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Tag: Sports18

  • Kunal Gaur takes the leap from JioStar to launch his own digital venture

    Kunal Gaur takes the leap from JioStar to launch his own digital venture

    MUMBAI: From streaming giants to star power, Kunal Gaur has played the numbers game across India’s biggest media houses – and now, he’s ready to bet on himself. The seasoned executive has stepped down from his role as Business Commercial Lead at JioStar to launch his own digital marketing enterprise.

    Armed with over 20 years of experience across media, entertainment, and finance, Gaur’s career reads like a who’s who of the industry. At Viacom18, he spent four years as Chief Commercial Officer, steering spends for channels like Colors, MTV, Sports18, Cineplex, and OTT platform JioCinema. Before that, he was Netflix India’s Director of Production Finance, working on 17 series, 14 films, and 20 development projects, from Sacred Games to Extraction.

    Nearly a decade at Star India and Hotstar saw him negotiating content deals, licensing formats, and even leading commercial talks for Star Sports’ sprawling 12-studio project. His early years at PwC sharpened the financial rigour that has since underpinned his media journey.

    At JioStar, Gaur oversaw commercials across Digital, Creator, Marketing, Talent, and Technology driving efficiencies and shaping strategic partnerships. Now, with his new venture, he’s blending that financial expertise with media know-how to build a future-focused digital marketing company designed for India’s evolving landscape.

    “Finance may have been my foundation, but creativity and innovation are my growth engines,” Gaur quipped while announcing his entrepreneurial leap.

    As the industry braces for another wave of digital disruption, all eyes will be on whether Gaur can turn his decades of boardroom wins into startup success.
     

  • JioStar hits it out of the park with planned Champions Trophy 2025 coverage

    JioStar hits it out of the park with planned Champions Trophy 2025 coverage

    MUMBAI: The ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 is set for a return, and JioStar Network is pulling out all the stops to deliver an unparalleled viewing experience. From 19 February 2025, cricket fans will witness the world’s top eight teams battle it out with cutting-edge broadcast innovations across television and digital platforms.

    JioHotStar will be  offering live streaming in 16 feeds across nine languages, including English, Hindi, Marathi, Haryanvi, Bengali, Bhojpuri, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada. This marks the first-ever ICC tournament to be streamed at such a scale, ensuring cricket fans across India can enjoy the action in their preferred language. Additionally, four multi-cam feeds on JioHotstar will provide a fresh perspective on the high-voltage encounters.

    timetable

    On TV, JioStar Network will offer extensive coverage across Star Sports and Sports18 channels, delivering commentary in English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada. Indian Sign Language feed and Audio Descriptive Commentary will also return on JioHotstar, making the tournament more accessible and inclusive for all fans.

    JioStar head of content–sports Siddharth Sharma said, “The ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 will be presented with an unprecedented range of viewing options. Our expansive linear television network and dominant digital presence will bring cricket deeper, wider, and in a more immersive way than ever before. Every cricket fan, regardless of language or accessibility preference, will have a front-row seat to the action.”

    A galaxy of cricketing legends will lend their expertise to JioStar’s coverage, making every match an engaging experience. English commentary will be helmed by Ravi Shastri, Sunil Gavaskar, Nasser Hussain, Matthew Hayden, Ian Bishop, Wasim Akram, Ramiz Raja, Simon Doull, Dale Steyn, Shaun Pollock, and Aaron Finch.

    The Hindi panel includes Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Waqar Younis, Sanjay Manjrekar, Ambati Rayudu, Robin Uthappa, Mohammad Kaif, Piyush Chawla, Sanjay Bangar, Aakash Chopra, and Deep Dasgupta.

    For regional language coverage, renowned names such as Hanuma Vihari, Venkatesh Prasad, Kedar Jadhav, and Shreevats Goswami will add flavour to the commentary, ensuring fans across India get expert analysis in their native tongue.

    The tournament kicks off on 19 February 2025 with Pakistan facing New Zealand in the opener. India, led by Rohit Sharma, begins its campaign against Bangladesh on February 20, before the much-anticipated India-Pakistan showdown on 23 February 2025. The final is slated for 9 March 2025.

