IPL will do billion-dollar business this year: Modi

In terms of brand value or valuation there could be bigger sports club in the West but most of those have negative cash flow, Mr. Modi said

Indian Premier League would generate a revenue of USD one billion this season, thanks to huge fan following across the globe, attracting a large number of advertisers, its Commissioner Lalit Modi said on Wednesday.

“The tournament is still on and we have not reached the final number… Yes, it will be more than a billion dollar (about Rs. 4,700 crore) this season … last season we did USD 450 dollar.

“Thereafter, we would double every year,” Mr. Modi said and asserted that as long as the fans keep coming to IPL, the league’s brand value would increase and hence the revenue.

Revenue for Sony, the official broadcaster, alone would be about Rs. 700 crore to Rs. 800 crore, he said brushing aside the criticism that the advertising rates for the IPL’s third season were very high.

“There may be some advertisers who feel that way but there are lot many others who are willing to join us,” he said pointing out that the huge success of the tournament in terms of TV viewership would certainly entice the advertisers.

“There is no other sporting event across the world generating more eyeballs than the IPL,” he said, adding that the league was virtually in every part of the world through either broadcasters of through the Internet — via YouTube.

Asked about an independent brand consultancy valuing Brand IPL at USD 4.13 billion, more than double from last year, Mr. Modi said that it was not done by the organisation and .

“It is indeed valuation given to us by outsiders.”

Brand Finance, which came out with IPL brand’s latest valuation, said that the brand alone has risen significantly, providing tremendous economic value to its owner — BCCI.

It said this demonstrates the exponential value of IPL and the Brand potential in a cricket loving country like India and other global cricketing countries. Although the English Premier League is valued much higher at USD 12 billion, the IPL’s valuation has risen above USD four billion in just three years, Brand Finance pointed out.

In terms of brand value or valuation there could be bigger sports club in the West but most of those have negative cash flow, Mr. Modi said and pointed out that the English Premier League, though it commands a very high brand value, was facing a USD 800 million deficit.

“Here, we are talking about cash flow and it is growing to grow in future at IPL,” he said, while detailing the dynamics of financing of IPL franchises.

Mr. Modi said that the IPL teams had no load on them and “we are providing infrastructure and stadium free of cost.”

Asked about predictions that IPL could not sustain, Mr. Modi retorted: “Let them (cynics) say anything. I know the numbers. I know the game. I have delivered. We will continue to deliver.”

The success of IPL hinged on the capacity to draw huge crowds, a fact that need not be proven again and again, he said, adding that other factors included that teams were equally placed in terms of finances and capacity to buy the players.

“The level playing field between the teams would make the event more interesting,” he said and added that another factor for the success was that the revenue would be proportionate to the number of matches that are played.

This season there are 60 matches and the number would go to 90 by next year and, therefore, the revenue would increase on a pro-rata basis, he said

IPL Opener gets impressive TAM Ratings

Mumbai : A huge global audience across multiple platforms tuned in to the Season Opener of DLF IPL 2010, with fans around the world displaying their enthusiasm and hunger for the start of this year’s tournament.

Leading the pack in terms of channel views were those that caught all the action at the D. Y. Patil LIVE on the dedicated IPL YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/ipl, which currently has had more than 8 million channel views. Not to mention total upload views in excess of 5.2 million.

The leagues official online destinationwww.iplt20.com too reported over 15 million exclusive page views on the first day breaking all previous records.

The TAM Sports Ratings Report for the season opener of IPL 2010 also highlighted the high viewer interest for the leagueas it kicked off back home in India.

The Opening Match of the DLF IPL 2010, played between last year’s winners the Deccan Chargers and the Shah Rukh Khan-owned Kolkata Knight Riders, garnered strong viewership across all markets in India delivering a TVR of 6.95 vis-�-vis 5.55 for the season opener last year in South Africa.

A fact mirrored in the 19.9 million Indians that were simply glued on to their television sets as IPL 2010 kicked off at Navi Mumbai. On the reach front, Friday’s opener saw 17.6 million for C and S households and 2.3 million from digital homes tune in to the Opening Match.

Importantly, the tournament opener between Deccan Chargers and Kolkata Knight Riders garnered a TVR of 9.30 in Kolkata, the best ever viewer rating so far across all matches and all markets.

Close on its heels were the Deccan Chargers fans in Hyderabad, which saw a TVR of 8.25, fans in Mumbai too followed the season opener with great interest turning in a TVR of 7.38, Bengaluru too saw a TVR of 6.58, while Delhi posted a TVR of 6.02.

