Latest news with #HarishThawani
Time of India
17 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
'Realised cricket was the most under-monetised property': How Harish Thawani and the 90s boom revolutionised Indian cricket broadcasting
Founder of The Indus Club and formerly of Neo Sports Network, Harish Thawani offered a fascinating look into the genesis of India's sports broadcasting industry in the latest episode of Bombay Sport Exchange (BSE). Tired of too many ads? go ad free now A pioneer in the field, Thawani shared how Indian cricket transformed into a monetisable behemoth, starting with a bold move during the 1992 Cricket World Cup. "I'm a failed sportsman who turned to off-field activity," said Thawani in a candid conversation with K Shriniwas Rao, Head of Content (Sports) at Times Internet. "Passion ka pesha banadi (I turned my passion into a profession)." Thawani began his career in advertising, a background that gave him insights into media and branding — skills he would later apply to cricket broadcasting. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. The turning point came in 1992. "It's little known that we actually backed the India broadcast rights of the 1992 World Cup — the same one where (Sachin) Tendulkar made his debut," Thawani recalled. Nimbus Sport, under Thawani's leadership, paid around $550,000 for those rights. "The previous World Cup in 1987 had generated just $64,000 in broadcast revenue. So you can see what a leap it was." Poll Which factor do you believe contributed most to the growth of Indian cricket broadcasting? Strategic vision Financial investments Media savvy All of the above At a time when Indian industries were monetising real estate, cricket remained a vastly under-utilised asset, he proclaimed. "We realised cricket was the most under-monetised property in the country," Thawani said. "We placed it on Doordarshan and sold the ads ourselves. That's how we made a 300% profit." Instead of approaching the traditional four big advertisers, Thawani and his team reached out to untapped sectors. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "If you want someone to pay a dollar instead of a penny, you find new customers. That's what we did, and that's how every business expands," he explained. Virat Kohli's love for 'dhaba' food, priority for family & more | RCB bus driver shares stories The success of this venture triggered a domino effect, ushering in a new era for Indian sports broadcasting. Over the next two decades, India witnessed a revolution in how cricket — and eventually other sports — were consumed. The entry of satellite television, the rise of private sports networks, and the eventual explosion of digital media further propelled this transformation. When asked about the origins of the (IPL) and the personalities who shaped modern Indian cricket, Thawani took a nuanced stance. While acknowledging 's prominent role, he emphasised that credit for IPL's creation was shared. "Success has many fathers; failures become orphans," he quipped. "There were many brains behind the IPL. The real architect was Sharad Pawar — he backed it with board money. Lalit wasn't around for the last 16 years and IPL has only grown." He also noted that a pair of American sports management professors were hired to help design the IPL format. "Was it flawless? No. Has it improved? Yes. That's the journey," Thawani said. Major League Cricket: Liam Plunkett on how cricket can boom in the USA Recalling a 2000s-era profile that called him "The Beast," Thawani laughed it off. "All fast bowlers have a beast in them. You have to come in with that mentality — I'm going to get you," he said, comparing his aggressive business approach to a bowler's mindset on the field. Reflecting on the last 25 years, Thawani credited visionaries like Jagmohan Dalmiya, IS Bindra, and Sharad Pawar for having the courage to challenge the status quo and professionalise Indian cricket administration. But it was the combination of strategic vision, bold financial decisions, and media savvy that enabled Indian cricket to go from a modestly-funded pastime to a global entertainment powerhouse. Today, Indian sports broadcasting is one of the biggest markets in the world — spanning television, OTT, and mobile streaming platforms — with cricket at its core. And it all began with a small, calculated gamble in 1992 that changed the game forever.
Time of India
18 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Why did BCCI move the first Test between India and South Africa from Delhi to Kolkata?
