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Tag: Ramesh Kumar

  • Latest step in the collaboration between Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) and ESPN across both TV and digital

    ESPN unveils local multi-sport digital products for India

    By A Correspondent

     

    In line with its long-term collaboration with Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN), ESPN has introduced an exciting new mobile-first multi-sport digital offering in India with the launch of the ESPN.in website and the ESPN app.

     

    With an emerging multi-sport landscape in India, the new site and app will further reinforce ESPN’s market leadership, authority and expertise in digital media, bringing an elegant, lively and more personal sports experience to Indian and subcontinent fans across mobiles, tablets and computers. ESPN.in site and app will also be carrying rights video content for sporting events from SONY LIV, SPN’s digital streaming platform, and SPN’s new SONY ESPN sports channels. India is the first market outside the United States to see the launch of a localized edition of ESPN’s signature app.

     

    From mainstream sports in India and the subcontinent, to the best of ESPN’s comprehensive coverage of global sports that interest South Asian fans, ESPN.in and the ESPN app will bring fans closer to the games, leagues and athletes they love via world-class digital products.

     

    Both the site and app will offer the best cricket coverage (powered by ESPNcricinfo), but also give fans a one-stop destination for world-class news, features and videos across sports currently underserved by any digital offering in the region, such as football, hockey, badminton, tennis, Formula 1, kabaddi and more.

     

    The new ESPN.in and ESPN app brings Indian and subcontinent fans a clean, dynamic presentation for ESPN’s content and storytelling, including scores, news, video, features, stats and more. Additionally, they will feature LIVE streaming video content of select sporting events in collaboration with SONY LIV.

     

    Ramesh Kumar, Vice President, Head of ESPN India and South Asia said: “ESPN has a strong connection with fans in India and around the world because we are fans ourselves, driven by a similar obsession for sports. The launch of our multi-sport products showcases our digital leadership and offers sports fans outstanding news, features and video experiences around top sports of interest to Indian fans. They also provide the perfect complement to our television collaboration with Sony Pictures Networks India as well as reinforce ESPN’s signature ‘Game around the Game’ analysis across platforms.”

     

    Uday Sodhi, Executive Vice President & Head, Digital Business, Sony Pictures Networks India said: “Sony LIV has been instrumental in bringing the best of entertainment to the digital millennials. Sports is an integral part of our offering. Together with ESPN, we are geared to increase our offering manifold.”

     

  • Ramesh Kumar and Sambit Bal are taking on expanded roles in the ESPN's business in India and beyond

    Ramesh Kumar, Sambit Bal take on expanded roles for ESPN in India

    By A Correspondent

     

    As ESPN expands its presence in India through the recently announced collaboration with SONY for co-branded SONY ESPN channels and digital media, Ramesh Kumar and Sambit Bal are taking on expanded roles in the ESPN’s business in India and beyond.

     

    Kumar will take on the new role of Vice President, Head of ESPN India and South Asia. In his new role Kumar will oversee all day-to-day operation of ESPN’s multimedia future in India and help drive the strategic growth of ESPN in India and the subcontinent. That includes oversight of ESPN’s leading digital properties including ESPNcricinfo, ESPN FC and the forthcoming local edition of multisport ESPN site and app in India. He will report to Russell Wolff, Executive Vice President, ESPN International and will continue to be part of ESPN’s regional Asia Pacific leadership team, working for Mike Morrison, Vice President, ESPN Asia Pacific.

     

    “Ramesh has been a strong business leader who understands the richness and complexity of India and the competitive marketplace and product dynamics across the subcontinent,” said Wolff. “Under Ramesh’s leadership, our business in India has continued to evolve and grow, serving Indian fans in new ways, while also becoming an important part of ESPN’s business regionally and globally.”

     

    Kumar, who joined ESPNcricinfo 15 years ago, has most recently been Head of ESPNcricinfo and ESPN India, overseeing the ESPNcricinfo.  In that role he oversaw the operation of ESPNcricinfo, the world’s leading digital cricket destination, globally – collaborating with ESPN teams in multiple regions and business units. Kumar also played an important role in developing ESPN’s agreement with SONY.

     

    Sambit Bal has been, arguably, the leading cricket journalist in the world for years, serving as Editor of ESPNcricinfo since 2003. In his new, broader role, Bal will now serve as Editor-in-Chief, ESPN India/South Asia. In the role, he will continue to be responsible for all ESPNcricinfo editorial content (written, video and audio) while also overseeing all editorial content for the new India multisport ESPN.com site and app (launching June 2016). Bal will also take a leading role in growing ESPN’s global coverage of tennis.  He will report to both Kumar and Patrick Stiegman, Vice President and Editorial Director, Digital and Print Media.

     

    “Sambit’s strong editorial background, voice and journalistic distinction, combined with an acute eye for great talent and content, make him a perfect fit for this role,” said Stiegman. “He has been instrumental in establishing ESPNcricinfo as the most trusted and comprehensive source for news, commentary and information around cricket, and will now be instrumental in delivering the same level of excellence to our coverage of multiple sports for fans in India and beyond.”