Lalit Modi, Chairman and Commissioner, Indian Premier League said, “For the IPL 2010 to garner such an encouraging global response bears testimony to fact that fans in India and around the world were eagerly awaiting the return of IPL back home.

“With more than 5 million fans tuning into the DLF IPL season opener on YouTube, more than 15 million page views on http://www.iplt20.com, a TVR of 6.95 and sources at various mobile operators estimating the SMS traffic during the match to be well over 12 million SMS on their short-codes alone, we are thrilled that fans are taking to the multiple delivery platforms on offer to track their favourite teams in IPL 2010.

“The response has quite frankly been overwhelming to say the least, but I am very happy. This just bears testimony to the fact that the IPL is only set to grow bigger and better from here.”

The IPL’s debut on free-to-air terrestrial television in the UK has also been equally impressive, according to official figures released today. ITV’s digital channel, ITV4 which is telecasting the DLF IPL 2010 has witnessed a record surge in its viewership since it started on Friday.

According to BARB figures, the channel’s peak viewing during the season opener saw as many as 479,000 viewers tune into the broadcast on.

Mobile video service provider Apalya Technologies, which has partnered with Global Cricket Ventures (GVC) and the IPL to exclusively provide live mobile video streaming of IPL matches, reported close to 30,000 mobile subscribers during the opening match through those handsets.

vRock Mobile Communications, which has acquired the sole and exclusive worldwide SMS, MMS and IVR rights to the IPL for activities including score and match-day updates via SMS and MMS, contests, live audio mobile commentary and other regular alerts, reported more than 150,000 SMSs on their short-code, with more than 15000 hits for the contests on IVR, and fans tuning into more than 150,000 minutes of mobile audio commentary in India alone.

IPL cricket: Why is Sachin Tendulkar so harshly judged as captain of Mumbai Indians?

The most revered cricketer in the world is Sachin Tendulkar and if anybody tells you differently, he (or she) should be lowered head first from the top of the Eiffel Tower, have his (or her) ears tweaked, nose tickled with a feather and  knuckles rapped with a sledgehammer.

Usually, there is more tortuous punishment for heresy, but since India was born out of non-violence (never mind Harbhajan Singh planting his palm smack on Sreesanth’s chubby cheek in the first edition of the IPL), the offender could be let off after that and fed a purgative to cleanse his system of such outrageous thoughts.

In India, of course, Tendulkar is not only revered but deified. He is master, lord, master-blaster, god, little master… you can choose the most euphemistic description without fear of reproach or dissent. Everything fits right. Yet, there remains one area where his stupendous record falls short: when it comes to captaincy, god becomes all too mortal and questions are occasionally asked, even if in furtive tones.

It is borne out by Wisden, and from anecdotes real and apocryphal, about how some of the game’s greatest players were somehow never brilliant captains. Hammond, Sobers, Richards, Lara, Botham are a few names that come readily to mind: their captaincy record pales in comparison to their other feats. Is it because they expect every player to perform to the same high degree that comes so easily to them, and are therefore impatient of lesser mortals?

But while I agree that Tendulkar’s record as Test captain falls short of the extraordinary standards he has set otherwise, I think this assessment is also a tad unfair because he is also judged by a different yardstick from other players. For instance, in Saturday’s match between Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals, Shane Warne, considered the Wizard of Oz in matters of tactics and man-management, conceded 212 runs to Mumbai and even lost the match, but came out unscathed as captain; Tendulkar, having won the game, however narrowly, had darts of doubt thrown at him.

Life’s not fair, even for the world’s best, best-known, most loved, richest cricketer. I doubt any captain on Saturday could have done much to thwart Yusuf Pathan’s onslaught at the magnificent Cricket Club of India. When a batsman scores 100 runs off just 37 deliveries, a captain can at best wring his hands in despair and pray.  Tendulkar did more: he ran to his bowlers to guide them, cajoled his fielders to put in more effort — did so much work in fact that he ended up being fined for slowing down the over-rate.

None of this could faze Pathan however. With four wickets down for very little, and chasing a daunting 213, Rajasthan looked down for the count till the tall and strong Pathan opened his powerful, imposing shoulders and started hitting the ball with such frequency and such long distances that it seemed the parameters of a cricket field needed serious and rapid revision.

In the end, Mumbai won by a whisker, a mere four runs, but Pathan it was who won the awe and admiration of everybody, including the mighty Tendulkar. He has come nowhere near a Test match and last year lost his place in the one-day side. His batsmanship still appears one-dimensional. Make that two: slam-bang. But in the Twenty20 firmament, Pathan is the game’s fastest rising superstar.