Eden Gardens in Kolkata will host the first Test instead of Arun Jaitley Stadium (Image via X) The BCCI has decided to swap Delhi with Kolkata as the venue for the first India-South Africa Test match scheduled for November 14-18, 2025. Under the new arrangement, the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi will now host the second Test between India and West Indies from October 10-14, while Eden Gardens in Kolkata will host the first Test between India and South Africa in November. "The Arun Jaitley Delhi will now hold the second Test between India and West Indies between Oct 10-14, which was originally supposed to be held at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Kolkata, meanwhile, will now hold the first Test between India and South Africa from Nov 14-18. This has been done to avoid the players from being affected by possibly high pollution levels at that time of the year. The BCCI prioritises the welfare and well-being of the players and their health at all times. A formal announcement regarding this swap will be made in the next couple of days," a BCCI source had told TOI. The decision comes in the light of concerns over severe air pollution levels in the national capital during Diwali season. The BCCI faced criticism for initially scheduling the match in Delhi during a period known for hazardous air quality. Bombay Sport Exchange Ep. 6: Harish Thawani on cricket's TV market and the watershed moments It was influenced by studying Delhi's pollution patterns over the past decade, particularly noting the severe air quality issues during winter months following Diwali celebrations. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo The pollution concerns were highlighted during the 2023 ODI World Cup when Bangladesh cancelled training sessions before their match against Sri Lanka on November 6. Previous incidents have demonstrated the severity of Delhi's air pollution impact on cricket. In December 2017, Sri Lankan players wore masks and experienced nausea during a Test match, while in November 2019, two Bangladesh players vomited during an ODI. Poll Do you agree with the BCCI's decision to swap the venues for the upcoming Test matches? Yes, it prioritizes player health. No, it disrupts the original schedule. The problem has also affected domestic cricket, with two Ranji Trophy matches in Delhi being cancelled in November of the 2016-17 season due to players suffering headaches and burning sensations in their eyes. Medical experts have consistently warned about the risks of outdoor sports activities in Delhi during November, citing potential long-term health effects. In 2024, November was the month with the worst air quality in Delhi, with the AQI reaching a record high of 795. Air quality remained hazardous for several days. Delhi's last hosted a Test match in February 2023 against Australia.
Time of India
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
India's 2025 home season: BCCI revises schedule, swaps Delhi and Kolkata Test venues
NEW DELHI: The on Monday announced updated venues for the 2025 international home season and the South Africa A tour of India, with a major change involving the shifting of a high-profile Test match from New Delhi to Kolkata, as reported earlier by TOI. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Originally, the first Test of the India vs South Africa series was scheduled to be played at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi from November 14–18, 2025 — a period notorious for hazardous air quality in the capital, especially in the days following Diwali. Taking into account long-standing environmental data and potential health risks, the BCCI has now moved this fixture to Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. 'The BCCI prioritises the welfare and well-being of players. After reviewing Delhi's pollution patterns over the past decade, the decision was made to shift the venue,' a senior board official earlier told TOI, adding that the change reflects the board's commitment to player health. Poll Do you agree with BCCI's decision to shift the Test match from New Delhi to Kolkata due to pollution concerns? Yes, health should come first. No, it should stay in Delhi. In a corresponding move, the second Test of the India–West Indies series, initially planned for Kolkata between October 10–14, will now be played at Delhi's Arun Jaitley Stadium. The revised schedule also impacts the India Women vs Australia Women ODI series. Due to ongoing outfield renovations at Chennai's MA Chidambaram Stadium, the first two ODIs have been shifted to New Chandigarh, while the third will be hosted in Delhi. Bombay Sport Exchange Ep. 6: Harish Thawani on cricket's TV market and the watershed moments Meanwhile, the South Africa A tour of India will proceed as planned with multi-day matches at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. However, the one-day matches have been relocated from Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy Stadium to the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Australia vs South Africa, WTC Final: AB de Villiers urges Proteas batter to respect bowlers at Lord's
NEW DELHI: Prior to the ICC World Test Championship final against Australia, , the former South African batter, has advised the Proteas batting lineup to maintain consistent respect for bowlers throughout all stages of the match at Lord's. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The upcoming one-off Test match from June 11-15 marks South Africa's debut appearance in a World Test Championship final against Australia. Their historical record at Lord's spans 18 Tests, resulting in six victories, eight losses and four stalemates. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. "Lord's is a tricky ground to play at. You've got the ball moving around more than most grounds in the world for a longer period of time. You're never in, and that's probably my best advice to the batters, to sort of respect the bowlers, whether it's the first over or the 67th over. You're never in, so just respect the game," de Villiers told Star Sports. "Lord's, you generally want to be a bit fuller as a seam bowler and try and get the best out of the conditions. There's always a bit of seam movement for the seam bowlers. So I would probably urge my bowlers to bowl full and straight for as long as possible," he added. Poll Will the historical record of South Africa at Lord's affect their performance in the final? Yes, it will weigh on their minds No, they will focus on the present Under 's leadership, South Africa secured the top position in the 2023-25 WTC rankings, achieving seven consecutive wins against West Indies, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, resulting in a 69.44 points percentage. Bombay Sport Exchange Ep. 6: Harish Thawani on cricket's TV market and the watershed moments Lord's will be the third English venue to host the WTC finals, following Southampton's Rose Bowl (2021) and London's The Oval (2023). A reserve day has been allocated for June 16 to compensate for any potential time lost during the scheduled five-day match.