    (Picture courtesy ICC)

  • JioStar bags Premier League broadcasting rights for next three year cycle

    JioStar bags Premier League broadcasting rights for next three year cycle

    MUMBAI: Premier League (EPL) fans in India can clink their beer mugs with glee. Especially if they are going to be watching the matches between their favourite clubs in a bar. JioStar has secured the media rights for the next three seasons beginning with the 2025-2026  one,  in a deal valued at $65 million, if a report in The Economic Times is to be believed. In all probability, the rights cover both live broadcasting on  television and  on streaming.

    The  audiovisual rights for the previous cycle (2022-2025) were with  Disney Star India’s Star Sports. However, with Disney Star India merging with Reliance Industries’ owned Viacom18 and Bodhi Tree Systems and being renamed as JioStar, it was the latter which put in the bid and acquired the rights.

    JioStar also has the rights to the  Indian Super League  – India’s premier soccer tournament – which came its way in the wake of the merger.

    “With this, the conglomerate will be driving the future of football in India,” says a sports media consultant.  “They are going to be putting a lot of marketing and promotional muscle behind the Premier League because if you look at the new deal with it, Uday Shankar and team Sanjog Gupta have apportioned $11 million for marketing EPL events in India during the cycle and $54 million for the audiovisual rights, according to the ET report.”

    However, how the live telecasts will be divided between Sports18 and Star Sports and Hotstar and JioCinema was not clear at the time of writing. Keep watching this space until some clarity comes in. 

    Manchester City had lifted the Premier League title in May 2024 with Arsenal emerging as the runner-up. 

    (Picture courtesy Premier League website)

  • JioCinema & Sports18 to bring back T20 World cup memories – 8 Nov onwards

    JioCinema & Sports18 to bring back T20 World cup memories – 8 Nov onwards

    Mumbai – As cricket fans gear up for another epic showdown, JioCinema and Sports18 are bringing the South Africa vs India T20 series exclusively to screens from 8 to 15 November 2024. This four-match T20I series will not only reignite the rivalry between two top cricketing nations but will also serve as a callback to the T20 World Cup final that saw India crowned champions.

    With India’s new-look T20 team stepping into the spotlight, the series promises to carry forward the legacy of India’s world champion status. This next generation of Indian cricketers is ready to prove their mettle, and the stakes are high as the team embarks on its journey to uphold the winning standards set at the World Cup. For Indian fans, this series is more than just a bilateral cricket competition; it’s a rematch that reminds us of the tension and exhilaration of the World Cup final.

    Advertising opportunities with JioCinema

    JioCinema, a leader in digital sports streaming, is offering advertisers a premium platform to engage millions of viewers during the T20 series. With innovative ad formats, seamless integration across mobile and web, and precise audience targeting, JioCinema ensures that brands can amplify their messaging during peak cricket viewership.

    The pressure to maintain the status of world champions, combined with the excitement of fresh talent stepping up, makes this a must-watch event for fans and a golden opportunity for advertisers across the four matches (8, 10, 13 & 15 Nov) along with JioCinema’s introduction to new premium advertising offerings, providing access to two highly valuable audience segments for the first time. These include iOS users, who are individuals using Apple/iPhone devices, and a combined “iOS + 50k” group, consisting of people with phones valued at Rs 50,000 and above. Both of these premium cohorts are now available alongside the existing Connected TV (CTV) audience, giving advertisers a unique opportunity to reach the most affluent and sought-after viewers.

    A Viacom18 spokesperson shared, “With India’s status as world champions and the fresh energy of the new T20 squad, this series will captivate audiences across the country. Our audience-first approach allows advertisers to craft high-impact campaigns that resonate with passionate cricket fans.”

    Partners and sponsors join the action

    Some of the country’s top brands—Housing.com, Uber, and Motul Oil—have joined as associate sponsors for this electrifying series, leveraging the opportunity to connect with fans through JioCinema’s advanced advertising solutions.

