ITV

Tag: Sri Lanka

  • NDTV World Summit 2025 to host four PMs together

    NDTV World Summit 2025 to host four PMs together

    MUMBAI: Four prime ministers, one stage, endless possibilities. The NDTV World Summit 2025, set for 17–18 October in New Delhi, will see an unprecedented convergence of global leadership: India’s PM Narendra Modi, Sri Lankan PM Harini Amarasuriya, former UK PM Rishi Sunak, and former Australian PM Tony Abbott. Two serving and two former heads of government sharing the stage underscores the Summit’s stature as a premier forum for ideas shaping the world.

    Under the theme ‘Edge of the unknown: Risk. Resolve. Renewal.’, the Summit aims to tackle uncertainty with imagination, view resolve as deliberate action, and embrace renewal as the creation of uncharted futures. Topics will range from geopolitics and technology to ecology, culture, and economic innovation, offering a rare space where inherited realities meet unwritten possibilities.

    NDTV CEO & editor-in-chief Rahul Kanwal said, “This is a crucible of influence where ideas, imagination, and intention converge. The participation of four prime ministers alongside innovators, business leaders, and cultural icons reflects India’s central role in global dialogue and its growing impact on shaping a collective future.”

    The Summit promises to be more than discussion, it will be a stage for vision, creativity, and global collaboration, positioning India at the heart of the world’s conversation and highlighting NDTV’s renewed commitment to curating conversations that matter.

  • Cricket body dangles south Asian media rights carrot

    Cricket body dangles south Asian media rights carrot

    LONDON: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has fired the starting gun on a potentially lucrative media rights auction, releasing tender documents for broadcasting deals across Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka spanning 2026 to 2028.

    The prize package includes some of cricket’s crown jewels: the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka, and the Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. Women’s cricket gets equal billing with the T20 World Cup 2026 and the inaugural Women’s T20 Champions Trophy.

    Pakistan emerges as the most complex battleground, with the ICC carving up rights into five separate packages covering both men’s and women’s tournaments. Bangladesh and Sri Lanka each get streamlined single-package deals combining television and digital rights—a nod to the region’s rapidly evolving media consumption habits.

    Broadcasters and streaming platforms eyeing the action must contact iccmediarights2024-2031@icc-cricket.com to access tender documents. The ICC promises more invitation-to-tender releases for additional markets in the coming weeks, suggesting a coordinated global push to maximise revenues.

    The timing reflects cricket’s commercial renaissance, particularly in south Asia where the sport commands religious devotion and advertising premiums. Pakistan’s multi-package approach hints at the ICC’s confidence in extracting maximum value from a market where cricket broadcasts routinely deliver audiences in the tens of millions.

    The tender covers four men’s events and three women’s tournaments, underlining the ICC’s commitment to gender parity in its commercial strategy. For broadcasters, the stakes are clear: miss out now, and watch rivals corner one of sport’s most passionate fanbases until 2028.

  • JioStar’s ‘jersey wahi toh jazba wahi’ breaks gender norms, champions ‘Women in Blue’

    JioStar’s ‘jersey wahi toh jazba wahi’ breaks gender norms, champions ‘Women in Blue’

    MUMBAI: JioStar’s new women’s WC ’25 campaign film opens with the protagonist asking his partner a slightly awkward question, “But is it necessary to wear the women’s jersey?” after she suggests he put one on for a match screening at a friend’s place. His partner, exasperated by the lingering stigma, looks on in dismay, pitying the shame that still surrounds supporting women in cricket. Undeterred, he steps out the door wearing the jersey, hiding it beneath a jacket.

    On his way, he notices fellow Indians proudly donning women cricketers’ jerseys, from colleagues to even the office lift operator, who delivers the knockout line, “Virat khelein ya Smriti, jeetega toh India hi na” (whether it’s Virat or Smriti, India will win anyway). The moment sparks pride as the protagonist ditches the jacket and walks into the office with his Smriti Mandhana jersey proudly on display.

    With the ICC women’s cricket world cup India 2025 just around the corner, JioStar’s “Jersey Wahi Toh Jazba Wahi” (conceptualised by Bubblewrap Films) celebrates the unifying power of the India jersey. It sends a clear message: no gender norms can diminish the pride of wearing blue, and the joy of support far outweighs the question, “Who watches women’s cricket anyway?”  