In 2008, when the IPL began, he came cheap; at a little more than $100,000. Come next year, when all players will be up for sale again, the buzz already is that he will be a Multi-Million Dollar Baby. Want to know more why the IPL holds so much fascination for almost every cricketer in the world?

Ganguly fined USD 20,000 for slow over rate

Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Sourav Ganguly has been fined USD 20,000 by the IPL for maintaining slow over rate during their 11-run triumph over defending champions Deccan Chargers at the D Y Patil Stadium here.

The Knight Riders were adjudged to be three overs behind the required rate during their last night’s IPL opener against Chargers and under the IPL’s Code of Conduct relating to minimum over rate offences, match referee Andy Pycroft fined Ganguly.

The Knight Riders upset the defending champions thanks to a 130-run partnership between Owais Shah and Angelo Matthews which allowed Ganguly’s side to claw their way back onto the game after losing two early wickets.

Chargers skipper Adam Gilchrist’s breezy 35-ball 54 went in vain as Ganguly-led side restricted Deccan to 150 for seven.

IPL T20 Result: KKR did the Magic in the Opening Game, won by 11 runs

KKR Won Opening IPL Match, Beats Deccan Chargers

KKR has won the opening IPL 2010 match against Deccan Chargers. KKR lost the toss but played first as DC selected to field first. KKR made 161 run by playing first. But KKR was able to stop the DC to reach the target of 161 runs. KKR won the game by 11 runs.

Earlier, the much awaited IPL cricket tournament has started today in a grand style at the DIY Patil Stadium of Navi Mumbai. The tournament’s first clash is going on between the defending champions of the second edition of IPL held in South Africa Deccan Chargers Hyderabad and Star Studied Team of Kolkata Night Riders. Today Chargers won the toss and invited Kolkata knight Riders to bat first.Defending champions made a glorious start on the very first ball of the tournament by removing Manoj Tiwari ofKolkata Knight Riders. In the same over Sri lankan veteran Chaminda Vaas gave another big jolt to Kolkata Knight Riders by removing Skipper Sourav Ganguly.

In the first match of IPL 2010 Hyderabad Deccan Chargers seem to hitting bulls eye right from the commencement. After giving two big blows chargers gave two more blows to Kolkata Knight Riders in the last over of the first power play. Till now Kolkata Knight Riders were in a spot of bother by loosing four key wickets just at the score of 31 runs. But after that their batsman Owais Shah and Angelo Mathews showed stubborn Resistance and never say die attitude and took the team to a challenging total of 161 by loosing no more wickets.

By the end of KKR’s Innings Owais Shah remained unbeaten on 58 runs in just 46 balls and his partner also remained not out on 65 in just 45 balls. In this Partnership both of them added 130 runs.

In reply to the challenge of 162 runs set by the Kolkata Knight Riders the defending champions Deccan Chargers Hyderabad made got off to a flying start. Their openers Skipper Adam Gilchrist made 54 runs in 35 balls and VVS Laxman scored 22 runs in 14 balls. Once upon a time they were marching towards a comfortable win but suddenly Kolkata knight Rider’s bowlers have brought this game back in balance by removing Gibbs and symonds in quick session. So far Deccan Chargers Have Made 133 runs at the loss of 5 wickets in 17.1 overs.

IPL 2010 Opening Ceremony Started Live under Tight Security

Amid high security arrangements Indian Premier League (IPL) 20-20 tournament is all set to begin today in Mumbai.

IPL on Youtube

In Indian Premier League 2010 starting today with eight teams are participating in it. Authorities have confirmed the proper arrangements of security.

This forty three days tournament of 60matches will start with the match between last season winner Deccan Chargers and Kolkata Knight Riders.

In only two years of time IPL has gained a magnificent success from its viewers. Dance of cheer leaders, Bollywood music and star presence has increased its viewership remarkably. This has also increased the cost of tickets this time going as up as 50,000 rupees.

Shah Rukh Khan’s KKR has only won nine matches out of twenty eight will begin as under-estimated team.

On the other hand Hyderabad’s Deccan Chargers became the surprise winners of second IPL tournament.

Due to security concerns and controversies regarding Pakistani players the excitement was quite low for this time of IPL’s tournament.

There were speculations of attacks from al-qaeda during the tournament of IPL, commonwealth games and hockey world cup which made the spectators worried about their safety.

This concern has made the authorities more apprehensive for the safety of the players as wellas the spectators.

