Reliance Viacom18 Sports Channel – Anil Jayaraj appointed CEO: As being reported continuously for the last few months, Reliance’s entry into the world of sports-broadcasting is looking like a reality now. Viacom18, a joint venture between American entertainment conglomerate ViacomCBS and Mukesh Ambani’s Network18 has hired Star Sports EVP Ad Sales Anil Jayaraj as CEO of Sports Business. It is worth noting that, Jayaraj has been instrumental in commercially monetizing big cricket properties like Indian Premier League (IPL), BCCI & ICC Cricket for his ex-employers i.e Disney Star Sports.
Jayaraj had quit Star Sports in July after an almost 6.5 year stint.
Meanwhile the entertainment broadcaster has acquired rights to LaLiga, Italy’s Serie A and France’s Ligue1 and Abu Dhabi T10 league in last few months & it is being speculated that the announcement of the new channel will be made soon.
Reliance Viacom18 Sports Channel: Reliance entry into sports broadcasting becoming reality, Star Sports Sales Head hired as a CEO
Reliance Viacom18 Sports Channel – Anil Jayaraj appointed CEO: The joint venture has become highly active in the sports sector arena in the past few months. It has acquired media rights of various sports leagues for the Indian subcontinent & it is being speculated that they will surely throw their hat in the ring for forthcoming IPL Media rights tender, ICC & BCCI rights.
Why Reliance’s entry into Sports-Broadcasting looking like a reality? Not only Anil but in past few months various executives from the rival networks have already been offered roles for the new sports channel. As reported recently by InsideSport.co, Disney+ Hotstar SVP & Head of Advertising, Gulshan Verma has joined JioAds as CEO.
She further added, “We are getting into sports to evoke emotion, to establish ourselves as a wholesome entertainer. However, launching a sports portfolio is a tough, expensive business call as it has a very high entry barrier and a lot of it has to be measured before you take that call. It has to be a serious, strategic long-term discussion.”
Reliance Viacom18 Sports Channel – Anil Jayaraj appointed CEO: BCCI will be releasing the tender of media rights for the next cycle of IPL Rights before the end of this year and don’t be surprised if Reliance backed Viacom18 will be seen fighting it out with Sony, DisneyStar and others for the marquee event in future.