Advertisers bet big on IPL 4

MUMBAI: Despite numerous uncertainties surrounding the format of the Indian Premier League, advertiser interest seems to be intact in the Twenty 20 format. Multi Screen Media (MSM), the broadcast rights holder of the IPL which has been in the eye of a storm lately, says it has managed to close 9 sponsorship deals in 40 days for the fourth edition of the event scheduled to start from April 8 next year.

The broadcaster expects a 20% increase in advertising revenues in 2011 compared to the third edition. MSM had raked in around Rs 800 core from IPL 3.

World Cup advertisers paying less

Telecom service provider Vodafone and diversified group Videocon have signed on as presenting sponsors while Samsung Mobile , LG, Hyundai, PepsiCo, Tata Photon, Havells and Cadbury India have got on board as associate sponsors. MSM has sold around 50% of its inventory as bulk deals for Rs 5 lakh per 10 secs while the rest will be sold as spot buys at a slight premium.

On the other hand, ESPN Star Sports, which holds the rights for the World Cup, has signed on brands such as Nokia , Maruti and PepsiCo at a much lower cost of Rs 3.5 lakh per ten seconds, say media buyers. But that this could change as the World Cup on the subcontinent draws closer.

With only a week between IPL 4 and the World Cup, the saving grace for advertisers is that the two events fall in separate fiscals. But they are still up against each other for the marketing dollars. "There are large outlays involved in such big cricketing properties and what IPL offers is a risk-free option unlike the World Cup," Rohit Gupta, president, MSM said. IPL 3 had grossed an average rating of 4.6, clocking 143 million viewers. The risk in case of the World Cup would arise if India were to exit early.

Some traditional advertisers associated with cricket feel that the cost-efficiency is better with the Twenty20 format although they have not completely ruled out being on the World Cup yet.

Read more: Advertisers bet big on IPL 4 - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Advertisers-bet-big-on-IPL-4/articleshow/6944895.cms#ixzz15bckXfnM

Zaheer is the source of my inspiration, says Unadkat

NEW DELHI: He is the newest among the breed of left-arm quicks that India have produced in recent years and no wonder Jaidev Unadkat idolises India's pace spearhead Zaheer Khan, whom he has replaced in the squad for the third Test against New Zealand, starting from Saturday.

If that's not all, he wants to bat like Harbhajan Singh, who has surprised one and all with his back-to-back centuries.

"Zaheer is my idol as I have learnt a lot by just watching him bowl. It is indeed a privilege for me that I got a chance to be in Test team. If I get a chance to play, I will try to prove my mettle," the 19-year-old Saurashtra speedster said.

Unadkat had replaced injured Ishant Sharma during second Test against Australia in Banglore last month but wasn't a part of the playing XI.

The lanky pacer rose to fame through his impressive performance in the previous edition of the Indian Premier League season and then for India A in their tour of UK. Incidentally, Unadkat got a match-haul of 13 wickets against West Indies A side during his debut first-class game in Leicester.

Playing for Kolkata Knight Riders he won the man-of-the-match award for his three-wicket haul against Shane Warne-led-Rajasthan Royals at Eden Garden. He has been praised by none other than the legendary Wasim Akram.

Unadkat also owes his success to KKR captain Sourav Ganguly and bowling coach Akram.

"Dada (Ganguly) taught me to be mentally tough. He gave me lot of tips about handling the pressure. Wasim bhai (Akram) also worked a lot on my bowling. I will be thankful to both of them for helping me become a better bowler," he said.

He said that he is here because of his performances at the first-class level and wants to continue that.

"I don't believe in comparisons. There is a healthy competition among the Indian bowlers which is good for Indian Cricket. I am here because of what I have done in the past. I would work hard to maintain that consistency," he said.

Unadkat also revealed that Harbhajan Singh inspired him to concentrate on batting as well.

"I have never worked on my batting earlier. But now I will consider that. I want be an all-rounder like Harbhajan. I will take tips from him for sure," he said.

He is also excited to be a part of Indian dressing room with legendary Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid.

"Just like millions of cricket lovers, I have also grown up watching them (Tendulkar, Dravid) on television. It is dream come true for me to share the dressing room with them," he concluded.


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IPL 4 starts six days after World Cup final

MUMBAI: The fourth edition of the Indian Premier League will begin from April 8 next year, six days after the conclusion of the 2011 Cricket World Cup, with the high profile players' auction to be held on January 8 and 9.

Like the first three editions, there will be eight teams participating in the Twenty20 event, with 60 matches to be played with the title clash to be held on May 22.