Lalit Modi,IPL commissioner has said that they have done their best to safeguard the series and assures the smooth sailing of tournament.

IPL and News Channel War Ends – Time to Cash IPL T20

On Friday, the news broadcaster has ended their protest of the third season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) after accepting the deal with the cash-rich Indian League Authorities. Rajdeep Sardesai, editor in chief of IBN network told on his Twitter account “The news broadcasters end boycott of IPL coverage.

IPL 2010

Let the show begin.” Before the IPL schedule the good news came as today the champions of IPL 2009 Deccan Chargers vs. Kolkata Knight Riders in Navi Mumbai on Friday night.
According to latest news by the IPL 2010, “There has to be a minimum of a 10-minute delay from the live telecast by the official broadcaster before telecast of any match footage by a news broadcaster.”

However concerned with the information the “news broadcasters will be allowed to telecast an exceptional event (newsworthy event of an exceptional nature) occurring during the course of a match with a minimum of a five-minute delay from the conclusion of the livetelecast of such exceptional event.” The fifteen point guidelines also involves a clause that the latest news and current affairs broadcasters will be permitted a maximum of 5.5 minutes of live IPL coverage in a single day with every match, “including not more than 4.5 minutes of deferred live coverage of match play and not more than 1.5 minutes of deferred in-stadium entertainment footage”.

Prior the main satisfaction was a diktat from the IPL authorities that the broadcasters which do not have rights now could telecast the live IPL coverage only half an hour after a match. There is also another area of disagreement on the latest and fresh coverage which has now been sort out. The news channels are also allowed to telecast an average of two minutes of coverage per half an hour of broadcasting broadcast “subject to not more than 5.5 minutes of fresh footage per match”.

The deal also tells a maximum of two repeats of coverage primarily telecast by the news broadcaster would be allowed per hour of telecast. With concern to IPL 3 broadcasting by News Channels, Niranjan Shah, the league’s vice chairman told IANS “It’s good that we have come to an understanding withthe news channels.

It’s a nice way to start the tournament. I find the channels are already full of news concerning IPL.” So now watch and enjoy the first match between Kolkata Knight Riders vs. Deccan Chargers of IPL 2010.

Ways to watch IPL Live Cricket Score and Video Streaming on Mobile and Internet (Youtube)

IPL Season 3 is about to begin in few hours and the fever is already started spreading across the TV, Internet and Mobile industry. If you want to keep yourself up to date with latest IPL live score and cricket updates via any form of communication among TV, Internet and Mobile, then here we will tell you the ways to get latest live IPL cricket score and IPL live stream.

Watch IPL Videos in your Mobile

Good news for many of you who want to watch videos and updates of IPL 2010. A mobile internet company, come out with an interesting package to keep the IPL fans up to date with latest IPL buzz.

You can get the access to IPL cricket matches videos now, thanks to July Systems, US based company, which is providing latest IPL updates via its mobile internet service named MIX.

To get the access the IPL updates, you have to call 08-123-123-123 using an internet-enabled cell phone and you will get the immediate information via SMS that how you can proceed and activate your service. You can have the live video scoreboard, ball-by-ball video replay of the games; magic scenes like 6s, 4s & wickets, interesting videos are the features of MIX.

IPL on Youtube

Watch IPL Live on Internet
If you are in internet user and outside home then may be you don’t have access to TV channel and you may be want to watch IPL matches on Internet. IPL officials have already found the solutions for such users and they have done a contract with Youtube to show the IPL live streaming of each match. To get the Youtube live video and IPL Live Score using internet click on the link below.

Click here to Watch IPL Live on Youtube

DLN also have a cricket score widget to check the latest live cricket score on internet. If you are a website owner or a Blogger then you can embed the following widget in your website or Blog by clicking on the get widget button below. This is a very good way to keep your readers informed about latest IPLlive score.

ICC rejects PCB’s appeal against IPL’s snubbing of Pak cricketers

Dubai, Mar.12 (ANI): The International Cricket Council (ICC) has reportedly rejected the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) application against the Indian Premier League (IPL) for snubbing Pakistani cricketers, saying it can not take action against any domestic association.

According to well-placed sources in the PCB, Haroon Lorgat, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the ICC has replied to PCB’s letter clarifying that the governing body cannot interfere in the issue.

“The ICC told the PCB that since the IPL was primarily a domestic tournament of the Indian cricket board, it couldn’t do anything,” The News quoted sources, as saying.

“The ICC also took the same stance as the IPL that the franchises which bid for the players were also private enterprises and the ICC had no control over them,” they added.

