Sony flexes its sports muscles, swells existing bouquet with 2 HD channels

Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) has grouped its sports brands together under the business vertical – Sony Pictures Sports Network (SPSN). The broadcaster has reinforces its position as one of the largest broadcaster of sports in the Indian subcontinent with the addition of 2 new HD channels – Sony Ten 2 HD and Sony Ten 3 HD, taking its sports channels count to 11. 

Meanwhile, Sachin Tendulkar has been brought on board as SPN’s ambassador for sports. 

With an aim to be at the forefront of curating and engaging the viewers in a multi-sport viewing culture in India and the subcontinent, Sony Pictures Networks will underline the credo of Go-Beyond with the unified theme of #sportsinspireslife. The credo of ‘Go-Beyond’ will be supported with an integrated campaign across both, ATL and digital platforms. 

Watch the SPN Sports brand campaign:

The diversified portfolio of content in SPN has distinct positioning across its 11 channels, so that not only does each channel retain its unique edge, but also makes it navigation friendly for the end-user, be it the purist, the sports enthusiast or the sports fan. 

The programming break-up of the 11 channels comprising 5 SD and 6 HD channels will be as follows: 

NP Singh, CEO, Sony Pictures Networks India, commented, “Our corporate philosophy of Go-Beyond encourages us to be brave, curious, insightful and visionary in everything we do. It takes leaders to Go-Beyond at every step of the game, because leaders just don’t prepare for the future, they create it. And, it is the leader-mindset that has taken us from a single sports channel in 2012 to 11 dedicated sports channels in a span of 5 years. Currently, we are among the largest sports broadcasters in the Indian subcontinent.” 

He further said, “The future of sports is multi-sport. Therefore, we want to engage viewers in a multi-sports milieu. As SPN’s Ambassador for Sports, Sachin echoes our sentiment and intent to grow the viewership of different sports.” 

Rajesh Kaul, President, Sports and Distribution, Sony Pictures Networks, India, added here, “At Sony Pictures Networks, we are committed to providing an unparalleled sports viewing experience with the best leagues, best athletes and the best of sport entertainment. We are in a unique position with over 11,000 hours of live content this year that has given us the opportunity to create channel destinations for different sports. Each of our 11 channels will project a distinct content line-up from our expansive portfolio of domestic and national sporting properties.” 

Sachin Tendulkar, SPN’s Ambassador for Sports, remarked, “Sony Pictures Network’s rallying credo of ‘Go-Beyond’ reflects my beliefs and resonates deeply.  Among the many things that sports has taught me, is the ability to push the boundaries and raise the bar by stretching myself beyond my limits. And, as in sports so in life. It is a privilege to associate with Sony Pictures Networks to curate a culture of multi-sport viewing in the Indian subcontinent. As SPN’s Ambassador for Sports, I am going to personally call out for this change.”