    Housing.com vice president of marketing, Rahul Ralhan commented, “This series is poised to attract immense attention, especially with the new T20 team taking charge. We are excited to be part of this series and to reach such a diverse and engaged audience through JioCinema.”

    Motul Oil director marketing – India & South Asia, Preetam Goswami said, “The intensity of a rematch with South Africa is bound to keep fans hooked, and we are proud to align our brand with this kind of high-energy content. Partnering with JioCinema provides us a unique chance to engage with audiences across the country.”

    Uber India head of marketing, Ameya Velankar added, “Cricket is a major unifier in India, and the South Africa vs India series gives us the perfect platform to connect with millions. With JioCinema’s extensive audience targeting, we can engage cricket fans in a meaningful and impactful way.”

    JioCinema and Sports18 will bring every ball, boundary, and breakthrough directly to viewers, ensuring an unforgettable experience for cricket lovers and an exceptional platform for brands to connect with their audience.

  • Reliance-Viacom18-Disney merger gets NCLT nod too

    Reliance-Viacom18-Disney merger gets NCLT nod too

    MUMBAI: Even as media watchers await the detailed order of the Competition Commission of India, (CCI) another hurdle has been cleared by Reliance Industries relating to the merger of Viacom18 and Disney Star India – that of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT).

    It was on Friday that the NCLT gave it the green signal. Judicial member Kishore Vemulapalli and technical member Anu Jagmohan Singh gave the thumbs up to what will become India’s leading media conglomerate valued at over Rs 70,000 crore.

    Reliance owns a clutch of channels including the Colors and Sports 18 brands through its offshoot Viacom18 as well as the OTT platform JioCinema. It is seeking to merge these into Star India creating a giant merged combined entity.

    The NCLT has directed the companies to get ministry of information and broadcasting approval before resorting to any such transfer of channels. 

    Additionally, it has directed the firms to file the NCLT order and the approved scheme with  the registrar of companies within 30 days as well as approach the superintendent of stamps for stamp duty adjudication, if applicable, within 60 days.

  • Cricket and festive shopping: A winning combination for brands

    Cricket and festive shopping: A winning combination for brands

    Mumbai: The festive season is now close enough for shoppers to seek amazing deals and fill their carts with the best offerings. As the excitement builds, brands are zeroing in on the most effective campaigns to capture the attention of these eager shoppers. And what better way to stand out than through the universal appeal of cricket? Starting 19 September , the lineup is thrilling, with the Indian team battling for glory against major rivals: Bangladesh, New Zealand, and South Africa. By integrating the excitement of high-stakes cricket into festive campaigns, brands can tap into collective enthusiasm, driving higher impact and resonance.

    Team India will step on the crease for two Tests and three T20Is against Bangladesh from 19 September to 12 October, three Tests against New Zealand from 16 October to 5 November, and four T20Is against South Africa from 8 November to 15 November. These T20Is and test matches offer advertisers a prime opportunity to connect with audiences and add to the festivities across Navratri, Dussehra, Karwa Chauth, Dhanteras, Diwali, Bhaidooj and Chhath Puja.

    With JioCinema and Sports18 holding the digital and TV rights for these matches respectively, the comprehensive coverage will enable highly targeted and impactful media campaigns. It means potentially reaching out to over 630 million passionate fans, across devices – wherever they are tuning in from! With millions of viewers opting to watch the matches on CTV devices, including 4K experiences, brands can also target premium audiences who seek top-quality experiences and are likely to make high-ticket purchases. Leveraging comprehensive coverage, innovative ad formats, and precision targeting across 80+ cohorts, brands can ensure their campaigns are engaging and effective throughout the festive cricket period.

    The festive season is synonymous with increased shopping and spending. Over the past two years, this period has seen a remarkable 30 per cent increase in auto sales, reflecting a strong consumer appetite for high-value purchases and new vehicles during the celebrations. Credit card spending has risen by 1.3x, highlighting a significant boost in consumer confidence and willingness to spend on varied goods and services. Lifestyle and apparel sales have experienced a 1.6x increase, underscoring a heightened focus on personal and fashion-related purchases as consumers indulge in festive shopping.

