Ravi Krishnan aims to blend sport, culture & commerce with new venture Abler Sports & Entertainment
Krishnan
is focusing on the intersection of intellectual property (IP), data, and popular culture through his new venture, Abler Sports & Entertainment (
ASE
).
The veteran sports marketing executive aims to reimagine how sport and entertainment are consumed, monetised, and experienced—not just in India, but internationally.
ASE is backed by a group of investors from media, technology, sports, and private equity. Notable investors in ASE include Suv Mohapatra, Managing Director at Accenture Singapore; Josh Liberman, Co-founder and Chairman of CVS Lane Capital Partners; Mike Dolan, former Chairman of
IMG
and former CEO of Bacardi; and Ashutosh Srivastava, former CEO of APAC at GroupM.
From his early career at IMG South Asia to initiatives like the Sahara Cup and Lakmé Fashion Week, Krishnan has focused on innovation and long-term strategy.
His latest venture centres on fan engagement, IP ownership, and a digital-first approach. He sees this as an opportunity for India to play a more prominent role in the global sports ecosystem.
Krishnan's perspective is straightforward: sport remains one of the few true real-time entertainment experiences.
'If you want to watch Royal Challengers Bengaluru play Punjab Kings, you need to watch it live. That urgency gives sport an edge,' he says. However, he notes that most digital engagement today still focuses on awareness, rather than driving action.
This, he believes, is where his company comes in. It positions itself as an 'awareness-to-action' platform—where fan interaction leads to revenue generation, data-driven decision-making, and better returns for rights holders and sponsors.
Focus on IP ownership
A central element of Krishnan's strategy is the creation and control of IP. 'Everyone wants to build value now,' he says. 'Celebrities don't want a one-time payout to generate $100 million in revenue for others. They want IP ownership.'
He contrasts the long-term value of Lakmé Fashion Week, which he launched while at IMG with the
Unilever
brand as its title sponsor in 2000, with the more transactional nature of properties like the
IPL
, which has had several title sponsors over the years. His point: lasting IP creates long-term brand equity.
India as a growth market
Krishnan also sees growing interest in India from global rights holders. 'Manchester City doesn't need more fans in Manchester. They need to monetise fans in India, Indonesia, and Africa,' he says.
He argues that while many international entities highlight their Indian fan bases, few have been able to translate that interest into sustainable revenue.
His company seeks to help bridge that gap—supporting both foreign brands entering India and Indian brands looking to expand abroad. 'In the '80s it was Japan, in the '90s Korea, then China. India will make its mark on the globe even more substantially in the future.'
Bridging worlds
With offices in London, Mumbai, San Francisco, and Melbourne, Krishnan describes his venture as a 'global business with an Indian heart.' This positioning, he believes, allows the company to serve as a conduit between Indian and international markets.
He points to partnerships like Infosys at Grand Slams, TCS with global marathons, and Apollo Tyres with Manchester United as signs of India's increasing presence on the global sports stage.
'Indian culture, IP, and commerce are poised for global relevance. And we want to be at the centre of it,' he says.
Growing opportunity in women's sport
Krishnan sees significant untapped potential in women's sports. 'Women's sport is an absolute rising tide in the world of sports,' he says. From growing participation and audiences to rising sponsor interest, he expects the category to grow quickly.
His company is already working with
World Rugby
on the Women's World Cup and integrating women-oriented content on its digital platform, Stepathlon. 'If companies have $100 to spend on sport, they won't spend it all on men in the future.'
Sport as a cultural experience
Another area Krishnan highlights is the 'festivalisation' of sport—blending athletic competition with music, fashion, and food to create a broader experience. 'The Australian Open is a festival with a tennis tournament,' he says. He sees the IPL as another example, having become more than just a cricket league.
His goal is to develop IPs that span platforms, cultures, and generations—not just as media products, but as experiences.
Exploring new models
Although cricket continues to dominate the Indian sports landscape, Krishnan is also exploring tennis, football, and multi-sport formats. He is particularly focused on creating properties that don't rely solely on traditional broadcast models, which he says are heavily tilted toward the IPL.
'There's very little left for other leagues. We need to find alternative monetisation models—direct-to-consumer, sponsor-led, or data-driven,' he says. His company is also developing year-round engagement platforms, including non-live content and fan communities.
Understanding the market
Krishnan describes India as a 'head and heart' market, where success depends on local insights, cultural nuance, and long-term thinking. With most of the population under 25, he sees both an opportunity and a challenge: the demographic potential is there but remains under-monetised.
He also sees parallels with other emerging markets such as Africa and Latin America.
A broader purpose
For Krishnan, sport is more than a business opportunity—it's a tool for positive change. His platform Stepathlon aims to address health challenges by encouraging physical activity.
'Wellness is a $6.3 trillion industry. Sport is $500 billion. The connection between the two is undeniable,' he says. 'We use popular culture not just to entertain, but to heal, inspire, and mobilise communities.'
Krishnan believes the coming decade could be pivotal for India in global sport and entertainment. He sees the potential to drive change through smart partnerships, IP creation, and a technology-first approach.
