Channel 2 Group's internet radio platform for cricket, www.cricketfreeq.com was launched by cricket legend Kapil Dev in Mumbai, as part of its broadcasting foray into the cricket World Cup 2011.
India's first internet radio channel on cricket features Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev and Sir Clive Lloyd as expert commentators.
According to a media release, www.cricketfreeq.com will offer ball-by-ball cricket updates and analysis of all matches, apart from games, contests and other interactive content for fans along with prizes worth over $one million during the WC.
Exclusive partner
The company joined hands with Reliance Communications (RCOM) to distribute broadcast content on mobile networks across the world.
Channel 2 Group, promoted by Dubai-based Indian businessman Ajay Sethi, has acquired radio broadcast rights for leading sports events like the Cricket World Cup 2011, English Premier League & Dutch League (Football), Rugby World Cup, Wimbledon, Australian Open & US Open (Tennis) and major pro Golf Tours such as US PGA, The Masters, and Ryders.
The group's content tie-ups with leading terrestrial radio channels include Sirius XM, North America, Channel 4 Radio Network for Middle East and CMC Corporation Caribbean.
Key sponsors for www.cricketfreeq.com for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 include MoneyGram, for its three-nation ‘Cricket for Peace' concerts, SpiceJet and Travel Port.
Mr. Sethi, Chairman, Channel 2 Group, said at the launch: “Initially we plan to build a global audience for cricket and then subsequently launch platforms for other sports.
The power of internet radio is that it allows the broadcast to capture audiences of common diaspora across geographies.
Radio has traditionally been a local medium, but with the advent of 3G and high broadband speeds there is a potential to transform radio into a global media with integration across devices and platforms including radio.”
