’s fortunes around.

    Beckham mentors the young squad, sharing stories from his own playing career, which spanned over 20 years and saw him play for some of the most successful clubs in the world, to help them learn valuable lessons about practice, ambition, and teamwork. Off the pitch, Beckham gets the chance to spend time with players and their families, learning about their lives, hopes and concerns and talking to them about the importance of collaboration, work ethic and community.

    In the trailer, we see the first time the squad meets David Beckham, with one member of the team quizzing him on missed penalties. For David, this role is about giving back, as we see him mentor the boys, give them inspiring team talks, and even get his boots back on to try to score a trademark Beckham free kick against our young team.

    Save Our Squad with David Beckham builds on the company’s commitment to source, develop, and produce original productions. Disney’s International Content and Operations team plans to create 60 local productions in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa alone by 2024 as it continues to collaborate with outstanding creators and premium producers.

  • BCCI & MPL Sports launch new T20I jersey for team India

    BCCI & MPL Sports launch new T20I jersey for team India

    Mumbai: MPL Sports, the official kit sponsor of the Indian Cricket Team, and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) today unveiled the official team India jersey for all T20 internationals. Called the One Blue Jersey, it celebrates the indomitable energy and enthusiasm that supporters bring to the game. Most importantly, it pays homage to the legions of fans that span different genders and age groups and transcend geographical borders.

    The jersey is styled with a pattern of equilateral triangles—a universal symbol of the blend of energy, spirit, and power—that celebrates the unswerving support of the fans who have stood behind the team through thick and thin. Combined with the petals found in the BCCI’s insignia, the jersey embodies the loyalty and merit that the game demands. The jersey comes in shades of royal blue for a look befitting the champions of the game.

    The One Blue Jersey will make its debut on the pitch during the upcoming T20 series against Australia on 20 September. It replaces the Billion Cheers Jersey at all T20 international competitions. Players will continue to sport the Billion Cheers jersey at One Day Internationals.

    For Rs 1,999, the jersey will be available for purchase at mplsports.in beginning today, as well as at all major e-commerce and retail outlets. Along with this, over 40 SKUs, including player edition jerseys, training gear, and athleisure wear, will be available.

  • DistroTV expands distribution, now streaming free on VIZIO Smart TVs

    DistroTV expands distribution, now streaming free on VIZIO Smart TVs

    Mumbai: DistroTV, the nation’s largest, independent, free, ad-supported streaming TV (Fast) app on Friday announced that it is expanding its content offerings to Vizio. Now millions of Vizio users can stream DistroTV’s impressive and diverse content lineup — 270 channels and growing plus thousands of hours of VOD content — for free, anytime on the VIZIO Smart TV platform.

    DistroTV features over 270 multicultural channels and is growing, with everything from news, sports, movies, music & entertainment, and lifestyle content. This includes original content and new channel offerings that cater to English, Southeast Asian / Indian and Spanish-speaking audiences, as well as a recently released channel bundle that targets the African community. It is available to stream for free in over 60 markets through its apps on streaming devices and smart TVs, as well as worldwide on the web through Distro.tv, the platform truly features something for every viewer. No registration, sign-up, or fees are required.

    DistroTV’s comprehensive streaming library includes:

    -An impressive wave of new channels available to stream for free that appeal to DistroTV’s core US, UK, and Canadian audiences which includes a total of.

    -45 sports channels, with the most diverse collection of live & linear mainstream sports, combat sports, niche sports and outdoors channels, like stadium, beIN Sports Xtra, Swerve Sports, Impact Wrestling Channel, Fightnetwork, Wired2Fish, ACL Cornhole, MotoAmerica TV and FuelTV.

    -Broad array of diverse movies & entertainment channels including CineLife by Magnolia Pictures, Kweli TV, Watch It Scream, FrightFlix, Bowery Classics, Dark Matter, CinePride and many more.

    -13 documentary channels, including Goalcast, Magellan TV, Beautiful Planet & True History.
     
    -Notable new additions to the entertainment, lifestyle & food category, including AXS TV Now, Trace Urban, Bite, Planet Eat, and GustoTV.

    -A total of 21 spanish-language channels are available in North America, such as Estrella, beIN Sports XTRA Ñ, Top Cine, Canela.TV, Trace Latina, Casa Comedy and Spanglish and more spanish language entertainment, movie, documentaries, news and sports channels.

    -36 live streaming DistroTV Desi South Asian news, entertainment, and music channels featuring WION, TimesNow, Mastiii, Epic, MirrorNow, BritAsia and much more.

    -African channel bundle, DistroTV Africa, featuring 11 entertainment and music-oriented channels available to stream for free.