"The IPL GC met today to discuss matters related to next IPL. It was decided that the players auction will take place on January 8 and 9, 2011 in Mumbai. The IPL season will start on April 8 and end on May 22 but the opening ceremony will be held on April 7," BCCI secretary N Srinivasan said in a statement.

The dates were fixed at a meeting of the reconstituted five-member IPL Governing Council, headed by Chirayu Amin.

Even though the statement did not mention anything about troubled IPL franchisees -- Kochi and Rajasthan Royals-- it said that only eight teams will participate in the Twenty20 league next year.

"There will be a total of 60 matches, played by eight teams. The hosting venue arrangements were finalised and approved at the meeting," Srinivasan said in the release.

The committee also announced a new format to decide the finalists of the IPL on the basis of play-offs.

The play-offs will be played based on league standings with the Team 1 meeting Team 2 and Team 3 meeting Team 4 in the semifinals.

The winner of play-off 1 will automatically qualify for the grand finale.

However, the losers of play-off 1 will get a second chance as they will take on the victorious team of play-off 2 in a preliminary final, winner of which will progress to the grand finale.

BCCI vice-president and IPL Governing member Rajiv Shukla said the issue of Kochi IPL franchisee was not discussed during the meeting at all.

"Basically, today's meeting was about preparations for IPL 4. Because now the preparations for IPL 4 has started in full strength. We have to make IPL 4 a full success," Shukla told reporters after the meeting.

"The issue of the Kochi was not discussed at all during today's meeting. Because they have been given a notice of one month which expires on November 27. The issue was not in the agenda at all. A decision on the issue will be taken only after that," he said.

Kochi were given a 30-day notice by the BCCI last month to sort out their internal differences.

Speculation is, however, rife that the group of investors in the franchisee is not interested in running the franchisee and will soon ask permission of the Cricket Board to withdraw from it.

On retention of players in the IPL teams, Shukla said that it would stay the same as decided by the technical committee of Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri and Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi earlier this year.

"The same players' rules as decided by the technical committee will be implemented," he said.

A maximum of four players from each team, including a maximum of three Indian players, have been allowed to be retained by the franchisees, with $1.8 million to be deducted from their kitty for the first players and so on.

As per an earlier decision taken by the BCCI, the retention of players would result in reduced amount available with each franchise with amounts of $1.8 million per annum for the first player so retained, $1.3m, $0.9m and $0.5m for the other three players reduced from its kitty.

This is irrespective of the actual player fee paid to each of these players. If a franchise retains four players, its salary cap will be charged by $4.5 million in each of 2011 and 2012 seasons and it will have only $4.5m remaining to pay as player fees for the remainder of its registered squad.

The IPL has added a rider to player retention saying the franchisee and the player must mutually agree to it as well as the player fee to be paid for 2011 and 2012 seasons.

The two new franchisees -- Kochi and Sahara Pune -- who did not participate in the 2010 season were allowed to sign upto four players from the list of players who were not a part of the squad of any of the teams in the past three IPL editions.

TOI

Indian rowers script history, win two silver medals for first time in 12 years Read more: Indian rowers script history, win two silver medals for fir

NEW DELHI: Indian rowers scripted history after settling for two sliver medals for the first time in 12 years in the men's four and men's lightweight four events respectively on the sixth day of the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.

India's Anil Kumar, Saji Thomas, Ranjit Singh and Jenil Krishnan claimed the silver medal in the men's four event. China won the gold while Uzbekistan took the bronze.

In the lightweight men's four, Lokesh Kumar, Manjeet Singh, Rajesh Kumar Yadav and Satish Joshi finished second to win silver. Japan took the gold while Hong Kong settled for bronze.

Earlier in the day, India's Sania Mirza brushed aside Hong Kong's Chan Wing Yau in under an hour, showing no signs of the illness which forced her out of the women's team tournament, as she eased through her Asiad opener on Thursday.

Mirza, whose world ranking has slumped to 166 after a series of injuries, won 6-1, 6-0 and now tackles either Chinese sixth seed Zhang Shuai or Malika Rana of Nepal for a place in the quarterfinals.

With the addition of two silver medals, India's medal tally rose to one gold, seven silver and seven bronze but the collection could have been far better had the shooters lived upto their reputation on Wednesday.

Unheralded Sandhyarani Devi proved to be the saving grace for India by bagging a silver medal in wushu on Wednesday. The Manipuri lost 0-2 to Iran's Khadijeh Azadpour in the 60 kg final to fetch the second medal from the event.

Read more: Indian rowers script history, win two silver medals for first time in 12 years - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/16th-asian-games-2010/india-news/Indian-rowers-script-history-win-two-silver-medals-for-first-time-in-12-years/articleshow/6945510.cms#ixzz15bapdkmF