MUMBAI: The Times Television Network (TTN) has appointed Rohit Kishore Chopra to the post of head legal at Times Television Network and Prime Connect. He will be based out of Mumbai and be responsible for all legal and regulatory affairs of TTN and Prime Connect as well as support the team on Box TV.

The existing legal teams at TTN and Prime Connect will report into Chopra who in turn will report into Avinash Kaul.

ET Now, Times Now and Zoom chief executive officer Avinash Kaul said, "We are delighted to have Rohit on board. Given his significant experience in the broadcast space, Rohit will play a pivotal role in directing the legal and regulatory aspects of TTN?s business."

Chopra comes to TTN from Viacom18 Media where he was head corporate legal affairs. He has worked at Balaji Telefilms Limited, Reliance Big Broadcasting and ESPN Star Sports in the past.

Chopra said, "I am really excited and honored to be a part of such a diversified media conglomerate. I look forward to working with this dynamic team and adding value to the system."

MUMBAI: Asia?s leading sports content provider ESPN Star Sports has extended its agreement to broadcast the FIM Superbike World Championship across Asia until 2018.

The broadcast agreement includes pay-TV rights for live and delayed races as well as race highlights, in addition to rights for free-to-air broadcast in most markets.

The deal also includes rights for online and mobile coverage via ESPN Player and Mobile ESPN. The broadcast rights cover ESPN Star Sports? footprint including India, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.

In the future, the World Superbike calendar will feature two new races - India from 2013 and possibly Indonesia from 2014 onwards - that will be sure to bolster interest in Asia.

ESS VP Programming Nick Wilkinson said, "We are delighted to continue our partnership with World Superbike to continue showcasing the best of motorsport to fans in Asia. ESPN Star Sports is Asia?s home for motorsports and with our stellar line-up of leading sports events, this new partnership underscores our commitment to serve our viewers with top quality sport programming."

MUMBAI: The Hockey India League, promoted by Hockey India (HI) with the backing of International Hockey Federation (FIH), is slowly gaining momentum as the organisers look to kick-off the first edition in January next year.

HI, the governing body of Hockey in India, has roped in ESPN Star Sports as the broadcast partner for HIL in a five-year deal. Besides, the broadcast rights for the league, ESS has also bagged the rights for international hockey matches played in India for a period of five years.

Earlier, business conglomerate Sahara Indian Pariwar had announced that it has taken the franchise rights for the Lucknow team. Sahara is also the shirt sponsor of the Indian men?s and women?s hockey team forking out Rs 400 million for a five-year deal that runs till 2017.

ESS has, thus, renewed its association with Hockey, a sport which it tried to reinvigorate as far back as 2005 with Premier League Hockey, which died a premature death since it could not get the right business model.

While refusing to divulge any details, HI secretary general Narinder Batra said the association along with its marketing partner Twenty First Century Media approached all major broadcasters.

It is believed that Ten Sports was also in the fray for the rights.

"We approached all key players in sports broadcasting. However, ESPN Star Sports gave us the best deal. Therefore, we decided to work with them," Batra told Indiantelevision.com.

Neo Sports, the sports broadcasting arm of Nimbus Communications, was not in fray as its parent company Nimbus is the co-promoter of World Series Hockey, a franchise-based league that has often been termed as a rebel league.

The world hockey governing body has approved the league and has given a window so that international players will be available. The league will comprise six franchise hockey teams and will feature 33 hockey matches to be played in prime time in state-of-the-art stadia across the country.

All teams will play each other on a home and away basis (30 league matches) followed by two semifinals and the final. ESS also has the global broadcast rights to telecast at least five international hockey test matches every year under Hockey India to be played in India for the next five years. The number of matches that India will play against international opposition could go up depending on the finalisation of the series schedule.

"The proposed league (HIL) will be the biggest initiative that hockey has ever seen in India. We have been working out the details for months now and I am glad to announce that things are quickly falling into place. I am confident that our partners ESPN Star Sports will help us deliver a flawless world class product," added Batra.

ESS MD Peter Hutton is believed to be instrumental in getting the deal through since he has been key follower of the game and sees huge potential in the sport.

Hutton was part of the FIH?s marketing committee, which advised the world body on ways to promote Hockey and generate revenues. Incidentally, Hutton is also believed to have been a key force in doing the deal with FIH when he was in Taj Television, which runs Ten Sports.

Ten Sports, which began its partnership with FIH in 2005, holds the broadcast rights for all FIH events in Indian subcontinent till 2014.

