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Tag: Tennis

  • FanCode aces it: Roland Garros streams every court, every smash, every stat

    FanCode aces it: Roland Garros streams every court, every smash, every stat

    MUMBAI: Tennis fans, rejoice! FanCode is swinging into the grand slam game, teaming up with Sony LIV to stream every single rally from Roland Garros 2025. From 25 May to 8 June, viewers can follow the drama across all courts — live, on demand, and on their own terms.

    Marking its smashing debut into tennis, FanCode is now letting fans pick and pay: fancy just Djokovic vs Alcaraz? You got it. Want the whole clay court carnival? That’s in play too. No bundles. No fluff. Just pure, uncut tennis.

    But it’s not just video. Real-time stats will now pop up mid-stream on the FanCode app — think rally lengths, break point conversion, and more geeky-goodness — offering die-hards a courtside analyst’s view from their couch.

    “At FanCode, we take great pride in building a product purely for sports fans. With tennis entering a new era and a strong fan base in India, we are reimagining how the sport is viewed. Our fan-first approach lets viewers engage with the game on their terms — whether it’s following a favourite player or tuning into a specific match.”
    said FanCode co-founder Prasana Krishnan., 

    Sony LIV’s head of growth and monetisation Manish Aggarwal added, “Sony LIV has consistently been the go-to destination for premium global sports leagues in India. We’re thrilled to partner with FanCode to bring the excitement of the Roland Garros 2025 to an even wider audience across the country. This collaboration not only amplifies the reach of one of tennis’ most iconic Grand Slams but also ensures that fans across India can seamlessly follow their favourite players and catch every match live or on demand with greater ease and flexibility than ever before.”
     

    FanCode’s Roland Garros coverage will be available via its mobile apps (iOS & Android), smart TVs and www.fancode.com.

    Whether you’re backing Sinner or Swiatek, Sabalenka or Osaka — it’s game, set, match for streaming tennis in India.

  • Haier sponsors Australian Open as TV & appliance partner

    Haier sponsors Australian Open as TV & appliance partner

    MUMBAI: It’s going for the grand slam. Chinese household appliance brand Haier has come on board as the official TV and appliance partner of one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments – the Austrailan Open – and the summer of tennis in Australia. The latter includes the United Cup, Brisbane International, Canberra International Adelaide International and the Hobart International and commences 27 December.

    The deal was signed with Tennis Australia late last month and is for the next three years. . The partnership aims to deliver immersive fan experiences by integrating advanced technologies in home appliances, including kitchen, laundry, and climate control systems, with the excitement of world-class tennis. It goes beyond traditional sponsorship, focusing on delivering immersive fan experiences and showcasing how Haier’s advanced kitchen, laundry, and climate control appliances integrate seamlessly into modern living, offering both convenience and sophistication.

    With over one billion tennis fans globally, the sport epitomises elegance, precision, and high performance—values deeply embedded in Haier’s philosophy. The Australian Open spirit of innovation also aligns with Haier’s brand position, “More Creation, More Possibilities.” Guided by four decades of innovation, Haier is committed to delivering a better living experience, with smart appliances designed to save time, preserve freshness, and simplify chores. These shared qualities make Haier’s role as the official partner of the Australian Open a natural fit, underscoring its dedication to creating exceptional experiences through innovative design and meticulous attention to detail.

    “This partnership with the Australian Open marks a critical step in our globalisation efforts, showcasing our commitment to sports and innovation,” senior vice president of Haier Group and chairman & CEO of Haier Smart Home Li Huagang, had said at the time of the signing of the sponsorship.  “The Australian Open, as one of the four Grand Slam tournaments, aligns perfectly with Haier’s commitment to bring consumers worldwide more creations and possibilities, as well as groundbreaking smart home solutions.”

    Haier Appliances India president NS Satish said, “We are thrilled to partner with the Australian Open, one of the most iconic sporting events in the world. This collaboration represents a significant milestone in our globalisation journey, reflecting Haier’s commitment to connecting with consumers who appreciate sophisticated design, premium experiences, and exceptional performance globally.”

