NFL goes places, finds new pastures in Gulf, Hong Kong

The gulf of difference between a Beckham and Baichung Bhutia or Ronaldinho and Rennedy Singh notwithstanding, Indian football boasts of as much viewership as La Liga or EPL when it comes to select events and goaded by the fact, broadcasters are hoping to cash in on the soccer fever during the 11th National Football League.

On the sidelines of the anouncement of 11th NFL here today, Chief Operating Officer of Zee Sports, Gary Lovejoy, projected some interesting TAM figures as he claimed that Indian football, considered a poor cousin of cricket, enjoys quite considerable viewership.

''Statistics project quite a positive picture of Indian fotball.

For instance, TAM figures for the Santosh trophy match between Bengal versus Kerala was higher than the Manchester United vs Liverpool match on the same date of October 22. And the Santosh Trophy final, between Bengal and Punjab, also showed higher figure than the high-profile EPL derby.

''Similarly the NFL match between Mohun Bagan and East Bengal in January 22 last year was way ahead of the EPL match between Manchester United and Liverpool. I think the EPL guys they should do well not to coincide their matches with ours,'' he quipped.

Mr Lovejoy said of the 90 NFL matches, which kicks off with a JCT Phagwara vs Mohammedan Sporting match here on Friday, Zee Sports would telecast at least 45 matches live and Indian football would reach new pastures in the Gulf and Hong Kong, courtesy its sister channel TEN Sports.

''TEN Sports makes it possible to take Indian soccer beyond the country's boundary to the middle-east and Hong Kong. We are in dicussion for two other major territories as well,'' he said.

And to make the NFL more attractive, Mr Lovejoy said, the channel would install at least 12 cameras, including pole camera behind the goalpost, and deploy specialist cameramen for better production, apart from related shows.

''Though I'm an englishman, I get really upset when I see boys and girls wearing Chelsea colours here. I just wish they rooted for their local teams. The craze is there in Kolkata and if we manage to create half the hype in other parts as well, we can sweep the EPL.

''For instance, we want the entire Punjab to rally behind JCT, the Mumbaikars to realise that it's their very own Mahindra United which is the reigning NFL champion and Bangalore throw its weight behind HAL,'' he told UNI.

Meanwhile, All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi also expressed hopes that the 11th NFL would go places with the twin channels.

''They have genuine understanding of the game and we hope to reach the Gulf and Hong Kong through TEN Sports. And we also hope the market economy to respond in a big way,'' he told reporters.

UNI AY SAM DS1455

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