Telugu commentary to make debut

IPL Fan Parks in Warangal, Guntur

Hyderabad: Here is some good news for cricket buffs from Telangana State and Andhra Pradesh. Die-hard Telugu fans can now watch Indian Premier League (IPL) matches live in Warangal and Guntur towns with an added incentive. There will be Telugu commentary to provide the native touch. In a first-of-its-kind innovation, Multi-Screen Media (MSM), the broadcasters of Sony SIX and Sony KIX, will organise ‘IPL Fans Park’ in both places for the benefit of local cricket fans on all the weekends that feature matches of the eighth edition of IPL.

Apart from these two towns, the park-provision is being extended in 13 other towns across the country, Prasana Krishna, Business Head, Sony SIX & Sony KIX, told media here on Monday. He said that a stadium will be created in select towns with big screen and broadcast live cricket match giving the viewers a stadium-like-feel. It will have a capacity for about 10,000 ‘spectators’. Besides, MSM is all set to launch the new sport channel, the second foray in sports area, christened ‘Sony KIX’, on April 8, the day IPL season starts.

“We have identified the five-member panel of commentators – former Test player, Y Venugopal Rao, S L Venkatpathi Raju, MSK Prasad, Sudheer Mahavadi and C H Venkatesh,” Krishna said. Explaining about the idea behind a regional language sports channel, Krishna said that the cricket viewership was increasing and there has been a sizeable demand for Telugu commentary, which was the reason they were spreading wings into newer vistas. Apart from English, Hindi and Telugu, IPL commentary will be in Tamil and Bengali, he added.

On the IPL revenue, the company is looking at 15 per cent increase over last season, which was Rs 950 crore. “As the advertisement rates have swelled by 15 per cent, the revenue will increase proportionately. Most of the inventory is sold out” he said. As things stand, sponsors and advertisers have to pay on average Rs 5.2-5.75 lakh for a 10-second spot. The newcomers this year include Raymonds, Hero, Vimal Pan Masala and Intex, while Vodafone and Amazon continue as co-presenters for the tournament.