    This year, 50 per cent of consumers are preparing to increase their online spending during the festive season, driven by the convenience and variety offered by digital platforms. As Indians embrace celebratory shopping sprees, brands must leverage this surge in expenditure. With its broad appeal, cricket provides the ideal backdrop for marketing campaigns that tap into the season’s shopping trends and consumer enthusiasm.

    Compared to Kantar India benchmarks, brands have witnessed a two times uplift across Brand KPIs by advertising on bilateral tournaments with JioCinema. The remarkable results underscore the significant impact of integrating cricket into advertising strategies. With the festive season approaching, the impact is anticipated to be even greater, and brands must stand ready at the crease to maximise their reach and engagement.  

    Brands can tap into Fence Ads for high visibility during live matches, Midroll Carousels to create engaging experiences during the breaks and Expandable CTAs to encourage fans to take immediate action. Social Banners and Scorecard Branding can help brands own the exciting conversations around live matches, enhancing the viewer experience. Branded VODs can facilitate deeper engagement by tapping into key match moments and Frame Ads ensure consistent visibility for the time viewers spend outside the live, consuming on-demand content.

    Combining these formats with precision targeting across over 80 audience cohorts allows brands to tailor their messages to specific segments, maximising relevance, and impact. This targeted approach ensures that campaigns reach the right people, enhancing effectiveness and ensuring brand messages resonate strongly with their intended audiences. Brands must make the most of India’s excitement for cricket to make a memorable impact during the festive season.

  • Viacom18 announce an incredible experts line-up for the 2024 WPL

    Viacom18 announce an incredible experts line-up for the 2024 WPL

    Mumbai: Viacom18 announced their expert panel for the 2024 WPL, starting 23 February. Anjum Chopra, Reema Malhotra, Sushma Verma, Mona Meshram, Nuzhat Parveen, Karuna Jain, Aakash Chopra, Parthiv Patel, Saba Karim, Srikkanth Anirudha, Sarandeep Singh, Nikhil Chopra, and Abhinav Mukund will come together for a five-language presentation on JioCinema for free.

    The season-opener on 23 February will see Delhi Capitals taking on defending champions Mumbai Indians, which will be presented in English, Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, and Telugu on JioCinema. On TV, viewers can catch the action live in English, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada on Sports18 – 1 SD & HD. Sports18 – 2 SD and Sports18 Khel will broadcast the Hindi feed.

    “We look to build on the blockbuster Season 1, as we continue to offer viewers an immersive experience which is accessible, affordable, and in multiple languages to scale up the league’s impact and reach further,” said Viacom18 Sports head of content Siddharth Sharma. “After delivering the highest viewership for any women’s event globally last season on JioCinema, we aim to create new benchmarks and celebrate the incredible cricketers who bring the excitement and pizzazz to the league where a boundary was scored every fifth ball in the last season.”

    In the build-up to the 2024 season, the network has offered fans and viewers light-hearted content on WPL Huddle that features top players like Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh, Deepti Sharma among others. WPL Heroes will take fans through compelling background stories of players with insights from their families and coaches from all franchisees. Fans will also be treated with a peek into the training sessions of all the teams, along with expert reviews leading up to the start of the inaugural season.

    Through their exclusive partnerships with Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Delhi Capitals, JioCinema users will have access to a wide variety of exciting content, including exclusive interviews with the marquee players from the franchisees.

    Viacom18 will offer studio shows with expert analysis and player interviews to fans throughout the season. The anchor-led daily show will see Sanjana Ganesan, Ridhima Pathak, Supriya Singh, and Preeti Dahiya at the helm.