"Hockey is close to our heart and we will drive all our efforts to make this league a success. We are also delighted to have all international hockey test matches under Hockey India to be played in India on our networks for a five year period. I look forward to some memorable occasions and a new era for Indian hockey," said Hutton.

The developments at HIL will have implications for Indian Hockey Federation?s World Series Hockey, which held its first edition earlier this year. The eight team tournament got off to a decent start despite mounting pressure from FIH and HI, who did not want the league to take off.

IHF president RK Shetty, meanwhile, brushed aside suggestions that HIL will kill WSH. "We have nothing to worry about their (Hockey India) league, if they are doing this, it?s good for the game. It will open more opportunities for players. As far as we are concerned, we are looking forward to the second edition of World Series Hockey," Shetty asserted.

Can two leagues co-exist?

Wizcraft, the owner of WSH?s Delhi franchise, is optimistic about the league format. Says director Sabbas Joseph, "Not enough is done for hockey. If more promotions are done, it will grow the sport?s visibility and more sponsorship revenue will come in. If we see an opportunity, then we would like to take part in this league as well. More people and companies getting active in hockey will increase the excitement around the sport. I think that hockey is big enough to support two leagues."

He adds that a certain amount of rivalry between the two leagues would be healthy as long as the sport grows. The key is that the conflict between hockey India and IHF should be resolved.

However, Maxus business head Jigar Rambhia is quite certain that only one league will eventually survive. "The sport is not that big in India as this stage. To further divide it by having two leagues is not good for anybody. Next year will give us an idea as to which is the stronger of the two leagues. Two leagues also gives rise to confusion as to which league is official."

Nambiar also thinks that the success of hockey leagues in India will depend upon how India fares at the Olympic Games. "If the team does well, then advertiser interest will pick up.People do follow hockey, although this is not always reflected in the numbers," he says.

MUMBAI: Delhi-based Sportzworkz and Greymatter Entertainment have got production mandate for the production of inaugural edition of Sri Lanka Premier League (SLPL).

The duo will be responsible for producing all the 24 matches besides the opening ceremony.

ESPN Star Sports holds the multi-platform rights for the T20 league that will feature seven teams namely Ruhuna Royals, the Kandurata Warriors, the Basnahira Cricket Dundees, the Nagenahira Nagas, Uva Next, Wayamba United and Uthura Rudras.

The season will run from 10 August to 31 August. The first match of the day will be played generally at 4 pm IST while the second match will begin at approximately 8 pm IST.

Speaking on the tie-up, ESS MD Peter Hutton said, ?I?m very happy to see top Indian production companies Sportzworkz and Greymatter entrusted with the live telecast and look forward to enjoying the quality of their work on our channels.?

Somerset Entertainment Ventures chairman Sandip Bhammer said, ?We are delighted to have Sportzworkz & Greymatter as the SLPL?s TV production partners. We aim to deliver a very high-quality viewership experience in respect of the SLPL globally, and in particular, on television.?

Sportzworkz has worked with events like Aircel Chennai Open 2011-2012, Indian Open Badminton 2012, India International Grand Prix Wrestling 2012, Jharkhand Premier League Cricket 2011 and Super Fight League 2012.

Greymatter specialises in sports, non-fiction and youth content, its project catalogue includes over 500 hours of IPL programming, Pepsi?s Change the Game around the ICC Cricket World Cup, Grammy Awards shows, MTV?s Captain?s Shack and a Formula One reality show involving Lewis Hamilton.

NEW DELHI: Rigid News Access Rules of the London Organizing Committee for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games prevent news channels from even giving live news breaks of achievements by Indians.

Thus, while a channel can make an announcement whenever any Indian wins a medal, it can get the footage only around three hours later as the rights lie with Doordarshan and ESPN Star Sports.

In fact, the News Broadcasters Association (NBA) sent the News Access Rules to all its members late last week, asking them to exercise caution while covering the Olympics.

Non-rights holders or channels that are not the official broadcasters can use a maximum of six minutes of Olympic material per day, in accordance with the News Access Rules.

Besides, the six minutes footage cannot appear in more than three news programmes in a day and its duration cannot exceed two minutes in any one news programme.

The rules apply to all forms of broadcasting, television (free-to-air and pay television, cable, satellite, video on demand, including digital channels, digital multi-channels and services such as ?news active? or ?sports active?), radio, Internet, mobile platforms and other interactive or electronic media.

News channels that are telecasting Olympic-based programmes - studio discussions or special features - are not allowed to use words such as Olympic or London 2012 to brand or position their shows.

