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Tag: World Kabaddi League

  • Sony Six bags World Kabaddi League broadcast rights

    Sony Six bags World Kabaddi League broadcast rights

    MUMBAI: Multi Screen Media’s (MSM) sports arm Sony Six has bagged the television broadcast rights of the World Kabaddi League (WKL) in India. That apart, the sport will be exclusively telecast on Geo TV in Pakistan and ARY TV in Dubai and UAE.

     

    Indiantelevision.com was the first to report about the possible acquisition. Sony Six currently has big sports properties on board, right from the Indian Premier League (IPL) to the ongoing FIFA World Cup.

     

    While seven countries including India, Pakistan, England, Belgium, USA, Canada and Australia will participate in the WKL as of now, 10 teams that are neither state- nor country- specific have already been confirmed. WKL has been modeled on lines of a travelling sports property where all 10 teams will play each other in the same week, similar to the Formula One format.

     

    The prize money for the opening season of the League is Rs 4 crore.

     

    World Kabaddi League commissioner Pargat Singh commented on the deal saying “Since time immemorial Kabaddi has incited passion among the North Indian youth. By and large a rural sport, Kabaddi is going through a transformation, as seen in the last four successful seasons of the World Cup with participation from over 21 countries. In our endeavor to professionalize the sport we intend to take Kabaddi to the next level through our partnership with Sony SIX as the official broadcaster of WKL in India. With World Kabaddi League (WKL) our attempt is to give Indian emerging talents a platform for a serious Kabaddi career. ”

     

    World Kabaddi League CEO Raman Raheja commenting on the selection of the premier broadcasters said, ”We were in talks with various broadcasters for each region and out of them all Sony Six had the most promising line up of premier sporting properties this year. For a debutant sporting property the broadcaster becomes a very crucial associate in determining the economic success of a league and I am extremely delighted to announce this association. WKL’s underlying philosophy has been to build a sustainable eco system for all its league partners and associates. WKL will leave no stone unturned in providing a rich engaging experience to the sports fans through its enhanced production values.”

     

    MSM EVP and Sony Six business head Prasana Krishnan said “We are pleased to sign World Kabaddi League as this game has a latent following in North India where it is seen as a community sport. We feel it is time to revive its legacy and make it an exciting venture for all those involved in the Kabaddi ecosystem. It will be interesting to take this sport to the swanky stadiums in India and abroad. It’s our endeavor to popularize Indian sports and through this association we aim to create visibility and generate interest for the game.”

  • Yo Yo Honey Singh buys a team in World Kabaddi League

    Yo Yo Honey Singh buys a team in World Kabaddi League

    MUMBAI: Super rapper, Honey Singh once again showed his profound love for sports by becoming owner of a team in World Kabaddi League. In sync with his name, he has christened it Yo Yo Tigers and will host the Toronto leg.

     

    The record breaking artist and heartthrob of millions of fans across the globe is himself a trained mixed martial art expert and follows sport very closely. Addressing a press meet at Delhi, Singh also announced that he will soon be unveiling the title track for his team. “I have already planned to roll out my next title in support of my team. It will not only be a peppy number but will be a source of encouragement to my fellows,” Honey Singh said.

     

    World Kabaddi League (WKL) is the first international kabaddi league coming out of India and is scheduled to roll out from August in a high profile event in London. Played in Circle style, WKL is loosely based on the Formula 1 touring sport format and will be the first Indian sports league with an international footprint and a 5 month long calendar. Circle style is the most popular kabaddi format internationally and is played across 26 countries globally.

     

    “Ladna, koodna, khelna hamare khoon main hai. There are many sports personalities in my mother’s family. I follow all high action sports and World Kabaddi League is great initiative to contemporise Kabaddi and position it as a professional sport. I urge all my fans to extend their support in making World Kabaddi League one of the biggest sporting events,” the youth icon said.

     

    Speaking about the association, Pargat Singh, Commissioner, World Kabaddi League, “We are extremely delighted to have Honey Singh’s association with World Kabaddi League. Honey Singh is a youth icon and with his endorsement kabaddi will surely be seen in a new and modern outlook attracting younger audience. After Akshay, Honey too joining the Kabaddi bandwagon….World Kabaddi League has definitely gained momentum.”