    The full expert panel:

    Hindi: Anjum Chopra, Reema Malhotra, Sushma Verma, Mona Meshram, Nuzhat Parveen, Parthiv Patel, Aakash Chopra, Saba Karim, Sarandeep Singh, Sunil Taneja, Nikhil Chopra, Prasanna S

    Tamil: Bagawati Prasad, Sudhir Srinivasan, Aarti Sankaran, Niranjana Nagrajan, Shailaja Sundar, Abhinav Mukund, KB Arun Karthick, Srikkanth Anirudha

    Kannada: Raghvendra Raj, Sujay Shastri, Karuna Jain, Vanitha VR, Sahana Pawar, Bharat Chippli, Srinivas Murthy

    Telugu: Sravanti Naidu, Sunitha Anand, Akshath Reddy, Ashish Reddy, Sandeep Bavanaka

  • FIH signs four year partnership with Indian broadcaster Viacom18

    FIH signs four year partnership with Indian broadcaster Viacom18

    Mumbai: The International Hockey Federation (FIH) announced that it has signed a major media rights agreement with Indian broadcaster Viacom18. This agreement runs for a four year cycle (2023-2027) and includes all FIH events, except the FIH Nations Cup.

    Thanks to this partnership, the numerous Indian hockey fans will be able to watch on Viacom18 channels the upcoming FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers, the first ever FIH Hockey5s World Cup, the FIH Hockey Pro League, the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup and many more events!

    With India being such a historic powerhouse of global hockey, this agreement is a great asset to boost the popularity of the game in the country even further.

    Matches will be available on OTT platform JioCinema and Viacom18’s linear channels network Sports18.

    Viacom18 Sports head of strategy, partnerships & acquisitions Hursh Shrivastava said, “Hockey has been one of the most loved, followed and storied sports in India. The recent success of the Indian Men’s and Women’s National Team bodes well for the continuous growth of Hockey, and we are excited to bring unbridled access to millions of sports fans in India. The addition of world-class Hockey coverage reiterates our commitment to provide fans all-inclusive offerings of globally-acclaimed sports events.”

    Commenting on the agreement, FIH president Tayyab Ikram said: “As we’re enhancing our commercial and broadcast approach, this agreement with Viacom18 is a major step forward. It’s great support to be partnering with such a strong broadcaster in a country where hockey is so fundamentally and historically anchored, and where we continuously want to develop the game. On behalf of FIH, I would like to thank Viacom18 for joining our efforts to promote hockey in India even further.”

    #HockeyEquals

    #HockeyInvites

  • CricFan TV to exclusively broadcast world’s first women’s cricket chat-show, “Queens of Cricket”

    CricFan TV to exclusively broadcast world’s first women’s cricket chat-show, “Queens of Cricket”

    Mumbai: CricFan TV, today announced the exclusive India broadcast of the world’s first ever women’s cricket chat-show titled “Queens of Cricket”. Shooting for the first of the 20-episode series that features Indian cricketers Radha Yadav and Shikha Pandey, began here at a city studio in the presence of Marc Hayward the driving force behind CricFan TV. The show will go on air with its first episode on the Sports18 network and Jio Cinema on 27 December 2023.

    Sharing his thoughts on the development, Marc Hayward said, “We are thrilled to announce our most significant production to date, “Queens of Cricket,” a ground-breaking chat show format that marks a historic milestone in our commitment to providing captivating content and exceptional experiences for cricket enthusiasts. This ground-breaking show is the first-ever female-focused cricket chat show, designed to celebrate and empower women in sports showcasing the rapid growth of Women’s cricket not just in India but across the world.”

    Set against the backdrop of India, the cricket capital of the world, and anticipating the exponential growth of women’s cricket in the country, “Queens of Cricket” is poised to become a trailblazing force in this emerging era. The 30-minute episodic series that spreads across 20 episodes would feature some prominent names in the world of women’s cricket from India and abroad.

    Hayward further added, “We recognize that women’s cricket in India is on the cusp of becoming the next big decacorn, and this show aims to spotlight the exceptional women cricketers who are not just breaking records but also transcending boundaries, bringing them closer to their fans.

    This momentous occasion signifies our dedication to elevating the profile of women in sports and providing a platform for their extraordinary stories. The format incorporates various interactive fan elements, staying true to the CricFan brand architecture, alongside our acclaimed shows FanZoneTV and Cricket Chrips.