    During the tournament, Haier will engage fans through dynamic on-site and online activations, creating memorable experiences that celebrate the passion of tennis reflecting its commitment to leadership in the home appliance industry. Beyond the court, Haier’s support for grassroots tennis clubs reflects its commitment to inspiring communities, nurturing future champions, and promoting active lifestyles.
     

  • Sony LIV to stream the Australian Open

    Sony LIV to stream the Australian Open

    Mumbai: Sony LIV has always been the one-stop destination for Tennis in India, the home for the major grand slams, and the place where lovers of the game unite. Tennis has been steadily gaining traction in the country, evolving into a hotspot for ardent admirers. Sony LIV once again is all set to bring excitement to the Indian Tennis community with the Grand Slam extravaganza – the Australian Open, fondly known as the ‘happy slam’, promising an exhilarating start to the year for fans.

    The platform has partnered with Hyundai Motor India as the co-presenting and highlights sponsor, while Tourism Australia and ACKO joined as the co-presenting and partner sponsor respectively. Hyundai Motor India traditionally focused on TV advertising, has made its first foray into the digital arena, marking a notable shift towards the digital space for premium properties. The immense enthusiasm for the Australian Open in India has propelled Sony LIV to secure impactful partnerships with leading brands, resulting in these productive deals.

    Being home to numerous international tournaments, Sony LIV has been instrumental in fostering a significant surge in viewership by providing fans access to the game on the go. 24 grand slam winner Novak Djokovic has now become a household name in the nation as he is set to illuminate the Melbourne Park. Nevertheless, he will encounter fierce competition from the rapidly emerging 20-year-old sensation, Carlos Alcaraz, who is swiftly making his mark in the world of tennis. This is not all, after a long three-year wait, India’s top-ranked Sumit Nagal’s notable inclusion in the Australian Open will promise more action and thrill to the Indian Audiences.

    Will Coco Gauff script another fairy tale run to a major final? Could Iga Swiatek kickstart 2024 with a bang? Or will Aryna Sabalenka successfully defend her title? Sony LIV promises to bring you all breathtaking and edge-of-the-seat competition for a span of two weeks. With Djokovic, Alcaraz, Sabalenka, Swiatek, Sumit Nagal and numerous other players gracing the court, the platform invites fans across the country to hop in and indulge in their passion for the sport they love.

    Sony LIV head ad revenue Ranjana Mangla:

    We are excited to present the inaugural Grand Slam event of the year, the Australian Open, on Sony LIV, setting the stage for a year filled with enthusiasm. Our commitment is unwavering as we strive to engage with the Indian Tennis community, streaming a bouquet of prestigious tournaments, including the Australian Open, Roland Garros, US Open, Davis Cup, Laver Cup, and more. We gratefully acknowledge the ongoing support of our sponsors—some renewing their partnerships, while others join us for the first time. Each sponsor shares our passion for sports and is eager to connect with our affluent subscriber base, solidifying us as a strategic choice for their communications.

    Hyundai Motor India AVP & vertical head, marketing Virat Khullar:

    This collaboration between Sony LIV & Hyundai states a joint dedication to excellence and performance, reaching out to affluent audiences. Hyundai recognizes the potency of the digital realm and has seen a significant shift among consumers towards digital content consumption. Hyundai has been actively engaging with premium sports content on digital, acknowledging the influence of such content in capturing the right TG. The inclusion of Australian Open in Hyundai’s scheme of things is to convey powerful brand story to cord-cutters who are interested in premium sport like tennis.

    Catch the Australian Open streaming live only on Sony LIV!

  • CNN FlashDocs to premiere ‘Serena Williams: On Her Terms’ on 11 September

    CNN FlashDocs to premiere ‘Serena Williams: On Her Terms’ on 11 September

    Mumbai: At the close of the annual US Open Tennis Championships, CNN in the US will celebrate the personal and professional life of multiple tennis Grand Slam champion Serena Williams in “Serena Williams: On Her Terms.” Produced by the CNN FlashDocs unit, the hour-long special will premiere on 11 September.

    Williams, widely regarded as the greatest tennis player of all time, is one of the most decorated women in history, having won 23 singles Grand Slam titles, four Olympic Gold Medals, and nearly $100 million in prize money. Her ascent has spanned three action-packed decades, turning Williams into a global force and a household name. On 9 August, Williams announced her formal “evolution” from the sport, citing her desire to focus on her career as a venture capitalist and expand her family.