    JioStar, head of viewership and monetisation initiative – sports, Siddharth Sharma said, “This tournament is more than cricket. It is about rewriting history and inspiring a generation. Our endeavour is to channel this moment into a campaign that unites the country, reminding fans to take equal pride in every Indian jersey.”

    The ICC women’s cricket world cup 2025, hosted across India and Sri Lanka, kicks off on 30 September in Guwahati with India facing co-host Sri Lanka. With matches lined up against Pakistan, Australia, England and others, the women in blue are chasing a trophy that has long eluded them.

    With the roar of home crowds and the momentum of this campaign, JioStar aims to capture a cultural shift: cricket pride is not about gender, it is about the jersey and every fan who wears it.

  • Kho-Khoaching class act sets sport on global fast track

    Kho-Khoaching class act sets sport on global fast track

    MUMBAI: Kho Kho, the homegrown Indian game of agility and grit, just got a high-speed upgrade on and off the mat. As the sport stretches beyond its traditional roots to stake its claim on the global stage, the Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI) is playing tag with the future by launching its most advanced training initiative yet.

    The Advanced Level III-A Training Course for coaches and technical officials kicked off on June 2, 2025, at SGT University, Budhera, and will run till June 15. Organised by KKFI under the aegis of the International Kho Kho Federation (IKKF), the course is no ordinary classroom drill, it’s a knowledge sprint featuring 20 international coaches and officials from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Iran, Australia, England, Korea and Malaysia, alongside 50 Indian coaches and 65 technical officials.

    From biomechanics to sports psychology, recovery techniques to anti-doping awareness, the curriculum mirrors a sport in metamorphosis. With morning fitness sessions and rigorous classroom modules, participants are being immersed in a next-gen playbook designed to take Kho Kho from kabaddi’s countryside cousin to a globally recognised sport.

    5 June was a masterclass in modernisation with sessions on sports science by Pooja Bhati, anti-doping education by Vikas Tyagi and Anurag, and tactical training by legendary coach H. V. Nataraj. The day began with a sweat-inducing physical drill by Ashwani Sharma, reinforcing the discipline behind the dash.

    “This course reflects our commitment to preparing a new generation of coaches and officials who are equipped with the knowledge, tools, and international exposure to take Kho Kho to the next level,” said KKFI president Sudhanshu Mittal. He also underlined how the sport is evolving with mat-based gameplay, a Decision Review System (DRS) and even the strategic ‘Wazir’ role.

    The training for coaches wraps up on June 11 with a practical exam and reflective session, before the officials’ segment begins from 12–15 June.

    With 135 participants in total and a syllabus as sharp as the game’s signature sprints, this course is more than just a seminar, it’s Kho Kho’s statement of intent. The message is clear: India isn’t just where the game began. It’s where the global future of Kho Kho is being written one pivot, one pass, and now, one world-class coach at a time.

  • Colvyn Harris to be conferred with AAAI Lifetime Achievement Award 2022

    Colvyn Harris to be conferred with AAAI Lifetime Achievement Award 2022

    Mumbai: The Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) has announced that the AAAI Lifetime Achievement Award for 2022 will be conferred on advertising veteran Colvyn Harris. This is the highest honour to be given to an individual in India for his/ her outstanding contribution to the advertising industry.

     Harris has had a long and successful career in the Indian advertising industry spanning over 40 years. His career was built in one company – JWT (now Wunderman Thompson), a WPP Group company, across varied roles, across India and JWT Sri Lanka where he was managing director.  He began his career at Hindustan Thompson Associates (HTA), and went on to assume the role of CEO at Contract (now Contract Advertising), and then was designated JWT South Asia CEO.

    During his tenure he built the most formidable full-service agency, most admired for its creativity, scale and reputation. He has worked on India’s most admired brands, notably Hero, GSK- Horlicks, Boost, Citibank, Ford, Airtel, Nestlé.  He ended his career as executive director global growth & client development at JWT. He was also managing director marketing at L. Catterton Singapore, a global private equity company, part of LVMH, where his role was to help their investee companies working with the CEOs and chief marketing officers for achieving their growth and branding objectives globally.