Eleven Pakistani players, including the cream of the Shahid Afridi-led reigning Twenty20 World Cup squad were in the IPL auction 3 fray, but none of the eight IPL franchisees took interest in them, fearing the chill in Indo-Pak relation might worsen, resulting in non-participation of these players. The uncertainty over their availability cost Pakistani players lucrative IPL contracts. (ANI)

‘Withdrawals unlikely after IPL’s new security promises’

It warned of mass withdrawals from the Indian Premier League but the Federation of International Cricketers Association now says such a scenario is unlikely to arise as IPL organisers have given fresh commitments on the security of players. After the al-Qaeda threat against the event was deemed “not credible” by various security experts, FICA chief Tim May said IPL’s new promises would “certainly improve confidence in security”.

“This is a significant step forward. The more information you provide the players with, the greater the likelihood that they will attend the event,” May said.

After refusing to deal with players’ bodies all along, IPL commissioner Lalit Modi said he was ecstatic that “everybody is on the same page about the security arrangements”.

“This is very good news for us – I don’t think there will be any withdrawals at all. Already a lot of the players are on planes on their way to India and will arrive in the next few days,” he said.

Modi, who had earlier claimed that heavens won’t fall if foreign players refuse to come for the IPL, said security was paramount.

“Security is very important to us. We have not had to change our plans, I think it is more a case of the players now understanding them. I think they are more comfortable with the plans being implemented,” he said.

Meanwhile, May said after struggling to get information of security plans from the IPL in the past few weeks, some details are finally trickling in. “We have a significant amount of information we did not 0have previously, which will assist players making far more informed decisions about whether to go or not,” he said.

IPL security plans sufficient on papers: Expert

Security expert Reg Dickason’s report on the threat to the IPL says that while the security plans are sufficient on paper, the Indian state governments are yet to commit to providing the required police numbers which is the primary concern for the Australian players participating in the tournament.

A meeting of players, managers and the Australian Cricketers’ Association in Sydney resolved to take their concerns to IPL commissioner Lalit Modi even though Dickason’s independent assessment concluded that safety at the Twenty20 tournament could not be guaranteed.

Nine states — Maharashtra, Orissa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, West Bengal, Punjab and Rajasthan, as well as the national capital region of Delhi, are scheduled to host 60 games in 12 cities over 45 days from March 12, The Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Dickason would not comment on the specifics of his report last night.

“I’ve submitted the report and now it’s up to the players’ associations to decide what they want to do based on the available facts,” Dickason said.

“It’s up to the players to decide whether or not they go. From our end, there’s no agenda, no motives and no self-interest. Our brief was to provide a security assessment based on all the facts at hand,” he said.

ACA chief executive Paul Marsh, who chaired yesterday’s meeting of players and managers, said the worldwide union FICA would approach the IPL about the concerns raised in the Dickason report and await a response.

Modi last night defended the IPL security arrangements. “I spoke to a couple of the [Australian] boys yesterday about it. I think they will all take part. The tournament will go on,” he said.

Centre: IPL faces no threat in Hyderabad

New Delhi : Dismissing reports of terror threats in Hyderabad, the Union home secretary, Mr G.K. Pillai, declared in an exclusive interview to this newspaper on Friday that it was “safe” to hold IPL matches in the Andhra region.

He added that if needed, the Centre was prepared to provide adequate security for the matches if these were held in Hyderabad. Mr Pillai, speaking openly for the first time on the issue said, “It was not a correct decision to cancel IPL matches in Hyderabad. There was no terrorist threat, but just the Telangana issue.”

The home secretary pointed out that the Joint Action Committee (JAC) which was spearheading the Telangana agitation had “given a categorical assurance that they would not disrupt the event.”

It may be recalled that the IPL organisers had shifted the matches due to the continuing T-agitation. The intelligence and security agencies had also been talking of terror modules active in the southern states. On how safe Hyderabad was as a venue for the matches, the home secretary said, “If the IPL is in Hyderabad, it will be safe. We will provide the security.”

Seven IPL-3 matches had earlier been scheduled to be played in the city. The IPL board’s decision to not allow matches to be held in either Hyderabad or Visakhapatnam, home base of the Deccan Chargers, led to outrage across Andhra Pradesh.

A series of protest letters had been sent to the IPL authorities, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) as well as to former BCCI chief and International Cricket Council (ICC) president-elect, Mr Sharad Pawar, on the matter. Mr Pillai said that the IPL board’s decision to pull the matches out of Hyderabad was “hasty.”

