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Tag: Viacom18 Sports

  • Viacom18 Sports announces content lineup for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

    Viacom18 Sports announces content lineup for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

    Mumbai: Viacom18 Sports has announced an expansive content lineup offering viewers compelling storytelling around famous rivalries, revered heroes, seminal moments, and the stories of ardent FIFA World Cup fans in the run-up to the 2022 edition, which will be held in Qatar from 20 November to 18 December.

    The programming on Sports18-1 and JioCinema began with FIFA World Cup 2022: Road To Qatar, a 16-episode show profiling the 32 teams qualified for the World Cup. Through shows like Football Goal’D Super 16 and The Fantastic Lives of Footballers, the build-up programming includes the on-field and off-field exploits of World Cup superstars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr., Kylian Mbappe, and many more.

    Viacom18 Sports will provide a platform for die-hard football fans by producing original content. Flavours of Football in India will take viewers through unheard and extraordinary fan stories from the country’s football hotbeds. Football Adda, a Bengali chat show centred on the FIFA World Cup, will give state fans a platform to support their favourite teams and players.

    Viacom18 Sports content head Siddharth Sharma said, “The FIFA World Cup is a total communal experience, and we want to offer content that brings everyone across the country together to enjoy the world’s greatest show.”

    He further said, “Our programming across five languages will cater to a wider audience and complement the never-seen-before extensive live coverage of the event on JioCinema, which is now available to download for all telecom subscribers.”

    The likes of Patrick Kluivert, R Ashwin, Yuvraj Singh, Jonty Rhodes, Shane Bond, Scott Styris, Brad Hodge, and Chirag Shetty, among others, recall their favourite FIFA World Cup moments in Hero Speak for sports fans to enjoy. All of the captivating content will be spread across JioCinema, Sports18 – 1 SD & HD, and Sports18 Khel.

    The pre-game and post-game shows on the Viacom 18 Sports network will also feature well-known World Cup heroes and provide an in-depth preview and analysis of all 64 games. All viewers can watch the global marquee competition on JioCinema from 20 November through 18 December, inclusive. Sports18 – 1 SD & HD and Sports18 Khel will both be broadcast on TV.

  • Viacom18 Sports launches ‘Isse Bada Kuch Nahi’ campaign for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

    Viacom18 Sports launches ‘Isse Bada Kuch Nahi’ campaign for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

    Mumbai: The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 campaign “Isse Bada Kuch Nahi” was launched by Viacom18 Sports. The promotion, which was developed to heighten anticipation for the opening of the show, is now active on television and online.

    All of the matches will be live streamed on JioCinema, which is currently accessible for download for all telecom service subscribers. It will also provide specially selected content related to the FIFA World Cup in Qatar in 2022. From 20 November to 18 December, all viewers will be able to watch the competition on the pay-TV channels Sports18, 1 SD and HD.

    Ogilvy developed and conceptualised the campaign film, which tells the story of a fun heist carried out by a group of football fans at a world-famous puppet show in a carnival. A large audience has gathered to watch the puppet show. As the football fans seize the show, a shrill whistle interrupts the act. Enter the puppets of superstars Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar Jr, Harry Kane, and Kylian Mbappe, who take over the act with an exhilarating display of skills, capturing the audience in the thrill of the world’s most beautiful sport.

    The film aims to excite viewers and fans by capturing the euphoria and carnival atmosphere that a football World Cup brings. Viacom18 Sports announces, using a puppet show as a metaphor, that no show entertains fans and connects with the community as passionately as the FIFA World Cup.

    A Viacom18 Sports spokesperson said, “We want everyone in the country to experience the infectious energy that comes with the world’s most watched sporting event, the FIFA World Cup, and enjoy this tournament like never before. Our campaign reflects the celebration that comes with the event and the intrinsic power it possesses to enthral one and all.”

    “With Isse Bada Kuch Nahi, we aim to spark uncontainable excitement and urge everyone to download JioCinema, now available to all telecom subscribers, to experience the World Cup like never before,” he added.

    “FIFA World Cup is the biggest entertainment spectacle in the world. Our campaign, “Isse Bada Kuch Nahi,” brings to life this football fever that’s about to capture the hearts of the country and the world by taking over every other form of entertainment,” said Ogilvy India chief creative officer Sukesh Nayak. “Brought to life by puppets of the most loved football stars, this fun takeover idea will surely have the World Cup fans tuning in for all the upcoming entertainment.”