It is learnt that Hindi channels are using names like ?London Mahakumbh? while some other channels are using terms like ?London Dreams? or ?India Mange Gold?. There is no restriction on the use of London 2012 or Olympic Games in the regular news bulletins.

The guidelines also prevent television channels from using Olympic material for these shows. Olympic material includes ?sounds or images of any Olympic event, wherever and whenever broadcast and however sourced, including sporting action, opening and closing ceremonies, medal ceremonies or other activities which occur at Olympic venues,? according to the rules.

Indian news channels are unhappy with the rules and feel that limited use of footage and other restrictions as those prescribed will also hit their commercial revenue around programmes based on the Games.

NBA has, in fact, been urged to take up the issue as such access rules are framed at every major sporting event and affect the freedom of the news channels to report, sources said.

In any case, news channels signing up for accreditation to cover the Games have to accept these rules automatically.

Television News Access Rules:

1. Use in News Programs only: The broadcast of Olympic material may be used only as a part of regularly scheduled daily news programmes, of which the actual news element constitutes the main feature. News programmes shall not be positioned or promoted as Olympic or London 2012 programs and Olympic Material cannot be used in any promotion for any news programme or any other programme whatsoever.

2. Six Minutes Per Day: Non-Rights Holders may use a maximum of six minutes of Olympic Material per day, in accordance with all other provisions of these News Access Rules.

3. Number of news programs, Length and Separation of News Excerpts: Subject to Clauses 1 and 2 above, Olympic material may be used in news programmes subject to the following provisions:
a) Olympic material may appear in no more than three news programmes per day; and
b) No more than two minutes of Olympic material may be used in any one news programme; and
c) These news programmes must be separated by a period of at least three (3) hours; and
d) No more than one third of any individual event may be used in any one news programmes or 30 seconds, whichever is the lesser time. However, if the duration of an individual Olympic event is less than 15 seconds, the whole of the event can be shown in a news programme.

4. All-News or All Sports Networks: In the case of an All-News or All Sports Networks, the networks may use a maximum of six minutes of Olympic material per day during multiple news programmes, subject to the following provisions:
a) in no more than six news programmes per day and does not exceed a total of one (1) minute in any one programme. These bulletins must be separated by a period of at least two hours; or
b) in accordance with Clause 3 above - i.e. 3x2x3.

5. Airing after Broadcast by Rights Holders only: Non-Rights Holders may only broadcast Olympic material within a news program in accordance with Clauses 1, 2, 3 and 4 above and all other conditions contained in these News Access Rules, as follows:
a) As of three hours following the broadcast of an Olympic event by the local Right Holding Broadcaster on free-to-air television in that territory;
b) If not broadcast by the local Rights Holding Broadcaster on free-to-air television in that territory on the day (local time) during which the Olympic event concluded, then as of the end of the broadcast day (i.e. 24:00 hours local time); or
c) Non-Rights Holders can broadcast Olympic material prior to the times referred to above, or can broadcast more Olympic material than allowed above, only with the specific written agreement of the local Rights Holding Broadcaster.

6. Courtesy Credit/Rights Holder ?Bug?: Each Broadcast, communication or other broadcast of Olympic material in accordance with these News Access Rules must give an on-screen credit to the local Rights Holder by leaving on the Rights Holders watermark for the duration of the clip or, should the Olympic material not be sourced through the local Rights Holder, by adding a super video credit to the Rights Holder for the duration of the clip to read as follows: ?Courtesy (Name of Rights Holder)?

7. Olympic material must not be Broadcast on interactive services such as ?News Active? or ?Sports Active?, which would allow the viewer to make a viewing choice within a channel and to thereby view Olympic material at times other than when broadcast as part of a news programme as set out in Clause 1 above.

8. Should any fair dealing or similar provisions contained in any applicable national law permit the use by Non-Rights Holders of any footage of previous Olympic Games, then such footage will be included in the total of six minutes per day.

9. Olympic Material may only be used for a period of 48 hours following the completion of the actual event. After such period, Non-Rights Holders may only transmit archive Olympic material with the express prior written consent of the express prior written consent of the IOC.

10. For the sake of clarity, except as permitted within these News Access Rules, only Rights Holders are permitted to film within Olympic Venues and to Broadcast Olympic material. The broadcast of Olympic material by E Accredited Media, including Non-Rights Holders, via the Internet, Mobile Platform and other interactive media or electronic medium, is strictly prohibited and is a breach of these News Access Rules.