Sony Pictures Networks India bags exclusive media rights for inaugural season of the exciting first-of-its-kind Indian Street Premier League (ISPL)

Mumbai, February 20 2024:

The Indian Street Premier League (ISPL), India’s pioneering tennis ball T10 cricket tournament to be played inside a stadium, is proud to share that its exclusive media rights for the inaugural season has been bagged by Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI). Under the terms of the agreement, SPNI has secured the broadcast rights and the league’s matches will be broadcasted on both linear television and the OTT platform. The OTT platform Sony LIV will stream the competition on a free-to-all basis, democratizing access to the thrilling cricketing action for audiences nationwide. On television, matches will be telecasted on channels Sony Ten 2 & Ten 2 HD, with select matches to be simulcast on Sony Ten 5 & Ten 5 HD reaching viewers across the Indian sub-continent, excluding Pakistan.

Bringing the skill of the streets and the thrill of the stadium together, ISPL aims to serve as the catalyst to help nurture cricketing talent from across the country. Embodying the philosophy of blending the streets’ skills and bringing the stadium’s thrill – #Street2Stadium, ISPL serves as a platform for these individuals to further elevate their skills and play at the professional level on the global stage.

The league will take place from 6th March to 15th March 2024 from 5 pm to 10 pm in Mumbai. The inaugural edition promises an exciting roster of matches with fans experiencing musical magic with live performances from top artists, laser shows, drone displays together with DJ Chetas’ beats every day of the league. Unleash the thrill of cricket skills, merging entertainment and sports. Each day promises a unique celebration of talent, creating unforgettable memories. ISPL will be featuring six competitive teams – Hyderabad, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, and Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir). ISPL hopes to reach out to cricket lovers in every nook and corner of the country. The league aims to provide a platform for undiscovered talents to display their skills and potentially carve a path to playing cricket professionally.

The revolutionary league is supported by legends of the game and inspirational film stars who have played a pivotal role in inspiring millions of people across the country. Some of the key names include: Sachin Tendulkar, Ravi Shastri, Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, Ram Charan, Suriya and others. Full list below:

Sr. No	Personality	Role
1	Amol Kale	The current president of Mumbai Cricket Association who also holds a concurrent role as a full-time member of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is a part of the core committee of ISPL
2	Ravi Shastri	ICC Cricket World Cup winner and former coach of India’s national cricket team serves as a Chief Mentor of ISPL
3	Sachin Tendulkar	One of the greatest cricketers in the world and a ICC Cricket World Cup winner in 2011 is a core Committee Member of ISPL
4	Pravin Amre	Regarded as one of India’s finest cricketers and coaches – Pravin heads the selection committee of ISPL
5	Jatin Paranjpe	Former Indian cricketer will work closely with Pravin Amre in the selection committee of ISPL
6	Amitabh Bachchan	Team Owner – Mumbai team
7	Akshay Kumar	Team Owner – Srinagar team
8	Hrithik Roshan	Team Owner – Bengaluru team
9	Ram Charan	Team Owner – Hyderabad team
10	Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan	Team Owner – Kolkata team
11	Suriya	Team Owner – Chennai Team

Comments:

Rajesh Kaul, Chief Revenue Officer – Distribution & International Business and Head – Sports Business, Sony Pictures Networks India:

“With the philosophy of ‘#Street2Stadium,’ the Indian Street Premier League (ISPL) T10 is bound to revolutionize cricket’s popularity in India while also retaining its true essence. As a sport often considered a religion in India, street cricket is typically the starting point of every cricketer’s journey in the country. We strongly believe in the concept of the tournament and are delighted to partner with ISPL for the live broadcast of all games on Sony Sports Network. Our endeavour is to elevate the interest and popularity of the sport, making it a delightful watch for all cricket and sports fans in the country.”