    “Serena Williams: On Her Terms” chronicles her early beginnings in Compton, CA to her epic ascent to international prominence, exploring the key moments on and off the court that shaped the athlete, woman, and mother. The documentary boasts an all-female interview roster, featuring conversations with Kerri Walsh Jennings (three-time Olympic gold medalist and beach volleyball player), Jennie Finch (Olympic gold medalist and softball pitcher), Napheesa Collier (Olympic gold medalist and WNBA Minnesota Lynx forward), Lindsay Flach (nine-time Team USA track and field heptathlete) – all who have grappled with motherhood and their sports – in addition to Rennae Stubbs (Williams’ current US Open coach and four-time Olympian), Cari Champion, Zina Garrison and Chandra Rubin, (co-hosts, The GOAT: Serena podcast) and CNN’s Christine Brennan.

  • Infobip creates a new digital experience for tennis fans

    Infobip creates a new digital experience for tennis fans

    Mumbai: The global cloud communications platform Infobip this week offers visitors and fans of the ATP Plava Laguna Croatia Open in Umag access to all tournament details through a new WhatsApp chatbot. As the tournament’s technology partner, Infobip has a tennis tournament chatbot to provide a seamless digital experience for visitors and tennis fans globally, helping boost engagement.

    Now the entire digital experience takes place through the ATP Umag Chatbot. The app has been created on Infobip’s chatbot-building platform Answers and WhatsApp Business, one of the most popular communication channels on Infobip’s cloud communications platform.

    Infobip chief product officer Adrian Benić said, “Together with the Plava Laguna Croatia Open, we are redefining the interaction between tennis fans and a globally recognised tournament. In the palm of their hand and with just a few moves, visitors and tennis fans worldwide can get all the necessary details about the tournament using the popular chat application WhatsApp. This chatbot also provides a continuous user journey regardless of where fans are based.”

    In one place, tennis fans and Croatia Open Umag attendees can find out details about the players, the tournament, the schedule, draw, daily entertainment agenda, tickets, and book accommodation. Also, every ATP Umag Chatbot user on WhatsApp can participate in a quiz with prizes.

    “In addition to the fact that all spectators can follow the matches of young global tennis stars like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, they can now also be part of a real digital experience. In Infobip, we recognised a great partner with whom we made a significant tech leap in the presentation of the tournament and its additional content,” said Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag director Tomislav Poljak.

    The ATP Umag Chatbot on WhatsApp can be activated by sending the keyword “Hi” to the number +385 99 537 1830, which must first be saved in contacts, or by clicking on the link. All tournament visitors can also activate the chatbot by scanning a QR code located across all ATP Umag properties, including at the tournament, on social media, in printed brochures and tickets.

    “It’s great to see that fans and spectators can be even more involved in tennis events and more connected to tournaments through this digital way, compared to when I was playing. The possibilities of this type of interaction are numerous, and Infobip, as a leader in the global cloud communications market, is the ideal tech partner for ensuring optimum audience engagement in this global sporting event,” said former Olympics medalist and world Top 10 Mario Ančić. Mario is a partner at One Equity Partners, which is a strategic investor in Infobip.

  • MIB broadens the list of sports events of national importance

    MIB broadens the list of sports events of national importance

    Mumbai: The Ministry of Information And Broadcasting (MIB) has under the Sports Broadcasting Signals (Mandatory Sharing with Prasar Bharati) Act, 2007, broadened the list of sports events of national importance, according to a recent notification. These events will now be shared with Prasar Bharati as the broadcast rights holder.

    In terms of cricket, the good news for the Board Of Control For Cricket in India (BCCI) is that there is no mention of the Indian Premier League (IPL) whose media rights will be decided in an e-auction next month. All sports leagues have been kept out of the list. Under the sports act, all test matches played by India are covered. Earlier, only test matches deemed of high interest were covered.