On security for other major sporting events in India, including the proposed Hockey World Cup, Mr Pillai said, “All other events are as per schedule.”

The home secretary was, however, evasive when asked about the Centre’s move to initiate the process for a separate state of Telangana

British football club keen to buy IPL team

A Premier League football club of Britain has shown interest in buying one of the two Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket franchises to be sold at a base price of $225 million, a media report said.

IPL commissioner Lalit Modi said that a Premier League club had expressed an interest in buying one of the two franchises to be sold over the coming weeks.

“There is a very famous football club in the UK very interested in bidding,” The Telegraph quoted Modi as saying.

“(They are) probably one of the most famous football clubs — probably top three. They are interested in taking a stake.”

A spokesman for Manchester United rejected any interest, while Modi denied Chelsea were keen.

The media report said that with Liverpool and Arsenal’s long-term ownership uncertain, Manchester City would be favourites to make a move. Their Gulf-based owners have the financial strength, but a club official Monday night rejected suggestions Modi was referring to them.

The Abu Dhabi Cricket Association had recently signed a partnership deal with the MCC, who have also been approached about fronting a bid for an IPL franchise.

Mumbai theatres under security blanket

Heavy security arrangements have been made at city cinema theatres ahead of Friday’s release of Shah Rukh Khan starrer My Name Is Khan which is facing the Shiv Sena’s ire.

Over 1,600 Sena activists, including functionaries, have been arrested in the last two days to thwart protests by the Sena, who has been demanding that Mr. Khan apologise for his remarks favouring Pakistani players in IPL-3.

“Elaborate security measures have been adopted to ensure no untoward incident happens (before and after the release of the movie). Nobody would be spared for taking law into their hands,” said Maharashtra Home Minister R.R. Patil.

The theatre owners have been asked to install night vision cameras that would enable police to identify troublemakers in case of any untoward incident. They have also been advised to keep the first three rows vacant and deploy at least two security guards inside the hall so that incidents such as ripping off screens with sharp instruments by troublemakers can be averted.

Notices warning Sena party leaders not to create law and order problems have been issued by the police. Police Commissioner D. Sivanandan has issued guidelines to all the police stations regarding security arrangements.

Constables stationed at halls have been told to frisk ticket-holders and check their bags. However, it is not must for cine-goers to show identity cards.

Each single-screen cinema hall will be manned by a sub-inspector, three constables, two of them women, and five plainclothes policemen. In the wake of the Sena intensifying protests, leaves of the policemen have been cancelled to ensure their full presence.

To further strengthen the security, personnel from State Reserve Police Force and Home Guards will be deployed at the theatres across the metropolis.

Meanwhile, Mr. Khan, along with co-actor Kajol and the film’s director Karan Johar, left for Abu Dhabi on Wednesday to attend a special premiere of the movie.

On Tuesday, Mr. Johar, who is also co-producer of the film, met Mr. Sivanandhan to discuss security issues ahead of the movie’s release.

Police assure security for ‘My Name is Khan’

Filmmaker Karan Johar has been assured by Mumbai Police Commissioner D. Sivanandan that his upcoming film ‘My Name is Khan’ will have “full protection” ahead of its release on February 12.

The Shah Rukh Khan starrer faces threat from Shiv Sena after the party took objection to actor’s comments supporting the inclusion of Pakistani players in IPL.

“We came here with the exhibitors to get a personal assurance from the police. Everything is on board and we will be releasing the film on February 12. Advances opened yesterday and continue to open today,” the 37-year-old filmmaker told reporters after a meeting with Mr. Sivanandan.

Johar met the police chief along with film’s distributor, FOX Searchlight and multiplex owners.

“We have an assurance from Sivanandan saheb that we will have full protection at all places and locations. There is no issue and it’s all fine. Advances open, our film is releasing, it’s all good,” he added.

Johar, who has co-produced the film with Khan, refused to comment when asked whether he had a meeting with Sena supremo Bal Thackeray.

“We would just like to talk about the release of the film,” Johar said.

IPL-2010 to hit theatres across the country

The third edition of the Indian Premier League is all set to make its debut in theatres in around 1000 screens across the country, where the matches will be telecast live.

UFO Moviez, a digital satellite cinema network, has entered into a strategic alliance with multiplex chains like Cinemax, INOX, Fame and many single screen theatres across the country to show the Twenty20 matches.

In collaboration with Crown Infotainment, which holds the distribution rights for introducing IPL-III matches to theatres, UFO has signed over 550 screens so far, out of which about 200 are multiplexes.

