MAM
Head Digital Works diversifies into sports content generation business with Cricket.com
MUMBAI: Head Digital Works (HDW), formerly known as Head Infotech, which operates India’s most profitable online rummy platform Ace2Three, today announced the launch of its latest venture – Cricket.com.
The launch of Cricket.com is in line with HDW’s larger diversification plans after its entry into fantasy sports via Fanfight and its social gaming arm Witty Games. Cricket.com will offer a new experience to cricket fans with a greater focus on the use of data in live match scenarios to deliver an exciting second screen experience.
The platform is aiming to elevate the way cricket is consumed by cricket fans by offering pocket size data insights in regular intervals along with the regular staple offerings of a content platform. HDW has launched cricket.com within a short span of 6 months of in-house development at its Bangalore office and promises to evolve the platform greatly from the soft launch that took place today.
In the space of a generation, sports content have gone from being a minor part on the edge of the generic news websites to stand-alone industry. Personalizing fan engagement, athletes as content creators, rapid advances in technology, the media consumption behaviour of consumers, and new and improved delivery models are major factors in the staggering growth of digital sports content companies. Another critical element is the change in information consumption patterns by sports enthusiasts and this is where Head Digital Works, a mobile entertainment company, which develops applications for the online gaming industry, wants to innovate.
Speaking on the occasion, Deepak Gullapalli, CEO – HDW, said, “The launch of cricket.com is part of a larger blueprint for the company. India’s biggest religion is cricket and we want to play a bigger role in this space. We already have a sports game platform via Fanfight and we plan to reach out to a larger base of cricket fans via cricket.com. The plan for the organization includes diversification of the businesses and expansion of our footprint beyond Indian markets. Overall, we are expanding our business offerings and are looking to acquire more talent for all our businesses across Hyderabad and Bangalore. While we are adding other businesses to our portfolio, we are retaining the efficiency of the structure of the organization and giving folks within the set-up an opportunity to help build these businesses to scale in conjunction with the infusion of new talent.”
HDW plans to consolidate its position as a market leader in the gaming space and grow into a gaming and digital entertainment conglomerate. Through cricket.com, HDW will attempt at offering innovative data-driven content offerings to cricket fans while cementing its reputation as a dynamic and forward-thinking organization.
MAM
Sameer Nair steps down as CEO of Applause Entertainment
Veteran media executive exits after a decade at the Aditya Birla Group-backed studio.
MUMBAI: After a decade of calling the shots, Sameer Nair is taking a bow from Applause Entertainment. The veteran industry leader and CEO of the prominent content studio is stepping down from his role, according to sources familiar with the development. This marks a significant leadership transition at one of India’s key players in the television and digital content space.
Applause Entertainment, part of the Aditya Birla Group, has built a strong reputation under Nair’s leadership for its high-quality adaptations of international formats and a slate of original series across OTT platforms. Nair, who joined the company a decade ago, was instrumental in shaping its growth and positioning it as a notable force in India’s evolving streaming landscape.
Prior to Applause, he held senior roles at major media organisations, including Star India, where he played a pivotal part in the launch of the iconic show Kaun Banega Crorepati in 2000. He also worked with Balaji Telefilms and NDTV Imagine.
It remains unclear who will succeed Nair or what his next professional move will be. Queries sent to Nair did not receive a response, and Applause Entertainment declined to comment on the matter.
His exit comes at a time when the Indian content ecosystem is undergoing rapid changes, with streaming platforms recalibrating investments, focusing on profitability, and adjusting content strategies amid shifting viewer preferences and increasing competition.
Industry insiders suggest the transition could signal a strategic reset for Applause as it navigates the next phase of growth.
In the fast-paced world of Indian entertainment, where hits can fade as quickly as they rise, Sameer Nair has enjoyed a remarkably steady and influential run. As he steps off the stage at Applause, the spotlight now turns to what comes next for both the executive and the studio he helped build.