    ODIs and Twenty20 matches played by India were already covered. Also, among other new things that have now come under the Act the semi-finals and finals of the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Test Championship will have to be shared. India playing matches, Semi-finals and finals of the Under-19 World Cup will now have to be shared. All Olympic Games including the Winter Olympics are now covered under the Act. The Commonwealth Games and Asian Games continue to be covered under the Act.

    These are all the events that will have to be shared with Prasar Bharati. Some were already covered under previous notifications. Some events in football, shooting and archery are deemed of national importance only if India is hosting those events. Following are the lists:

    Cricket

    (a) All official One-Day, Twenty-20 and Test matches played by the Indian Men’s and Women’s Cricket Team and all ICC Test matches featuring India

    (b) Semi-finals and finals of ICC Men’s and Women’s One-Day International World Cup

    (c) Semi-finals and finals of ICC Men’s and Women’s Twenty-20 World Cup

    (d) All Semi-finals and finals of ICC Champions Trophy (One Day)

    (e) All Semi-finals and finals of ICC World Test Championship

    (f) Semi-finals and finals of ICC Men’s and Women’s Asia Cup (Twenty -20 and One-Day International)

    (g) India playing matches, Semi-finals and finals of Under-19 World Cup.

    Tennis

    (a) Davis Cup-All matches featuring India

    (b) Grand Slam Tournaments – Finals of Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles and all matches featuring Indian players from quarter-finals onwards

    (c) Grand Slam Tournaments – All such matches featuring Indian players in men’s doubles, Women’s doubles or Mixed doubles from quarter-finals onwards.

    Hockey

    (a) World Cup – All matches featuring India and semi-finals and finals

    (b) Champions Trophy – All matches featuring India and finals

    (c) Indira Gandhi Gold Cup for Women-Semi-finals and finals

    (d) Hockey India Sub-Junior National Championship and Hockey India Academy National Championship

    (e) Hockey Men’s Junior Men World Cup*

    (f) Sultan Azlan Shah Cup- All matches featuring India, Semi-finals and finals;

    (g) International Hockey Federation (FIH) – Hockey Pro League matches.

    Football

    (a) World Cup – Opening match, quarterfinals, semi-finals and finals

    (b) Asia Cup – All matches featuring India and semi-finals and finals

    (c) Santosh Trophy – Semi-finals and finals

    (d) Asian Women’s Football Cup*

    (e) Under-17 Federation Internationale de Football Association Women’s World Cup*

    (f) World Cup (Under – 17) – Opening match, quarterfinals, semi-finals and finals.

    Badminton

    (a) All England Open Badminton Championship – All matches featuring Indian players, semifinals and finals

    (b) Badminton World Federation World Cup Championship – All matches featuring Indian players, semi-finals and finals.

    Kabaddi

    World Cup – All matches featuring India, semi-finals and finals.

    Khelo India Games

    (a) Khelo India Games

    (b) Khelo India School Games

    (c) Khelo India Youth Games

    (d) Khelo India University Games

    (e) Khelo India Games for differently abled persons

    (f) Khelo India Games for Indigenous Sports

    (g) Khelo India Winter Games.

    Other Events

    (a) International Shooting Sport Federation World Cup Event*

    (b) Commonwealth Shooting Championship*;

    (c) Commonwealth Archery Championship*

    (d) International events organised by National Sports Federations recognized by the Government of India.

  • Sony Sports to telecast Australian Open 2022 starting 17 January

    Sony Sports to telecast Australian Open 2022 starting 17 January

    Mumbai: Sony Sports Network will broadcast the year’s first Grand Slam Event the Australian Open 2022 starting 17 January on Sony Six, Sony Ten 2, Sony Ten 3 and Sony Ten 4 as well as on OTT platform – Sonyliv.

    Sony Sports has onboarded advertisers like Lenovo, Amul, Kia Motors, and LIC as sponsors. Other advertisers like Skoda, Total Oil, Ford, Go Mechanic, Mercedes, Dafa News, Fairplay News, 1X News, Netmed and Apple will also be a part of the telecast.

    Sony Sports’ Live studio show ‘Extraa Serve’ will be hosted by Arpit Sharma and Sarthak Lal and will provide in-depth insight into the action at Melbourne Park. Former tennis players like Somdev Devvarman, Purav Raja and Gaurav Natekar are set to feature as expert panelists on the show along with on-ground reporter Adriano Del Monte. The Hindi commentary on Sony Ten 3 channel will be provided by Manish Batavia, Atish Thukral, and Gaurav Natekar.