Ashish Shelar, Core Committee Member, ISPL:

“With Sony Pictures Networks India securing the broadcast rights for ISPL, we are thrilled to embark on this new chapter. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in our journey, promising an unparalleled viewing experience for cricket enthusiasts.”

Amol Kale, Core Committee Member, ISPL:

“The partnership with Sony Pictures Networks India for broadcast rights is a ground breaker for ISPL. This alliance not only enhances the league’s visibility but also amplifies the thrill of tennis ball cricket. We look forward to a compelling synergy between ISPL and Sony.”

Suraj Samat, Commissioner, ISPL:

“Sony Pictures Networks India bagging the broadcast rights is a testament to the growing appeal of ISPL. As we continue to discover talent in tennis ball cricket, this partnership will bring the excitement of our league to a broader audience, making cricket more inclusive and engaging.”

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About Culver Max Entertainment Private Limited (formerly known as Sony Pictures Networks India):
Sony Pictures Networks India is the consumer-facing identity of Culver Max Entertainment Private Limited, which is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation, Japan.

The Company has several channels including Sony Entertainment Television (SET and SET HD), one of India’s leading Hindi general entertainment television channels; Sony SAB and Sony SAB HD the family-oriented Hindi comedy entertainment channels; Sony MAX, India’s premium Hindi movies and special events channel; Sony MAX 2, another Hindi movie channel showcasing great India Cinema; Sony MAX HD, a high definition Hindi movie channel airing premium quality films; Sony WAH, the Hindi movies channel for rural markets; Sony PAL, a genre leader in rural Hindi speaking markets (HSM) showcasing the best of Hindi general entertainment and Hindi movies from its content library; Sony PIX and Sony PIX HD, Sony BBC Earth and Sony BBC Earth HD, the premium factual entertainment channels, Sony AATH, the Bangla entertainment channel; Sony YAY!, the kids entertainment channel; Sony Sports Network – Sony Sports Ten 1,  Sony Sports Ten 1 HD, Sony Sports Ten 2, Sony Sports Ten 2 HD, Sony Sports Ten 3, Sony Sports Ten 3 HD; Sony Sports Ten 4, Sony Sports Ten 4 HD; Sony Sports Ten 5; Sony Sports Ten 5 HD; Sony Marathi, the Marathi general entertainment channel; Sony LIV – the digital entertainment VOD platform and Studio NEXT the independent production venture for original content and IPs for TV and digital media. The Company reaches out to over 700 million viewers in India and is available in 167 countries.

The Company is recognised as an employer of choice within and outside the media industry. It is a recipient of several awards, including India’s Best Companies to Work For 2021 by the Great Place to Work® Institute, India, ‘Aon Best Employers India’ awards in recognition of the company’s unique workplace culture and exceptional people practices, consistently ranking amongst India’s Top 10 Companies with Best Health & Wellness Practices by SHRM & CGP Partners and listed by Working Mother & AVTAR as one of the 100 Best Companies for Women in India.

The Company is in its 28th year of operations in India. Besides having overseas subsidiaries, it has a subsidiary MSM-Worldwide Factual Media Private Limited, and an affiliate, Bangla Entertainment Private Limited in India.
For more information, log onto www.sonypicturesnetworks.com
Media Contacts:
Sony Sports Network: Kaumudi Naithani +91 9833931953 | kaumudi.naithani@setindia.com

About the Indian Street Premier League (ISPL):

The Indian Street Premier League (ISPL) is India’s pioneering T10 cricket league played with a tennis ball inside a stadium. It aims to capture the essence and excitement of street cricket while providing a professional platform for undiscovered cricketing talent across the country. The league has teams owned by celebrities representing different cities in India. The teams compete in a format with matches that include a round-robin phase followed by playoffs.
Media Contacts:
ISPL: Bhavisha Upadhyay +91-9819872745 | bhavisha.upadhyay@adfactors.com
ISPL: Riddhi Bhargava +91-8853129963 | riddhi.bhargava@adfactorspr.com