Mumbai: Keen on some cricket coverage in these abysmal times? Bisbo believes that the Aam Junta, starved of cricket and subsisting on a diet of Netflix and other OTT platforms, is just waiting for the right dose – the next season of the great Indian festival, the Indian Premier League, which begins this Saturday.
“COVID-19 has hit sports, tournaments and outdoor events the hardest. IPL2020 will act as a shot of adrenaline for fans and the public at large. We already see the enthusiasm in terms of a surge of views in cricket-related videos on our platform”, said Shakir Ebrahim, founder of Bisbo.
“We see eager fans picking up subscriptions plans and forecast a shift from OTT and the newly emerging TV content towards the IPL. Even those not so interested in cricket, will find themselves watching it just as a change from the content of the last 6 months”, added Ebrahim.
Bisbo, a premiere YouTube channel for animated news explainers and visual content, has established itself for a comprehensive range around political, economic, sports and national events. With 10 different language channels, the startup has clocked thousands of watch minutes for its cricket-related content.
These include explainers on the tussle between BCCI and ICC, the pink ball controversy, the importance of the IPL, the Duckworth Lewis system and others.
The channel has already clocked more than 85,000 views on their latest explainer on IPL 2020. Titled ‘BCCI’s golden goose: Without IPL India’s cricket board barely earns anything’, the video examines the economic need to host the domestic cricket tournament, despite the pandemic.
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For the third time in its 13 year history, the Indian Premier League is happening outside India, in the UAE. The matches will take place in empty stadiums, between players who’ve cleared at least rounds of COVID-19 testing; two in India and two in UAE. During the tournament, all players, match officials and support staff will live in a bio-secure bubble. They would not be allowed to break away and rejoin.
The IPL is the first Indian mega event this year after it had been deferred twice owing to the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns. It may pave the way for future Indian sporting events this year.