    For the FIFA World Cup in Qatar in 2022, JioCinema will provide multiple language feeds, including Tamil, Malayalam, and Bengali. The campaign will also include short edits urging fans to watch the World Cup in these languages and emphasising how the world’s greatest sporting spectacle will be free to all.

    The JioCinema app, which includes access to Viacom18 Sports’ portfolio of live and non-live programming, is now available for download for all telecom service subscribers and devices, including iOS and Android, and includes access to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. The 64-match showcase will feature live 4K streaming, a first for the FIFA World Cup presentation in India on JioCinema.

  • Viacom18 Sports ropes in Bollywood star Ranveer Singh for NBA campaign

    Viacom18 Sports ropes in Bollywood star Ranveer Singh for NBA campaign

    Mumbai: Viacom18 Sports, India’s newest premier sports network, has launched its 2022–23 NBA season ad campaign, “Morning Time Is Baller Time,” headlined by Bollywood star Ranveer Singh. Streaming now across all Viacom18 Sports’ digital and social media platforms, the film draws energy and excitement from the actor’s love for the NBA and celebrates the return of the basketball league live on Sports18 (SD & HD), MTV (SD & HD), and JioCinema.

    The film opens with Singh blissfully calling it a night with a rooster in tow. As the sun rays hit Singh’s face, the rooster cackles aloud, alarms go off, and the super fan in Singh swiftly slips into his baller threads and sneakers to catch the high-octane NBA action, signalling “Morning Time Is Baller Time.”

    “As an avid basketball fan and the NBA Brand Ambassador for India, it’s a pleasure to be a part of the new campaign for the 2022–23 NBA season. With the season having tipped off in high gear, the film “Morning Time Is Baller Time” aptly brings to life the excitement and energy surrounding the NBA,” said Singh.

    “Morning Time Is Baller Time” reinforces our proposition that mornings are best enjoyed watching the incredible action from the NBA on Sports18 1 and JioCinema, and who better than the effervescent resident NBA fan Ranveer Singh to reiterate this and celebrate the start of what promises to be yet another exciting season. We are focused on expanding and elevating our NBA offerings this season and taking them to a broader audience,” said Viacom18 Sports head of content Siddharth Sharma.

    “Viacom18 Sports provides NBA fans in India with unparalleled access to follow and watch their favourite teams and players in Hindi and English. We look forward to continuing our collaboration as we engage both new and existing fans throughout the country and bring them closer to the game by offering a wide range of NBA programming to sports, lifestyle, and youth audiences,” said NBA India business head for global content and media distribution Sunny Malik.

    In its endeavour to engage viewers through the season, Viacom18 Sports’ NBA offerings include a mix of live and non-live programming across all their platforms, including more games after 7 a.m. Coverage features live games each week and the league’s marquee events, including the NBA All-Star Game, the NBA Play-In Tournament, the NBA Playoffs, and the NBA Finals. The 2022–23 season tipped off on Sports18 1, MTV SD & HD, and JioCinema on 19 October, with the defending champion Golden State Warriors defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 123-109.

    JioCinema live-streams one game every morning in English and Hindi, and Sports18 1 and MTV will continue to broadcast select live games every week through the season in English and Hindi, respectively. The JioCinema app is available to download for all telecom service subscribers and across devices on iOS and Android, with access to Viacom18 Sports’ portfolio of live and non-live programming.

    Viewers can continue to watch their preferred sports by downloading JioCinema (iOS & Android). For the latest updates, news, scores, and videos, fans can follow Sports18 on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. Fans in India can also follow the NBA on Facebook (Facebook.com/NBAIndia), Instagram (@NBAIndia) and Twitter (@NBAIndia) and download the NBA App for the latest news, updates, scores, stats, schedules, and videos.

  • Viacom18 and SA20 announce strategic 10-year partnership

    Viacom18 and SA20 announce strategic 10-year partnership

    Mumbai: Viacom18 Sports, India’s newest sports network, on Wednesday announced a 10-year partnership to exclusively present SA20, South Africa’s recently launched premier T20 league, in India.

    The addition of SA20 strengthens Viacom18’s portfolio of world-class sporting events, including the Indian Premier League, FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, NBA, Diamond League, LaLiga, Serie A, Ligue 1, and top ATP and BWF events.

    Viacom18 is reshaping sports fans’ experiences and building one of the most-loved media platforms in India. The SA20 and Viacom18 will work closely to grow and engage cricket fans in India. South Africa’s strong cricket roots, domestic set-up, and popularity of its players with Indian fans will enable SA20 to stand out among other international T20 leagues. South Africa and India have a long and storied cricket relationship that this partnership will further strengthen while bringing high-quality T20 action to Indian fans.