    -Providing audiences in the US and Canada with home screen access to must-have apps like Apple TV+, BET+, Disney+, HBO Max, Hulu, FuboTV, Netflix, Paramount+, Peacock, Prime Video and YouTube TV, VIZIO users now have round-the-clock access to DistroTV.

    -VIZIO and DistroTV are aligned in their missions to provide content and access for everyone; including movies and syndicated TV shows in the sports, kids and family, news, lifestyle, gaming, and music categories, and more.

    “We are thrilled to join the VIZIO family, particularly at a time when we are continuing to grow our viewership and channel content at a rapid pace,” said DistroScale co-founder & CEO Navdeep Saini. “By expanding our distribution via VIZIO Smart TVs, we can continue to provide audiences with the content they crave, and all while maintaining our FAST no-sign up, credit card or email required model.”

    DistroScale Country Head-India Vikas Khanchandani said, “US has over 87 per cent homes with at least one Connected TV and other western countries are seeing scale as well. Vizio is one of the largest CTV players in the US market and brings access to a large viewership base within Vizio for Indian content owners. It’s an opportunity to tap into the large advertising market in the US and other western countries and simultaneously combat piracy in those markets. FAST (Free Ad Supported Television) is bringing the lean-back linear experience for users on television and is solving for content discovery with sharper defined cohorts. Distro is focussed on building a very strong South Asian bouquet of content for the diaspora audiences across the world and bring in the ad monetisation through its vast global advertising footprint.”

    “VIZIO appreciates DistroTV’s dedication to building personalized experiences for today’s streaming audience,” said VIZIO’s senior director of business development Chris Tanquary. “VIZIO strives to be a place where viewers have endless entertainment options across all categories and genres so there is something for everyone,” Tanquary added.

     

  • Esports Premier League season 2 postponed due to govt’s ban on Battlegrounds Mobile India application

    Esports Premier League season 2 postponed due to govt’s ban on Battlegrounds Mobile India application

    Mumbai: The broadcasting of Esports Premier League (ESPL) season 2, the country’s first ever franchise-based esports league, has been postponed on account of the ban imposed by the government to remove Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) gaming application from Google play store & Apple app store.

    In a press statement, ESPL said, “This year’s league has been engaging gamers from across the country in high-voltage action of the battle royale game, BGMI which carries a massive prize pool of Rs 1 crore. After a month-long of riveting actions, packed with rivalries, gripping moments and thrilling finishes, the top sixteen teams were franchised and they were set to fight in a grand LAN finale from 1-5 August 2022.”

    The government banned the Battlegrounds Mobile India gaming application on 28 July.

    Also Read | Battle royale: Why govt’s ban of BGMI spells bad news for gaming in India | Indian Television Dot Com

    ESPL added that the entities concerned will evaluate or pursue the matter in accordance with the directions issued by the government.

    “We are therefore constrained to put the ESPL Season 2, on hold, in light of the government’s directions and the prevailing circumstances. This is an unfortunate situation for all esports enthusiasts, and also a huge setback for India, at this stage of the tournament,” it also said.

    “However, upon closure of the matter favorably, we intend to renew the ESPL from the stage where we are leaving it now, which means that the selected finalist teams will be invited again to take the tournament forward for the Finals” it further added.

  • Jason Roy, Reece Topley and Laurie Evan Shares Views On Their Teammates

    Jason Roy, Reece Topley and Laurie Evan Shares Views On Their Teammates

    In a recent interview, Jason Roy, Reece Topley, and Laurie Evans dish the dirt on their England colleagues.

    When asked, “who has helped you most in your game?”

    Hashim Amla, a former South African batsman, was named by Laurie Evans. He went on to say that the South African brought a sense of tranquility to the team’s locker room.

    Meanwhile, Jason Roy said that “he had complete mental support from his squad”. Kumar Sangakkara, Kevin Pietersen, Hashim Amla, Ricky Ponting, and Graeme Smith were among the cricket superstars he listed as having played for Surrey.

    If your life depended on catching a fish, who would you give the catch to?

    It didn’t take long for Jason Roy to identify his English colleague Chris Jordan. Jason Roy was then told by Laurie Evans that he, too, is a competent fielder. And humble Jason said that all he did was take a catch and perform his job.

    Next, they wanted to know, “Who does the Bleep Test the best?”

    When it comes to this, Arun Harinath was the one who Jason Roy identified. He continued by saying that he was incredible. He said, “Joe root as well may run for absolute days.”

    Which player usually leaves the pitch last?

