MEDIA RIGHTS

Viacom18, a TV and streaming group backed by billionaire industrialist Mukesh Ambani, has secured Indian media rights for area hockey from the International Hockey Federation (FIH). The settlement runs for a four-year cycle (2023-2027) and contains all FIH occasions, besides the FIH Nations Cup. Financial phrases weren’t disclosed.

The upcoming FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers, the primary ever FIH Hockey5s World Cup, the FIH Hockey Pro League and the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup, amongst different tournaments, might be out there on streaming platform JioCinema and Viacom18’s linear channels Network Sports18.

While cricket stays the most well-liked sport in India, with Viacom18 paying $3 billion in 2022 for digital rights to the Indian Premier League, area hockey additionally enjoys a lot assist.

Viacom18 Sports head of technique, partnerships and acquisitions Hursh Shrivastava stated: “Hockey has been one of the most loved, followed and storied sports in India. The recent success of the Indian men’s and women’s national team bodes well for the continuous growth of hockey, and we are excited to bring unbridled access to millions of sports fans in India.”

FIH president Tayyab Ikram added: “As we’re enhancing our commercial and broadcast approach, this agreement with Viacom18 is a major step forward. It’s a great support to be partnering with such a strong broadcaster in a country where hockey is so fundamentally and historically anchored, and where we continuously want to develop the game.”

RESTRUCTURING

Germany’s Bavaria Fiction is restructuring its growth division below the management of growth govt Thomas Kren, who reviews into Marcus Ammon, managing director, content material.  The reorganization will develop Kren’s space of duty and he’ll speed up and coordinate discussions with broadcasters and creatives. Bavaria Fiction will even more and more develop co-productions and centrally consider corresponding materials. A subsidiary of Bavaria Film and ZDF Studios, Bavaria Fiction is thought for “Dark Woods,” “Der Kaiser,” “Das Boot,” “Arctic Circle” and “Freud.”

IMMERSIVE DIVISION

VFX and animation studio Cinesite has launched a brand new division, Cinesite Immersive, to work with artistic IP homeowners and types. Cinesite has entered right into a long-term partnership with London-based immersive artwork expertise Frameless Creative. The corporations have teamed on two artworks, a Rembrandt seascape and Monet’s “Boat on the Seine near Jeufosse,” each of which have been delivered to life by visible results artists.

Separately, Cinesite is premiering brief movie “Forsaken,” which follows totally different phases of the life-cycle of the jellyfish, at Outernet London from Jan. 11. The movie is directed by Roland Lane and animated by Cinesite.