SPN scores media rights for ISPL inaugural season

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MUMBAI: The Indian Street Premier League (ISPL), India’s pioneering tennis ball T10 cricket tournament to be played inside a stadium, announced Tuesday 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 cricketing action for audiences nationwide. On television, matches will be telecast 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 from 5 pm to 10 pm in Mumbai. The inaugural edition will see a roster of matches with live performances from artists, laser shows, drone displays together with DJ Chetas' beats every day of the league.

ISPL will be featuring six teams – Hyderabad, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, and Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir). The league has the stated aim of providing a platform for undiscovered talents to display their skills and potentially carve a path to playing cricket professionally.

The league is supported by legends of the game and inspirational film stars. Some of the key names include: Sachin Tendulkar, Ravi Shastri, Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, Hrithik Roshan, Ram Charan, Suriya and Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan. 

Suraj Samat, commissioner, ISPL, noted: "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."