    Harris took a lot of interest in Industry matters. He was a jury member at the Cannes Lions in 2015, in the Effectiveness Category. He was also president of the Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) in 2010 and chairman of the Goafest in 2009 and 2010. During his chairmanship, Goafest grew much faster and was recognized as the largest festival in India for celebration of creativity.

    Harris has been a speaker at London Business School, at the Wharton India Economic Summit, Spikes Asia 2010 and chairman of numerous forums, including a speaker at the World Economic Forum India. He was a WPP nominee to the World Economic Forum Global Agenda Development Council for four years. Under his leadership, JWT won several Global Awards, numerous Cannes Lions, including India’s First Grand Prix while he was CEO.

    Making the announcement, AAAI president Anupriya Acharya said, “Harris is in every sense a true pioneer and visionary. Apart from singlehandedly making JWT a top agency, he has also contributed significantly to the industry in various capacities, including as president of AAAI. He’s been a key driver and pivotal force in establishing Goafest as the largest advertising festival in India.  I am pleased to say that the entire committee was unanimous in selecting Harris as this year’s AAAI’s Lifetime Achievement Award winner. He is truly deserving of this honour.”

     For the record, the AAAI Lifetime Achievement Award is presented annually to an individual who has been a practitioner of advertising for twenty-five years and had been in the top management position; has been or continues to be an active participant in industry bodies and or made significant contributions in shaping the industry priorities which enabled the advertising industry to grow, prosper and  become more professionalized;  individual  known for his integrity, ethical practice and leadership qualities; contributed to his company/companies growth by innovative thinking and taking them in newer directions; involved in projects of social consequence which is seen as a role model for the industry at large and had been an industry veteran.

     Some of the past winners of this award include Subhas Ghosal, Alyque Padamsee, Mike Khanna, R K Swamy, Piyush Pandey, Sam Balsara, Prem Mehta, Roda Mehta, Ram Sehgal, Madhukar Kamath, Arvind Sharma and others.

  • FCB Group India expands its footprint in South Asia with FCB KL.LK

    FCB Group India expands its footprint in South Asia with FCB KL.LK

    Mumbai: FCB Group India on Monday announced the expansion of its footprint in South Asia with the launch of FCB KL.LK. This new agency partnership in Sri Lanka will be led by chairman and CEO Santosh Menon.

    FCB KL.LK, a fully integrated marketing communications agency, is the newest affiliate office under the FCB Group India umbrella. The agency works with marquee clients and brands including Ceylon Biscuits Ltd, HNB credit cards, Fairfirst life Insurance, Ultratech Cement, and Godrej Consumer products.

    Speaking on the importance of this partnership, FCB Group India chairman & CEO Rohit Ohri said, “We are delighted to partner with KL.LK in Sri Lanka. They are a young, future-ready agency that is growing very rapidly with many global multi-national clients. With this association, we are hoping to offer seamless service to many of our clients who look at South Asia as a contiguous market.”

    FCB global partner, global chief marketing abd reputation officer Brandon Cooke talked about how thrilled he is to have a partner in Sri Lanka. “The creative passion and business momentum made KL.LK the perfect partner for us in the Sri Lankan market. As we continue on our global mission to unleash creativity fuelled by diversity, data and technology, we’re incredibly excited about the opportunities that lie ahead as we expand our footprint across this region to a new client base,” he further said.

    FCB KL.LK chairman and CEO Santosh Menon added, “I came to Sri Lanka first in 2003 as a team member of FCB for its clients here. Today, bringing FCB back in its latest avatar as part of KL.LK gives me special pleasure and happiness. It’s the wheel turning full circle.”

    The new agency partnership aims to bring forth the KL.LK expertise to brands, coupled with FCB’s Never Finished philosophy, said the agency.

  • Supreme TV to telecast LPL in Sri Lanka

    Supreme TV to telecast LPL in Sri Lanka

    Mumbai: Sri Lankan TV channel Supreme TV has acquired the exclusive rights to broadcast the Lanka Premier League (LPL) in Sri Lanka, from the IPG Group, the official franchise and broadcast holder. According to a statement, Sony will continue to be the official broadcaster of the league in India.