'We're ambitious—quantitatively and qualitatively,' he says. 'Our goal is to be a thoughtful leader in a rapidly transforming global industry.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Economic Times
4 minutes ago
- Economic Times
As 50% US tariff looms, 6 key steps that can safeguard Indian economy
Even as downside risks from Donald Trump's punitive tariffs on Indian exports to the US loom, the government may need to take some immediate to medium-term measures to protect the economy. Economists and industry chambers have suggested a bevy of steps that can protect exporters and provide them temporary relief. They have also suggested measures that can boost India's manufacturing competitiveness. From the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) chipping
The Print
19 minutes ago
- The Print
Will convey displeasure to US over Munir's nuclear threat from American soil—Centre tells House panel
MPs who attended the meeting said Misri told the Lok Sabha Committee on External Affairs headed by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor that New Delhi's position remains that BRICS was not an anti-Western grouping but should be seen instead as a 'non-Western grouping'. The committee, it is learnt, was told by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri that US President Donald Trump's imposition of steep tariff on Indian exports was not just a response to New Delhi's purchase of Russian crude oil but could also be connected to its presence in BRICS. New Delhi: The Centre told a parliamentary committee Monday that New Delhi will convey to Washington DC its displeasure over Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, delivering nuclear threats from the soil of the United States, sources told ThePrint. Sources said Misri told the MPs that India would not tolerate such nuclear blackmail. ThePrint exclusively reported on 10 August that Munir, speaking at an event in the US, said, 'we are a nuclear nation, if we think we are going down, we'll take half the world down with us.' 'India's position will be conveyed to the US,' sources quoted Misri as having said. Misri is also learnt to have told the panel that the US's trade deficit with India may also have been a trigger for Trump, who first announced the imposition of 25 percent tariff on Indian exports to the US and later raised it to 50 percent citing the 'direct or indirect import of Russian oil'. The foreign secretary is learnt to have added that India will not cross certain 'red lines'—a reference to US's demand for India to open up its agriculture and dairy sectors—in its trade negotiations with Washington. 'The three issues that India believes could have acted as a trigger for Trump are purchase of Russian crude oil, trade deficit and India's presence in the BRICS multilateral grouping. India's position is very clear. Misri said New Delhi never considered BRICS to be an anti-Western bloc but believes it can be categorised, if at all, as a non-Western bloc,' an MP who was part of the meeting told ThePrint. Sources in the Indian establishment have previously argued that New Delhi's sale of processed Russian crude oil was necessitated by various European countries, who stopped importing from Moscow, becoming dependent on supplies from India. Apart from Misri, Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal was also present in the meeting that lasted over three hours. The officials told the MPs that the latest developments would not have any impact on India's 'friendship' with the US. 'Trade is just one aspect of India-US relations. There are many positives also,' one official is learnt to have told the committee. The officials added that India's trade relations, including defence purchases, would not be affected by Trump's announcements. In response to questions from MPs, they underlined that India is not trying to 'enhance' or recalibrate its relations with China or Russia in light of the US President's remarks and announcements. (Edited by Amrtansh Arora) Also Read: Proxy pushback: After Rajnath, now Gadkari & Venkaiah; BJP is running out of patience with Trump
Time of India
28 minutes ago
- Time of India
Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir threatens to target RIL's Jamnagar refinery
NEW DELHI: In his bellicose speech where he threatened to nuke India, Pakistan army chief Asim Munir put a target on Reliance Industries Ltd's refinery - the world's largest single-site refining complex - at Jamnagar in Gujarat in case of any future military conflict with New Delhi, indicating for the first time the intent to hit India's economic assets, especially oil installations. Speaking at a formal dinner at Tampa, Florida, in the US, Munir referred to a social media post with a Quranic verse along with the picture of RIL chairman Mukesh Ambani to say he authorised it during the recent conflict with India "to show them what we will do the next time", media reports quoting those present at the closed-door event said. While this set off chatter about Munir threatening the richest Indian, with a net worth of over $115 billion heading the oil-to-telecom-to-retail conglomerate, narration in the verse from Surah Al-Fil (The Elephant), the 105th chapter of the Quran, can be interpreted as an aerial attack in modern warfare. According to open source information, the verse refers to the 'Year of the Elephant, approximately (570 CE), when Abraha, the ruler of Yemen, led an army with elephants to destroy the Kaaba. Allah then sent flocks of birds carrying stones of baked clay, which struck and destroyed Abraha's army. India continuously evaluates military and other threats to its sensitive economic installations, especially those located in border states or considered within range of Pakistan air attacks. In the past, there have been separate reports from intelligence agencies about threats to such installations, particularly the RIL refinery, from Pakistan-based terror groups. Munir chose Ambani to make his threat because the RIL chief symbolises India's economic power and potential. Though there are other oil installations and assets that may be considered vulnerable, the sheer size of the Jamnagar complex makes it the showstopper in India's refining sector with an annual capacity of processing 33 million tonnes of crude, or 12% of India's total refining capacity. It is a major exporter of refined petroleum products.
