In an effort that can alter the contours of world hockey, a television company in India has come up with a new concept, World Hockey Series. The WSH which will change the face of domestic hockey world over, whill be held later part of next year.
Significantly, unharnessed and uncared for Indian domestic hockey market is likely to be lit up with the announcement of World Series Hockey (WSH) by India’s leading television group, Nimbus Communication Ltd.
Nimbus has announced World Series Hockey to come up between November 2011 and February 2012, and for that it has singed lucrative contract with virtually who is who of present Indian hockey players including all stars who played in the Asian Games and Commonwealth games, they include Sardar Singh, Sandeep Singh, Arjun Halappa, Rajpal Singh.
About 40 Indian players have already been paid an advance amount of Rs.1 when they in part assembled at Ramdan hotel in Delhi last week.
Nimbus has signed a 15-year contract with the Indian Hockey Federation, and has announced a windfall for both players and the Federation.
The announcement is a welcome sign for Indian domestic hockey, if not for the World Cup, which has almost stagnated with no activity of worth taking place. The ESPN-Star Sports brain child Premier Hockey League could not be held after four years, due to confusion as to the ownership of the Federation.
Nimbus Chairman Harish Tawani has assured each Indian player in the WSH will be earning anything between Rs.30-40 lac per season, which is a windfall for the players.
salient features of the WSH
Players have been signed for three-year period. Guaranteed payments in three categories— Rs 5 lakhs, Rs 7 lakhs and Rs. 10 lakh, besides others like endorsements and performance incentives differing from franchise to franchise. Player allocation by Draft pick, based on systems used globally like the NBA.
Who will own the teams?
initially, 4 franchises will join by invitation, preferably founding members of the IHF. Next four or six will be identified through a set of procedures. Franchise have to take care of thre aspects, financial strength, commitment of hockey development and commitment to infrastructure development.
BUSINESS MODEL
Ownership rights split between teams and League. Team rights include team sponsorship, ticketing and hospitality at home games. League rights include all event sponsorship and media rights. Percentage of League revenue to be shared with teams.
who will bear the costs
Nimbus Sport will bear the entire cost of the League as well as commit to pay up the IHF an annual fee for hockey development in India to the tune of Rs.30 crores over the contract period
Company Overview
Nimbus Communications Ltd. operates as a media and entertainment company. The company focuses on television, advertising, motion pictures, digital content, and sports rights management. It airs television series and shows; produces films, and television programming; manages ICC cricket events rights; and creates and delivers mobile content services. The company was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Mumbai, India. It has operations in India, Singapore, the United Kingdom, South Africa, and the Caribbean.
4 Comments
WSH is a great initiative to promote Indian Hockey to world level. This is really a highly appreciated decision to join hands with some of current Star Indian players. Every one should support this apart from controversies between federations. Let’s lend our hands for support whomsoever doing good for our National Game. HI should not ban players from National Team like what BCCI did to spoil the career of great players as well as public interest on Hockey. Or else HI should firmly organize a grand Hockey series better than WSH with someone. Can they do? Never i guess. All big industrialists should participate in this mega event to promote our National Game. Nothing will cost more than this for Hockey in India right now. What are all your views about this promo Sir? Will this really happen in an organized way ? Warm welcome to WSH and hats off to IHF if so.
Tks for the post. yes, am optimistic it will happen because professionals, promoters and players are involved. You have rightly observed, either HI should support this or bring on board something better than this, importantly they should not build roadblocks without making a better deal. I think if players are united, this will be successful. I am hopeful players will be united, they have amply proved their spirit of unity during Pune strike.
great news..will be successful..players will enojoy
this is right way to keep hockey before the youngsters, league is a must. big company coming for hockey is good, very good. but it is only late next year, we have to wait so long?