    The multi-year agreement, positioned as one of the biggest broadcast deals so far in Sri Lanka will help LPL penetrate deep into every nook and corner of the country and Supreme TV is committed to play an integral part in the television and digital transmission of the LPL starting from the second season, said the statement.

    “Supreme TV has become a household name and it is the fastest growing Sinhala Language channel in Sri Lanka with special focus on sports and entertainment,” said Supreme TV chairman RM Manivannan. “At a time when our nation is going through a challenging period due to the Covid-19 pandemic, LPL comes as a breath of fresh air to infuse positivity and regain its character as a sport loving nation. LPL brings to the island the revolutionary concept of franchise T20 cricket which features international cricketers of repute pitched along with our own leading cricketers, not to mention the budding ones who greatly learn from this exposure. One of my biggest hopes is  that young and upcoming cricketing talent that our country has always been blessed with, uses this opportunity to harness their talent and soon start to compete for selection in the national side.”

    “LPL is a great opportunity given to Sri Lankans to see many cricketing stars in action, whilst passionately supporting their preferred team all in our turf. Supreme TV considers it a great privilege to take this rare entertainment to all Sri Lankans – the urban elite, as well as to every village, with their strong island wide coverage for a continuous period of almost a month. For a cricket loving nation, which is slowly disengaging from the pandemic at this moment, opportunity to enjoy the high quality second season from home is probably the best year end gift,” he added.

    The inaugural edition of the LPL which was played in a bio-secure bubble at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in Hambantota from 26 November till 16 December, 2020, reached a cumulative audience of 557 million people through TV, digital-social space, and traditional media outlets. Sponsors enjoyed a media evaluation (visibility) of $54.5 million and title sponsor My11Circle enjoyed a ROI of 9.85 times. Winner of the first edition of LPL, Jaffna Kings tops the valuation chart with $3.98 million, followed by Galle Gladiators ($3.82 million), Dambulla Vikings – now Dambulla Giants, ($3.54 million), Colombo Kings ($3.44 million), and Kandy Tuskers ($3.19 million).

    “It gives me immense pleasure to welcome on board Supreme TV as our broadcast partner of the prestigious Lanka Premier League and I can confidently say that this association is a great testament to the brand LPL,” said Dubai-based IPG Group’s founder and CEO Anil Mohan. “In the first edition, from Sri Lanka alone we garnered a total viewership of 1.9 million which is quite significant. Our first season was big success and with the addition of Supreme TV, we will only grow bigger.”

    As per the statement, the LPL matches which were telecast live by Sky Sports, Sony Sports Network, Geo, PTV, and Willow TV, ITN in Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, UK, US, Canada, Ireland, and New Zealand saw 155 million people tuning in to catch live action. On social media, it achieved a reach of 218 million and LPL found 133,478 mentions as the League came alive with each and every match with some scintillating performances on the ground.

  • STARZ streamer Lionsgate Play launches in Sri Lanka

    STARZ streamer Lionsgate Play launches in Sri Lanka

    Mumbai: In a bid to expand its presence in Asia, the US-based streaming platform STARZ has launched its direct-to-consumer (DTC) OTT app Lionsgate Play in Sri Lanka, following its launch in India and Indonesia.

    The premium subscription service will bring Lionsgate Play’s vast library of Hollywood blockbusters, film franchises, and premium original series and boxsets immediately accessible to the subscribers, the platform said in a statement on Tuesday.

    The service has also launched at attractive price points to Sri Lankan consumers to enjoy the best of global entertainment affordably and at their convenience, it added.

    “We are thrilled to bring Lionsgate’s global brand to Sri Lanka with the launch of the Lionsgate Play app,” MD of South Asia and Networks-Emerging Markets Asia, Rohit Jain said.

    “Sri Lanka is a key market for us with its promising internet penetration, rapid growth in broadband, and the recent introduction of unlimited internet packs. We want to provide the finest, never seen before content that will captivate our audiences with bespoke entertainment drawing on the most exciting current releases and our premium library. The launch of Lionsgate Play will bring premium world-class entertainment right to the pockets of the consumers. We are certain that the launch will initiate altogether a new unparalleled entertainment experience to the island nation.”