    We are delighted to share that “Queens of Cricket” and our other engaging formats will be available on the Jio Sports platform starting this December and throughout 2024. This marks a significant step forward in our mission to bring immersive and interactive cricket content to audiences, reinforcing our commitment to providing unparalleled fan experiences for cricket lovers throughout India. Stay tuned for an exciting journey with “Queens of Cricket” and the entire CricFan line-up on Jio Sports! “

    Radha Yadav, who has played 67 WT20Is & solitary WODI for India and plays for the Delhi Capitals WPL team, said, “It was truly fun, the questions were interesting and playing games added a delightful touch. Having Shikha Di by my side made it even more fun. I believe young girls and boys watching will find inspiration to be the part of a show like this. Overall, it was a positive experience. As I mentioned, young women will be inspired to pursue a career in cricket and take steps towards supporting their dreams.”

    IAF Squadron Leader Shikha Pandey (retired), who also features in the first episode along with Radha and has 55 WODIs, 62 WT20I and 3 WTests under her belt, said, “Shooting for Queens of Cricket was great fun, especially with Radha alongside me. We have played for the Delhi Capitals together in the last WPL, and she is my Indian team mate as well. The engaging questions and segments made it a memorable experience. Shows like this are important because it not only brings more women cricketers to the ground but also allows fans to connect with us on a personal level. With growing visibility of women’s cricket through platforms like WPL, it’s great to know the personalities behind the game. I am hoping the audience has as much fun watching as we did shooting the episodes.”

    In the last six months, CricFan TV has been diligently forging partnerships and curating a diverse portfolio of fan-driven formats, laying the early-stage foundations for their official launch during IPL 2024. The highly anticipated “Queens of Cricket” will span over 20 episodes, airing throughout the month of December on WPL, Sports18, and Jio Cinema.

  • SFA Championships’ edition six records historic athlete participation

    SFA Championships’ edition six records historic athlete participation

    Mumbai: The Mumbai edition of SFA Championships 2023-2024, is set to commence with the stellar participation of over 17,000 athletes, competing in more than 30 categories of sports. With over 800 schools having confirmed their participation, the battle for discovering the “number one school in sports” in the city, seems to get tougher and intense.

    Priyadarshini Park Sports Complex, Mumbai University, Kalina, Andheri Sports Complex, Mumbai Police grounds, Mumbai Hockey Association, National Sports Club of India – will be the hosting venues for school athletes from 26 November to 7 December. The sixth edition of SFA Championships has received an overwhelming number of registrations from Mumbai. With 64 per cent participation coming from male athletes and 36 per cent female athletes, the top preferred sports registered for are football, athletics, basketball, swimming and chess, showcasing the multifaceted talent that exists among the youth.

    In this Mumbai edition of the SFA Championships, gymnastics, skating, and speedcubing will be introduced for the first time. Skating is expected to witness the participation of nearly 700 athletes, Speedcubing and Gymnastics will see the involvement of close to 200 participants (for each sport), marking a promising beginning for these sports in the Championships. The 2023-2024 Mumbai edition of SFA Championships has athletics, basketball, football,  swimming, and skating as top sports participated by female athletes, whereas football, athletics, basketball, chess and swimming as top sports in male participation.

    SFA Championships are India’s largest multi-sport school competitions, enabling an opportunity for youth to unleash their fullest potential through joyful and inspiring sporting experiences. These Championships are revolutionising the way school sports are experienced in India. The vision is to host 150 championships across 50 cities, in the next five years. Building a single unifying platform to discover talent at the click of a button, across multi-sports, is how SFA has envisioned to encourage two lakh athletes to play at the 10 SFA Championships across Indore, Jaipur, Uttarakhand (Dehradun), Hyderabad, Pune, Mumbai, Bangalore, Nagpur, Delhi, and Ahmedabad, within a span of four months.

    The partnership of Sports For All (SFA) and Viacom18, will together make school sports accessible to millions of sports fans, across the country. Viacom18 will present the best action from the SFA Championships 2023-2024 starting 3 December on JioCinema, Sports18-2, and Sports18 Khel channels.

    Stay tuned to  www.sfaplay.com for all the match updates and school leaderboard. On Day 1, school athletes will be competing at Priyadarshini Park Sports Complex in athletics and tennis.