     

    Earlier this month, Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar also endorsed the League by buying a team. The actor has always been enthusiastic in promoting fitness and sports which encouraged him to take this decision. He believes that Kabaddi is an authentic sport that puts up raw power for display and keeps the adrenalin rushing at all times. WKL will be presented to its fans in a new avatar and will innovate by adding more action oriented elements to this maiden Indian contact sports thereby making it television friendly.

     

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  • Going global with the World Kabaddi League

    Going global with the World Kabaddi League

    MUMBAI: Business tycoon Anand Mahindra’s floating the Pro-Kabaddi League has piqued nation-wide interest in the home-grown game apart from spawning similar endeavours.

     

    One such is the recently launched World Kabaddi League (WKL), a venture undertaken by WKL president Sukhbir Singh Badal, which also draws inspiration from four highly successful editions of the circle-style Kabaddi World Cup held in the state from 2010 to 2013 that saw participation from as many as 21 countries.

     

    The inaugural event is slated for June at the Thyagaraj Stadium in New Delhi, with WKL president Sukhbir Singh Badal and WKL commissioner Pargat Singh expected to make a formal announcement. The event promises to be big on star presence and performances.

     

    While seven countries including India, Pakistan, England, Belgium, USA, Canada and Australia will participate in the WKL itself. As of now, 10 teams that are neither state- nor country- specific have been confirmed, and players will be selected by ‘draw of lots’ for the maiden season. Next year onwards, the selection may be through public auction. The prize money for the opening season of the league is Rs 4 crore.

     

    WKL CEO Raman Raheja says that WKL was launched for a variety of reasons, including building a dynamic and sustainable global sports league that would see Kabaddi become a professional sport, and engage fans and business associates with world class sports entertainment, experience and service. WKL hopes to take Kabaddi to the best of venues and provide patrons with great entertainment in a clean, secure and comfortable environment.

     

    WKL has been modelled on the lines of a travelling sports property where all 10 teams will play each other in the same week, similar to the Formula One format. According to Raheja, the target audience is the sports viewing audience which constitutes barely three per cent of total viewership, with cricket lovers forming the majority.

     

    “Our focus in the first season will be to grow the Kabaddi following in various pockets of HSM. The league marketing and communication will be broad based and this will target sports fans. My belief is people will watch as long as there is an excitement to the game and there are enough people here and elsewhere who are tired of watching the same sports over and over again. That audience is mine and I will play it to the field,” said Raheja.

     

    With an exciting league in place, an important marketing strategy seems to be in place too. WKL officials said they were very much excited at the prospect of having top Bollywood personalities, pop artists, international investors, corporate giants and celebrated NRIs as possible franchise owners.

     

    Furthermore, a 360-degree marketing plan deploying conventional and new media will be rolled out to market the league and make it one of the best marketed sports properties to come out of India. The short-term objective is to launch the WKL brand and create top-of-the-mind awareness about it, using the digital medium. The long-term objective is to engage top sports broadcasters in each of the host markets and engage top distribution feed across the world.

     

    WKL officials said they are in touch with Sony Six for India and Geo TV for Pakistan as official broadcasters for the league. While ARY Network is the broadcaster for Dubai and the UAE. Efforts are on to rope in broadcasters from other countries as well.  

     

    WKL will have four associate sponsors and a title sponsor and each of these would conduct program activations across all geographies to ensure they capture the audience’s mind space. The revenue model for WKL is simple, involving minimum guarantee of central revenue share from broadcast and sponsorship sales. Local revenue from sponsorships, merchandising and licensing will be considered. Revenue from ticket sales and concessionaires will also start, although price points of tickets for domestic matches will be well within the reach of an average tier II Kabaddi fan. Corporate boxes will be available for sale to sponsors/guests and will be direct revenue for franchises with 100 per cent share of collection.

     

    Franchisees will additionally gain revenue from the box office collection for matches held on international weekends.

     

    Will having two Kabbadi leagues really give a boost to the sport? Said Zenith Optimedia managing director Naveen Khemka, “A dying sport like Kabaddi needed an uplift. Having two leagues will be good for the game both nationally and internationally. A strong financial backing from corporate and government encouragement was needed.” But when asked if the leagues will be a clash of interest, he said, “In the long run I see only one league sustaining. There will not be two Kabbadi leagues.”

    While the Pro-Kabaddi League will ensure that the sport is promoted across the country, the WKL plans to take the game a notch higher and onto a global platform.