Mumbai: The broadcaster celebrated the cricket festival nationwide with diverse experiences for fans through on-ground and social platforms. With experts, ambassadors, and creators, they curated engaging initiatives, embodying IPL fandom.
“We are ecstatic by the overwhelming response from fans across the nation during this IPL season. The incredible growth in engagement on our social media platforms and the widespread reach we achieved is a testament to the passion and love of fans and viewers that unites us all. Our dedicated efforts to create a vibrant and immersive fan experience, have truly brought the spirit of IPL to life. We remain committed to enhancing digital engagement and delivering unparalleled experiences to our fans and viewers”, said Vikarm Passi, Head – Marketing, Star Sports Network.
Starting with ‘Star Nahi Far’, Star Sports organized a unique opportunity for fans nationwide to meet their favorite IPL players and legends up close. Ambassadors like Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, and cricket legends such as Steve Smith were part of this initiative. Over 50 million enthusiasts across 1450 cities actively participated in the ‘Star Nahi Far’ contest to meet more than 20 IPL stars, making it Glance’s biggest contest.
Speaking on the ‘Star Nahi Far’ initiative, Indian Cricketer Rishabh Pant said, “Meeting fans through Star Sports’ wonderful ‘Star Nahi Far’ initiative was an incredibly humbling experience for me. Their unwavering support and heartfelt wishes during the tough times touched me. I had a fantastic time interacting with everyone and playing gully cricket, which brought back so many cherished memories. The love and encouragement from the fans have fueled my determination, and I can’t wait to give my best for the country.”
In another initiative, Star Sports’ “Dream Job” initiative for ICC T20 World Cup 2024 attracted 5,500 diverse entries during IPL 2024, creating buzz on social media with one reel reaching 61 million views. The unique activation in the digital space garnered over 310 million views, leading to the selection of Soumi Dey Sarkar, a national-level powerlifting athlete, as the winner after a rigorous selection process at TATA IPL 2024.
Star Sports collaborated with 100+ top influencers in India and organized a unique match, “Ajab Gajab T20 Challenge,” featuring creators and former cricketers. Influencers like Dharna, Abhishek Malhan, Aakash Gupta, and Viraj Ghelani played alongside cricketers such as Steve Smith, Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, and Ambati Rayudu. Partnerships with CarryMinati and Madan Gowri diversified content.
Speaking about his association with Star Sports for the TATA IPL 2024, CarryMinati said, “Working with Star Sports on the TATA IPL 2024 was a special experience for me. It gave me the opportunity to showcase a different side of the tournament. Working alongside cricket legends and hearing their insights was truly memorable.”
Moreover, ‘Incredible Premier League School Quiz’ ignited the passion of young cricket fans, nurturing their love for the sport and creating unique opportunities for brands targeting this enthusiastic consumer cohort. The second instalment of this quiz has attracted a record-breaking 2.1 lakh participants from over 17,000 schools.
The broadcaster has also closely worked with multiple platforms such as Meta, YouTube, Glance and Josh among others to better serve the fan. With the fan approach and regular engagements, the broadcaster has built a robust fan community of 50.9 million* fans across YouTube, Instagram, X, Facebook and WhatsApp and largest sports community on WhatsApp in India with more than 15.50 million followers.
