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Sports business news featuring Dream 11, Ravi Sashtri, Rangers X Star Sports, Premier League suing PP Sports and other news

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Fantasy Cricket Operators and IPL Sponsors Dream11 Hit By Andhra Ordinance On Online Gaming

The Andhra Pradesh government on September 25 has banned all online gaming activity that involves real money gaming. Andhra Pradesh joins Telangana in banning online gaming activities where consumers spend large sums of money without actually being able to control the outcome of the result.

It is reported that the Andhra Pradesh-Telangana belt has a high density of gamblers and people who love to wage monetary bets on card games like rummy, poker and similar activities. The argument set out by the state governments is that Fantasy cricket, is of similar nature. Both rummy and fantasy sports, according to an archaic India law, have a “preponderance of skill.”

Rangers agree landmark deal as they sell SPFL’s Indian rights to Star Sports

Glasgow Rangers have agreed a landmark Indian broadcast partnership with Star Sports after acquiring the regional rights to Scottish soccer’s top flight for the 2020/21 season.

Essentially acting as the Scottish Professional Football League’s (SPFL) sales agent in India, the Premiership giants agreed a deal with the Disney-owned pay-TV network that includes the club’s live matches, as well as ‘unique access’ and behind-the-scenes content. Alongside the Rangers matches, Star Sports will broadcast more than 15 other Premiership fixtures over the course of the season.

In addition to the Premiership coverage, the deal also includes exclusive rights to Rangers’ friendly with Bengaluru FC at Ibrox next summer.

Should bleeding start-up’s sponsor the IPL?

This year’s IPL is unusual because four of the six major sponsors are startups. Gaming unicorn Dream11 swooped in on the title sponsorship for a bargain ₹222 crore—half of what Vivo paid in 2019—after the Chinese smartphone maker suspended its five-year deal which was to end in 2022 due to the border tensions between India and China in August. Edtech unicorn Unacademy and credit card payments company Cred signed up as “official partners”, shelling out ₹130 crore each for a three-year association. Paytm is the fourth major sponsor from the digital world. Does it make economic sense for a bleeding business to do so?

Global IPL styled Rugby League with an agenda to popularise the game in the USA and to reach out to young audiences to kick off in Bermuda

Eight privately owned franchise teams will take part in an IPL styled Rugby event called World Tens Series, a new version of ten-a-side rugby that has plans to expand to 16 teams across twelve locations in 2021 following completion of the inaugural three-week series in Bermuda in November. World Tens Series management have reportedly worked closely with the Bermuda Government to follow the stringent protocols regarding Covid-19, with teams staying in their own resort where they will be in their own bubble throughout their time on the island.

Five of the eight teams confirmed, include Ohio Aviators (Columbus), Asia Pacific Dragons (Singapore), SX10 (Cape Town) London Royals and Miami Sun.

Indian Cricket team coach enters the licensing space, launches a male grooming and hygiene brand aptly called 23 Yards  

Former cricketer and Indian cricket team coach Ravi Shastri is turning entrepreneur with the launch of a male grooming and hygiene products line 23 Yards. Shastri has partnered with personal care manufacturer Ador Multiproducts Ltd, which will help create grooming products, including beard oils, face wash, body wash, aftershave, deodorant and hand sanitizer for a target group of 25 to 40 years. Ravi Shastri will own 49% in the venture, while the Ador Group will hold the remainder.

With this, 23 Yards enters India’s competitive yet growing male grooming market projected to touch $5.5 billion by 2021.

According to reports Premier League suing PP Sports for media rights contract default in China

The English Premier League is suing its former Chinese media-rights partner PP Sports for $215.3 million for not paying the full cost of the previous broadcast. As early as September 3rd, the Premier League and PP Sports, the Chinese broadcaster, respectively announced the termination of their partnership. PPLive Sports International Ltd is a subsidiary of Suning. They are accused of skipping a $210.3 million payment for live matches and another $5 million for highlight packages and interest, according to a report by Bloomberg.


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Nilesh Deshmukh
I am passionate about sports and passionate about marketing. As a sports marketer, I have built significant expertise in successfully delivering medium to long term digital marketing strategy for global sports entities and brands like Arsenal FC, Manchester United FC, Chelsea FC, Major League Baseball, Formula E, and AELTC, etc to engage with their fans in India. I am currently based in London and lead India business at Engage Digital Partners.