    This year, the world’s top player Ash Barty will attempt to become the first local player to win an Australian Open singles title in 44 years while defending champion Naomi Osaka is expected to return and target a fifth career major singles title.

    Rafael Nadal, tied with Djokovic at 20 career major singles titles, will also be competing for the first time since August and will hope to end Djokovic’s streak at the Australian Open 2022.

    The Grand Slam tournament will see participation from top Indian players like Rohan Bopanna and Sania Mirza. The mixed doubles pair will be playing this year’s tournament.

    This edition of the Grand Slam will also witness the 100th anniversary of the women’s competition at the Australian Open. To honor this feat, there will be a historic change in the schedule of the tournament. Both women’s semi-final matches will be moving to the night session.

    “Australian Open is the first and most competitive tennis Grand Slam of the calendar year as it sees participation from the best tennis players from across the globe,” said Sony Pictures Networks India chief revenue officer of distribution and head – sports business Rajesh Kaul. “There is already a lot of talk about the tournament amongst the advertisers as we have received tremendous response from various sectors like tech, automobile, FMCG and more. We aim to showcase and bring real-time action from the courts and this year with our Hindi and English feeds along with our studio show, ‘Extraa Serve’ that will also take the tournament to a wider audience in India.”

  • PE firm CVC Capital proposes to buy out ATP, WTA tennis tours

    MUMBAI: Changes may be afoot as far as broadcasting rights of professional male and female tennis calendars are concerned if reports emerging over the past two days are to be believed. Sky News first reported that Luxembourg headquartered private equity firm CVC Capital Partners is in unconfirmed talks with the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) to buy a 15 per cent stake into a new entity One Tennis which will combine their two itineraries. It is willing to serve a cool $600 million for the privilege of managing the broadcasting rights to the two tours, as well as selling data rights to gambling companies.

    CVC Capital has discussed leaving the running of the two sports to the two associations; all it wants is that the women and men’s tournaments should have a unified calendar (meaning female and male tennis players should play at the same competitions) – just like they do in the Grand Slam championships – Wimbledon, the US Open, and the Australian Open, and the French Open. The latter four contests are ruled by a different governing body.

    The private equity firm believes it can extract greater value than both ATP and WTA are doing currently by glamourising the tours, upping prize money, improving broadcast production quality, and setting up a global digital platform for tennis fans.

    Reuters reported on 8 June that the two associations had issued a joint statement which said that they are “continually looking for ways to bring the sport closer together to provide an enhanced experience for fans, players and tournaments.”

    CVC Capital is no stranger to managing sports; it had been the owner of the F1 from 2006 to 2017 when it sold it to John Malone’s Liberty Media. Over that period, it squeezed out billions of dollars in revenue from the racing sport; in the process, it helped turn around its fortunes. CVC Capital has recently invested in the six nations Rugby and the International Volleyball Federation.

    CVC is proposing that ATP Media (ATP’s existing sales and broadcasting arm) will be absorbed into the new entity with the former’s CEO Mark Webster leading One Tennis. Most of the broadcast rights to the ATP Tours for India lie with the ATP’s tennistv.com, with rights to the ATP 250s being shared by it with Discovery. Prior to Discovery, Sony Pictures Sports Network was the rights holder from 2015 to 2020. Hardcore tennis fans can watch matches online at tennistv.com with the annual subscription package running at $119.9.

    But apparently, a lot more could be done to popularise tennis and the tours among younger audiences, commentators and critics have averred. Tennis has alienated young tennis buffs as they have been drawn to other sports that have more excitement and entertainment. Statistics have shown that the tennis fan is beginning to age and to get back in the game, the sports need a rejuvenation.

    The ATP and WTA boards are expected to meet later this month on the proposal. Their decision will make it clear whether they believe that CVC Capital can be that white knight – who will inject some life into the sport.