    Even quicker than that, Laurie Evans identified Ben Foakes, the English wicketkeeper-batsman. Likewise, Reece Topley added, “Foaksey one hundred per cent. He often returns for a second or third blow. As the last player to emerge from the nets, Topley also singled out Ollie Pope. The squad has to wait for Ben Foakes and Ollie Pope to finish up whenever they are on the road, he said.

    Who are the best footballers in the team?

    I’m a horrible player and a terrible mover, Jason Roy interjected before Laurie Evans could finish his sentence. Following Roy’s declaration, Reece Topley agreed that Ben Foakes was the finest player by noting that Foakes had the left foot of Robin Van Persie.

    Who has the craziest outfit?

    They all rock their clothes, and there’s a wide range to choose from, as all three participants attested. However, Laurie Evans then clarified that Reece also wants to join the list. Laurie Evans said that Reece Topley dislikes spending money and cited Ben Foakes. Jason Roy further, says that Ben Foakes irritates him because of his nice looks and the fact that he often chooses to play in equipment that does not complement his physique.

    Who is the most untidy roommate? was the last question made!

    When asked about his experience living with Ollie Pope, Jason Roy said it was challenging to share a room with him. And he called him a “messy dog,” he said. The English wicketkeeper-batsman Sam Billings is one of the messiest persons Laurie Evans knows, he said.

  • Nishant Nayak becomes FanCode’s chief product officer

    Nishant Nayak becomes FanCode’s chief product officer

    MUMBAI: Digital sports fan destination FanCode from the house of Dream Sports, has appointed Nishant Nayak as its chief product officer (CPO). He will lead the product strategy to realise FanCode’s vision of becoming the largest sports fan platform in the country.

    Prior to joining FanCode, he was based in Berlin, Germany as Zenjob head of product. He brings with him over 20 years of global experience in product & technology. His expertise lies in leading end-to-end product functions for eCommerce marketplaces like eBay, Flipkart, Zalando, and Zenjob, with a focus on aligning products with the brand vision & strategy including market expansion. 

    FanCode co-founder Yannick Colaco said, “We’re pleased to welcome Nishant into our FanCode family. He joins us as a core member of our leadership team and will help us accelerate towards our ambition of becoming a 10 crore+ strong community of sports fans.”

    Nayak said, “As an avid sports fan myself, FanCode’s mission to build India’s biggest digital sports fan destination is a truly exciting challenge. I look forward to working with the highly talented FanCode team in building a personalised and engaging experience for sports fans everywhere.”

  • Adidas becomes official footwear partner for the India CWG contingent

    Adidas becomes official footwear partner for the India CWG contingent

    Mumbai: Sportswear giant Adidas comes on board as the official performance footwear partner for the Indian contingent at the 22nd Commonwealth Games (CWG) 2022 in Birmingham, England scheduled from 28 July to 8 August 2022.

    Interestingly, Adidas unveiled Supernova (its latest performance footwear), along with a customised backpack and duffle bag for the athletes as part of the official CWG kitting during their send-off ceremony. The brand has always been at the forefront of supporting and empowering athletes with the best-in-class performance enhancing gear.

    This year’s CWG contingent includes some of Adidas’ leading athletes like Mirabai Chanu, Lovlina Borgohain, Hima Das, Nikhat Zareen, Manpreet Singh, Jeremy Lalrinnunga and Manika Batra, who will be gunning for Gold in their respective sports.

    Speaking on this partnership with the IOA, Adidas senior director-brand Sunil Gupta said, “We are incredibly proud of this partnership with the Indian Olympic Association for the CWG. Our endeavour is to support our athletes with the best performance gear to enhance their sporting experience and setting them up for success.”

  • Havas Media Group India appoints A K Rao as senior vice president of Havas Sports & Entertainment

    Havas Media Group India appoints A K Rao as senior vice president of Havas Sports & Entertainment

    MUMBAI:  Havas Sports & Entertainment, the sports & sponsorship vertical of Havas Media Group India, has appointed Arun Kumar Rao as senior vice president. He will be based in Gurgaon and will report to R Venkatasubramanian, president (investments) & head of Havas Sports.

    Earlier this year, Havas Media Group India relaunched the Havas Sports & Entertainment vertical, which offers clients opportunities by providing bespoke sports solutions with access to media and sponsorship. The team aims to provide strategic & innovative media solutions to sponsors on asset identification, allocation and maximising returns from media investments as well as developing sports and entertainment-based IPs, managing sporting talent, and producing & partnering on exclusive events.

    Havas Media Group India CEO Mohit Joshi said, “Sports is a major driving force for the media & marketing industry, and we want to lead this space by assisting media rights holders in optimising their properties, creating more winning partnerships with leading & emerging brands, and co-creating unique engagement opportunities for brands by offering integrated media solutions that include digital, on-ground, and on-air experiences, which will help maximise returns and connect meaningfully with audiences.  I look forward to Venkat and the team scaling up Havas Sports & Entertainment to newer heights, and welcome Arun to the Havas Family.”