    Cricket South Africa (CSA) is leaving no stone unturned to deliver a massively entertaining and competitive show by encouraging all their marquee players to be available for the SA20 tournament.

    The inaugural SA20 auction in September saw over 100 players signed by the six teams. Teams could sign up a maximum of ten South Africans and seven overseas cricketers in their squad. For every match, each team will be allowed to have up to four overseas players in the XI. All teams have also opted to sign one uncapped, young player.

    The SA20 will see international superstars like Quinton de Kock, Faf Du Plessis, Kagiso Rabada, David Miller, Anrich Nortje, Rashid Khan, Jos Buttler, Eoin Morgan, Adil Rashid, Jason Roy, Liam Livingstone, Maheesh Theekshana, and Jason Holder in action.

    The league features six teams playing each other twice in a round-robin stage before the semis and final. In all, 33 matches will be played over four weeks starting 10 January 2023. The six teams—Joburg Super Kings, Pretoria Capitals, Durban SuperGiants, Sunrisers Eastern Cape, Paarl Royals, and MI Cape Town—are owned by groups that have teams across various global leagues, including the Indian Premier League.

    “We continue to offer fans an immersive and engaging experience by strengthening our sports portfolio with some of the best cricket action through SA20,” said Viacom18 Sports CEO Anil Jayaraj.  “T20 is the most popular cricket format with Indian fans. The history and legacy of South African cricket and the popularity of South African cricketers in India make it a thrilling proposition for cricket fans in India. We expect significant viewership and fan engagement as the event will be played in primetime.”

    “Today is a ground-breaking day for South African cricket. This long-term partnership between the SA20 and Viacom18 as our official Indian broadcaster is a catalyst that supports our ambitions to build the world’s second-biggest league,” said SA20 League commissioner and former South Africa captain Graeme Smith. “With six IPL owners expanding their brands in South Africa, Viacom18 is the perfect partner to take the SA20 into the homes of the passionate and cricket loving Indian market.”

    “The benefits of domestic cricket will be far-reaching, with more South African players exposed to a global cricket audience and a stimulus to build a strong and sustainable cricket ecosystem. As SA20, we look forward to working with the dynamic team at Viacom 18 to build a world-class league,” Smith added.

    Viacom18 recently announced that JioCinema will live-stream all the matches and offer curated content around the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. The world’s greatest show, the football World Cup, which happens once every four years, will be exclusively presented on JioCinema and Sports18 platforms from 20 November through 18 December.

  • Pushpendra Singh joins Viacom18 Sports as chief product officer

    Pushpendra Singh joins Viacom18 Sports as chief product officer

    Mumbai: Viacom18 Sports has appointed Pushpendra Singh as its chief product officer. He took to LinkedIn to share this development.

    Prior to his new role, he founded the short video production, and creator economy startup – Fandawn.

    “Super stoked to announce my new stint as chief product officer at Viacom18 Sports. With IPL digital media rights in its kitty, Viacom18 is here to build an awesome sports video streaming experience. Excited for all that is ahead, the impact we will make, and disruption we will create in our business. Thank you Viacom18 team,” reads his LinkedIn post.

    Singh has expertise in product management and growth, content strategy, and mobile and internet platforms. Over the years, he has worked with companies like MX Player, MX TakaTak, Gaana, Amazon, Snapdeal, Genpact Headstrong, and Sapient.

  • Viacom18 appoints Siddharth Sharma as EVP – sports

    Viacom18 appoints Siddharth Sharma as EVP – sports

    Mumbai: Viacom18 has appointed Siddharth Sharma as executive vice president (EVP) – sports.

    Previously, Sharma was with The Walt Disney Company-owned Star Sports network as senior vice president. He joined Star Sports as AVP in 2013 and was elevated to the position of vice president – head of Kabaddi (content and production) in 2015. “As I end my 8.5 years journey at Star Sports, I reflect with humility and thank my mentors, co-conspirators and team members who have massively contributed in making my work look good,” Sharma wrote in a LinkedIn post.

    Prior to Star Network, Sharma worked with ABP News as sports editor for almost 11 years. His past stints also include Zee News.

    Viacom18 is looking to expand its presence in the sports broadcasting segment. The media and entertainment network recently announced a multi-year partnership with The National Basketball Association (NBA) to deliver live NBA games and programming to fans in India across television and over-the-top streaming.

    NBA, Viacom18 announce multi-year broadcast and streaming partnership in India

    Viacom18 is building its team ahead of the launch of its first sports channel.