  • SPSN onboards 15 advertisers for India’s Sri Lanka tour

    New Delhi: The Men in Blue are all set to return on Sony Pictures Sports Network (SPSN) as the countdown begins for the India tour of Sri Lanka. The much-awaited cricket series with three ODIs and three T20s is all set to begin on 13 July. 

    The series will be aired in India LIVE in four languages: SONY TEN 1 and SONY SIX in English, SONY TEN 3 in Hindi, and on the newly launched SONY TEN 4 in Tamil and Telugu from 1.30 pm as well as live-streamed on its on-demand OTT platform SonyLIV.

    The network has roped in as many as 15 advertisers so far, which includes Byju’s, Pan Bahar, Amazon Prime, 99 acres.com, Cars 24, Oppo, Tata Motors, Raj Niwas, Vimal, Kent, Unacademy, Housing.com, Policy Bazaar, Paisa Bazaar, and Dafa News. “The network is in the process of closing more brands before the start of the first ODI on 13 July,” it said on Wednesday.

    SPSN will be back with its flagship studio show Extraaa Innings in English and Hindi. The LIVE studio show in English will be presented by former players like Sanjay Manjrekar, Ajit Agarkar, and Ajay Jadeja along with Matt Floyd while the Hindi studio show will be presented by former cricketers – Mohammad Kaif, Vivek Razdan, Amit Mishra, Saba Karim along with Arjun Pandit. The Tamil commentary box will feature Laxman Sivaramakrishnan, WV Raman, Vidhyut Sivaramakrishnan, T Arasu, and S Seshadri while the Telugu commentary will be presented by Venkatapathy Raju, Gnaneshwar Rao, C Venkatesh, RJ Hemanth, Sandeep Kuma,r and Vijay Mahavadi.

    Led by former India captain Rahul Dravid who will step in as coach, this will be the first time two senior Indian men’s teams play bilateral series simultaneously. Shikhar Dhawan will captain the young side while Bhuvneshwar Kumar will be the vice-captain in the three-match ODI and T20I series against Sri Lanka.

    Devdutt Padikkal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Nitish Rana, Krishnappa Gowtham, and Chetan Sakariya are likely to receive their maiden Indian cap in ODIs and T20Is and will have the experience of seasoned players like Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav and more by their side as all eyes will be on the performance and future of the Indian Cricket Team.

    SPSN has also launched the #JeetneKiZid campaign that depicts the #HungerToWin or #JeetneKiZid of the Indian Brigade, who are ready to give their all to emerge victorious in Sri Lanka. The campaign calls all Indian cricket fans to show their support and cheer for their home team as the young squad is very determined to emerge victorious in Sri Lanka. 

  • After 12-year stint, Madison Media exits Sri Lanka

    After 12-year stint, Madison Media exits Sri Lanka

    MUMBAI: The directors of Media Factory have just announced that they have purchased the majority stake held by Sam and Lara  Balsara of Madison World in Madison Media SriLanka and the company will now become a fully owned subsidiary of Media Factory. With this, the Balsaras have exited the Sri Lanka business. Sam Balsara has also resigned as a director and the company’s name has been changed to Midas Media.

    Both parties have agreed that Midas Media and its affiliates, associates and owners, Media Factory will immediately stop using the Madison name in any manner whatsoever nor claim ownership to the name Madison. It was further announced that Sam and Lara Balsara and Madison in India or Sri Lanka will no longer be liable for any actions or financial liabilities or damages past, present or future of the company nor will they benefit from any financial assets or accruals to the company of the past, present or future for which they have not been compensated. The duo will also not claim any right or ownership to the name Midas Media.

    Madison World India chairman Sam Balsara said, “We entered the Sri Lanka market 12 years ago with the launch of Airtel in the country. Over the years we have built some great relationships both personally and professionally and I hope to continue those. I wish the current directors of Media Factory and Midas Media all the very best.”

    Media Factory director Kapila Vidanagamage said, “Our relationship was based on mutual trust and respect. We understood the expectations at a very early stage and were able to deliver to the complete satisfaction of our local clients, but more importantly our partners in India. I would like to thank Sam and Lara for their trust and eventual friendship and would like to wish them both the best in all their future endeavours.”