  • Eurosport India amps up sports fans with docu-series blitz

    Eurosport India amps up sports fans with docu-series blitz

    NEW DELHI: Eurosport and Eurosport HD have rolled out a new campaign of sports documentaries titled 10 weeks 20 documentaries with the aim to enthral audiences with gripping human stories of sports personalities. 

    The campaign, spread across 10 weeks, with two new episodes premiering every weekend, is a step towards Eurosport India establishing itself as the home of world-class sports titles in a wide variety of sporting genres like cricket, golf, tennis, football, and boxing.

    The documentary blitz kickstarted earlier this month with the screening of the Emmy nominated sports docu-series Being Serena that follows pivotal moments in the life of former world No. 1 tennis champion, Serena Williams. 

    Being Serena was followed by What Killed Maradona which takes a deeper look into the extraordinary life of Diego Maradona, piecing together the trail of clues that caused his lonely and premature death in the Argentinian capital. 

    The ongoing Matchday – Inside FC Barcelona, an eight episodic docu-series, that tracks the FC Barcelona squad during the 2018/19 season premiered last weekend.

    Four other documentaries will come to Eurosports in May. 

    Anthony Joshua: The Road to Klitschko follows the IBF World Heavyweight champion over the course of two years as he prepares for the biggest fight of his career.

    Strokes of Genius depicts the legendary rivalry between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, while The Tiger Tales Show uses video and animation to tell new and illuminating stories about Tiger’s incredible impact on golf.

    The Beckham Effect examines the ups and downs of David Beckham’s six-year tenure with the LA Galaxy and its impact on the sports landscape. 

    June is reserved for cricket with two very interesting documentaries releasing one after another. Capturing Cricket: Steve Waugh in India follows the former Australian captain’s journey as he travels across India and captures the country’s obsession with the sport. Bodyline: The Ultimate Test is the story of one of the most well-known but perhaps least understood moments of conflict and controversy in the history of sports: the infamous Bodyline Test cricket series of 1932 and 1933.

  • Eurosport to telecast Billie Jean King Cup playoffs 2021

    Eurosport to telecast Billie Jean King Cup playoffs 2021

    NEW DELHI: Eurosport and Eurosport HD India will be telecasting Billie Jean Cup (BJK) Playoffs 2021 live in the country. In the playoffs, India will lock horns with Latvia, and this is for the first time that both these teams are facing each other in the competition. 

    Viewers in India can watch the game live on 16 April and 17 April from 8.30 PM and 4.30 PM IST respectively. 

    The Billie Jean King Cup, earlier known as the Fed Cup, is a team event for women’s tennis players and this is the first time that the Indian team has made it to the playoffs, courtesy of topping the Asia/Oceania Group 1 last year. A win will guarantee them a spot in the BJK Cup qualifiers for 2022 while the loser shall compete in their respective regional Group 1 event in 2022.

    Six-time doubles grand slam champion Sania Mirza will be spearheading the team and will be accompanied by her teammates Ankita Raina, Rutuja Bhosale, Zeel Desai, and Karman Kaur Thandi. Ankita Raina will be the highest-ranked Indian on display in the tie with a singles rank of 174 and a doubles rank of 96. The team will be captained by former India player Vishal Uppal. 

    On the other hand, Latvia will be playing with a full-strength team headed by world no. 52 Jelena Ostapenko, the 2017 French Open champion along with Anastasija Sevastova, a former world no. 11 who is now ranked 47th in the world. Diana Marcinkevica, Daniela Vismane, and PatricijaSpaka complete the five-member squad of Latvia. The captain of the team will be former Latvian men’s player Adrians Zguns.

    "Tennis is one of the most popular sports in the world and has an ever-growing fan base in India for Women’s tennis. We are glad to have the opportunity to broadcast India’s BJK Cup playoffs which will add to our list of an interesting tennis line up. I am sure with stars like Sania Mirza and Ankita Raina in the mix it will be two days of hard-fought and exciting tennis action for our passionate viewers," said Eurosport India head & SVP – affiliate sales and product distribution, Asia – India sales & distribution at Discovery Inc Vijay Rajput. 

    Apart from BJK Cup, other tennis properties of Eurosport include the Australian Open, The Championships, Wimbledon, Roland-Garros, and US Open, and the ATP tour in 11 countries across Europe.