The Indian Premier League (IPL 2020) is already very unique and will create a ‘global benchmark’, according to Disney Star India’s Chairman Uday Shankar. In an interview with Times Of India (TOI), Uday has also predicted that IPL 2020 will deliver 550Mn+ viewers in India alone.
Shankar disclosed that IPL 2020 will see 90 commentators, seven fully customized broadcast feeds across languages and 18 hours of live and special programming throughout the day.
“Viewership has never been an issue with IPL. We expect TV viewership of 550 million+ in India and the broadcast to be distributed in over 100 countries”, said Star India’s boss in the interview to TOI.
“The protocol we’ve designed for this IPL can become a global benchmark for any tournament to be held safely. There will be a bio-secure bubble in Mumbai to entail 400-plus staffers across six floors of the production facility. Rigorous testing protocols for all staffers entailing pre-screening, testing before entry, and periodic testing during stay. Stringent sanitization and social distancing protocols at production facilities and multiple zones are being set up to keep teams separated”, said Shankar.
While IPL 2020 will be played behind closed doors fans can still stay connected with their favourite teams and the players through the help of technology during the live games. Star Sports and BCCI are planning to connect the fans through LED walls mounted in the stadiums allowing fans via technology to be able to log in real time and make an eye contact with their favourite players.
According to the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) CEO, this innovation will make fans stay connected with the games as if they are in the stadiums. And at the same time players will also feel their presence while playing.
“When a player walks back to the boundary from his bowling run-up, he can actually see fans wave at him and can wave back. Imagine what this will mean for both the players and fans. There are many such plans in place and trust me, fans will not feel left out. And I will urge each one of them to support us like they do and during pujas stay at home and watch us play”, declared KKR CEO
John Stephenson
john@cricketinvestor.co.uk
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