    Havas Media Group India president (investments) & head – Havas Sports R. Venkatasubramanian added, “With the resurgence of Havas Sports & Entertainment and a slew of major & emerging sporting events in India, we are witnessing a multi-fold increase in sports marketing and brand sponsorships. Arun’s vast experience will add a new dimension to the vertical and accelerate our growth plans.”

    “I am thrilled to be joining the Havas Media Group India team and to have the opportunity to expand Havas Sports & Entertainment’s expertise in sports marketing and sponsorships. I am excited to work with meaningful brands from diverse industries, collaborate with leading and emerging sporting events, drive innovation, and make a meaningful difference. I’m looking forward to a fantastic inning with Havas.” said Arun Rao.

    With over 20 years of diverse work experience, Rao comes with a vast experience in sports marketing & sponsorships, media ad sales & marketing, strategic marketing, DTH & digital sales, business development, and digital content development & acquisition. He has worked as an independent consultant, helping brands, start-ups, and sports clubs in setting up marketing & sales strategy, and revenue generation through sponsorships.

    Before this, Rao has worked with Indian Super League (ISL) teams – Odisha FC & Delhi Dynamos FC, Dish TV, leading broadcast and print media networks – Discovery Networks, The Walt Disney, 9XM, Manorama TV, Fashion TV India (FTV) and The Time of India Group. Apart from this, Rao has also worked with leading advertising agencies like TBWA India, Rediffusion and Percept Advertising and managed brands like Bharti Airtel, Electrolux – Kelvinator, Birla Yamaha, and NTPC. 

  • Badshah and Punit Balan inks partnership deal for Mumbai team in Ultimate Kho Kho

    Badshah and Punit Balan inks partnership deal for Mumbai team in Ultimate Kho Kho

    Mumbai: A tinge of Bollywood has been added to Ultimate Kho Kho with popular singer Badshah joining the league as co-owner of the Mumbai franchise alongside renowned film producer, developer and sports enthusiast, Punit Balan.

    The Mumbai-based team completes the line-up for the inaugural edition of Ultimate Kho Kho which will take off later this year.

    Fascinated by the pace and elegant style of the game as well as the nostalgic value that the sport has for him, Badshah believes Ultimate Kho Kho has humongous potential. He aims to inspire and build superstars in this indigenous sport through this association.

    Speaking about his first sports venture Badshah said, “My mother used to play Kho-Kho during her college days and this ground-rooted game is very close to my heart. This nostalgic and personal connection triggered me to be part of Ultimate Kho Kho.”

    “It’s an adrenaline packed, fast-paced indoor sport with extremely agile players doing Sky-Dives in air. In general, the culture of Mumbai is fast and efficient and that’s what we want this team to be. My vision would be to nurture the best players out of this league, and we want to ensure the best environment, infrastructure, training and nutrition for the players,” he further added.

    Besides heading the Balan Group—a company, which is valued at Rs 3,500 crore, Punit Balan also owns teams in various sporting leagues like badminton, tennis, table tennis and handball league apart from investment in sports employment start-up and actively supporting various sportspersons.  

    Mumbai franchise co-owner Balan said, “It’s very important to adopt the right approach if you want to grow something. I have been involved in developing sports through leagues in the past and now alongside Ultimate Kho Kho, I want to play a part in Kho-Kho’s journey to success.”

    The traditional sport originated in Maharashtra and the state has been a dominant force in the Indian Kho-Kho circuit. As many as three teams from Maharashtra competed in the National Championships and in the recently concluded Khelo India Youth Games also, they emerged champions in both boys and girls categories.

    Ultimate Kho Kho CEO Tenzing Niyogi said, “We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Badshah and Punit as co-owners of the sixth franchise. We already have on-boarded big corporates as well as the Government of Odisha and now these two popular names from the entertainment sector reflect the positioning and calibre of the league. Kho-Kho has deep roots in Maharashtra and a team representing the state’s capital will surely help us bolster the popularity of the game.”

    With this development, Ultimate Kho Kho continues to take giant steps towards its mission of revolutionising this homegrown sport. The league had earlier added eminent corporate names to its roster including the Government of Odisha in collaboration with ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel, Adani Group, GMR Group, Capri Global and KLO Sports.

    The league will be broadcasted across Sony Network India’s (SPNI) sports channels SonyTEN 1(SD & HD), SonyTEN 3 (SD & HD), SonyTEN 4 and on SonyLIV in Hindi, English, Tamil, Telugu as other regional languages.