“IPL is one of the most popular events in the world, but only few people can be a part of it as it is hosted in only nine cities in India. So our aim is to take it to a wide range of audience, giving them a stadium-like experience,” Kapil Aggarwal, Joint managing Director, UFO Moviez India Ltd said.

“To provide the audience a carnival like experience, each of these theatres will have gifts, multi-cuisine food stalls, cricket-related merchandise etc.

“The matches will be screened in high definition format, which will provide 33 per cent extra than what is screened on television and without any commercial breaks,” he added.

“During the IPL, the theatres incurs loses as no movie is released at that time. So this will serve a profitable revenue generating content for the exhibitors too.”

SRK should go to Karachi to play with Pak players: Sena

Shiv Sena on Friday attacked Shah Rukh Khan for lamenting exclusion of Pakistani players from IPL and dared him to take the players in his team Kolkata Knight Riders.

“If Shah Rukh wants Pakistani players to play here, he should go to Karachi and Islamabad to play with them…If he includes Pakistani players in his team, he should be aware of the consequences,” Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut told reporters here.

Reacting to the non-selection of Pakistani players in the IPL auction, Bollywood star and co-owner of Kolkata Knight Riders Shah Rukh Khan had recently said that they (Pakistani players) should have been welcomed.

“I truly believe they (Pakistan players) should have been chosen,” Khan had said.

“We would have loved to have Pakistani players if they were made available legally,” he had said.

Meanwhile, protesting the actor’s comment, Sena activists tore posters of SRK’s upcoming movie ‘My Name Is Khan’ at Eternity Mall premises in neighbouring Thane. The activists handed over a letter to the owner of the mall asking to stop release of the movie.

BCCI getting bigger than Manchester United in sponsorship?

BCCI (Board of control for cricket in India) is undoubtedly the richest Cricket Control board in the world. The earnings have multiplied many times, thanks to the money spinning brain child of Mr.Lalit Modi – Indian Premier League (IPL) .

The structure of the IPL was much on the lines of how the football clubs leagues work eg : English Premier League (EPL). The initiative invited lot of doubts initially with people unsure if the Indian Cricket Audience is ready for a state wise loyalty but IPL came through and we all know what a grand success story it is.

Cashing on the ever increasing popularity of IPL and its increasing brand value, BCCI has decided to up the stakes for sponsors vying for an opportunity to get associated with Team India.

The fresh bids for jersey sponsorship might see BCCI overtake one of the biggest football clubs in the world-Manchester United.

RedDevils’s current t-shirt sponsorship deal is approximately Rs. 650 crores for 4 years whereas BCCI is expecting around Rs.800 crore in sponsorship money for a 4 year deal. (Source: Espn)

BCCI is asking for a minimum reserve price of Rs 3 crore for each Test, ODI or Twenty20 game. Interesting to note here is that BCCI is asking the same price for Twenty 20 even though this format of the game has the least duration.

But, with the increasing popularity of the version, the sponsors might as well get the best bang out of their buck even if the eyeball attraction time is comparatively smaller.

The current sponsor SAHARA is paying around 2 crore each for an ODI and a Test match and Rs 1.5 crore for a T20 game. With the fresh bids rolling out, SAHARA might have to reconsider their sponsorship or be ready to dole out truck loads of cash.

BCCI has pulled out a rabbit from the hat with IPL as far as the revenues are concerned. Moreover, along with increasing revenues the brand value of Team India (BCCI) has zoomed too.

The stakes have been raised many folds but will the ROI (Return on Interest) also increase correspondingly for the sponsors. The sponsors will be betting on attracting maximum eyeballs wherever Indian team is playing.

But, shouldn’t the team performance act as an influencing factor too. If the team performance does not match the expectations of the audience, will enough people be watching the Sponsor’s logo on the player’s jerseys.

I have my doubts but then given the buzz surrounding the IPL and Indian team’s decent performance, the bidding process might attract enough players trying to outbid each other.

Do you think the BCCI will have enough bidders for the new deal or the asking price is too high this time around?

IPL 3 Schedule unveiled, to begin in Hyderabad on March 12, 2010

Mumbai: The complete schedule of IPL Season 3, was unveiled by IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi in Mumbai on Monday. The first match of IPL 3 will be played between the Deccan Chargers and Kolkata Knight Riders in Hyderabad on March 12, 2010. There will be 60 matches in total. The final will be held on April 25, 2010. There will be a play-off for the third and fourth position this time.

The IPL 3 will see a few new venues such as Nagpur, Visakhapatnam, Dharamsala and Ahmedabad. While there will be 8 teams in the IPL 3, two more teams will be added in the IPL 4 in 2011. During the IPL 3, the former ICL players may also get a chance to play for the franchise teams with some fresh guidelines.

There will be certain changes during the IPL 3. They are:

1) The fielding captain will have the option to take a two and half minute strategic time out between the 6th and 10th overs and the batsman will have the option to take a two and half minute strategic time out between the 11th and 16th overs.

2) IPL will use the services of ICC’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit.
3) Transfer window will open on December 15, 2009 and end on January 5, 2010.
4) A US$7 million cap will be maintained at the auction.
5) All players to obtain NOC from their respective countries every year.
6) Icon player status to be abolished.

IPL 3 Schedule & Fixture:

March 12 – DC vs KKR – Hyderabad
March 13 – MI vs RR – Mumbai/Nagpur
March 13 – KXIP vs DD – Mohali
March 14 – CSK vs DC – Chennai
March 14 – KKR vs RCB – Kolkata
March 15 – RR vs DD – Jaipur
March 16 – RCB vs KXIP – Bangalore
March 16 – KKR vs CSK – Kolkta
March 17 – DD vs MI – Delhi
March 18 – RCB vs RR – Bangalore
March 19 – DC vs KXIP – Vizag
March 20 – RR vs KKR – Ahmedabad
March 20 – MI vs RCB – Mumbai/Nagpur
March 21 – MI vs RCB – Chennai
March 21 – DD vs DC – Delhi
March 22 – MI vs KKR – Mumbai/Nagpur
March 23 – RCB vs CSK – Bangalore
March 24 – KXIP vs RR – Mohali
March 25 – KKR vs DD – Kolkta
March 26 – CSK vs MI – Chennai
March 26 – RR vs DC – Ahmedabad
March 27 – RCB vs DD – Bangalore
March 27 – KXIP vs KKR – Mohali
March 28 – RR vs CSK – Ahmedabad
March 28 – DC vs MI – Vizag
March 29 – DD vs KKR – Delhi
March 30 – MI vs KXIP – Mumbai/Nagpur
March 31 – CSK vs RCB – Chennai
March 31 – DD vs RR – Delhi
April 1 – KKR vs DC – Kolkata
April 2 – KXIP vs RCB – Mohali
April 3 – CSK vs RR – Chennai
April 3 – MI vs DC – Mumbai/Nagpur
April 4 – DD vs RCB – Delhi
April 4 – KKR vs KXIP – Kolkata
April 5 – DC vs RR – Hyderabad
April 6 – MI vs CSK – Mumbai/Nagpur
April 7 – RR vs KXIP – Ahmedabad
April 8 – RCB vs DC – Bangalore
April 8 – CSK vs DD – Chennai
April 9 – KXIP vs MI – Mohali
April 10 – RCB vs KKR – Bangalore
April 10 – DC vs CSK – Hyderabad
April 11 – RR vs MI – Jaipur
April 11 – DD vs KXIP – Delhi
April 12 – DC vs RCB – Hyderabad
April 13 – CSK vs KKR – Chennai
April 14 – MI vs DD – Mumbai/Nagpur
April 15 – RR vs RCB – Jaipur
April 15 – KXIP vs DC – Dharmsala
April 16 – DD vs CSK – Delhi
April 17 – RCB vs MI – Bangalore
April 17 – KKR vs RR – Kolkata
April 18 – DC vs DD – Hyderabad
April 18 – KXIP vs CSK – Dharamsala
April 19 – KKR vs MI – Kolkata
April 21 – 1st Semifinal
April 22 – 2nd Semifinal
April 24 – 3rd Place play-off
April 25 – FINAL

Salman Khan says he is serious about IPL

Mumbai: While the speculations about Salman Khan’s entry into the Indian Premier League (IPL) business, is on an all-time high, the actor himself said that he is seriously planning about it, but has not taken a final decision yet. Salman admitted that he never played cricket, but said he would become a good team owner, if he buys an IPL team.

After holding talks with IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi, Salman Khan has showed interest to buy an IPL team during the IPL 4 in 2011. However, his brother Sohail Khan had refuted the claims, saying Salman did not have any such plans. Two new teams will be added to the IPL 4 in 2011.

Currently, three Bollywood celebrities are associated with the IPL. While Shah Rukh Khan owns the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Preity Zinta owns the Kings XI Punjab (KXIP). Shilpa Shetty owns a stake in Rajasthan Royals team.