MAM
Sony Ericsson partners with the WTA
MUMBAI: This is an allinace that gives women’s sport a tremendous boost. Mobile phone company Sony Ericsson and the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Tour have signed a $ 88 million dollar global sponsorship deal.
The deal makes Sony Ericsson the worldwide title sponsor of the WTA Tour. The two parties claim that the six-year deal, which renames the Tour the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, is the largest and most comprehensive sponsorship in the history of tennis and of women’s professional sport. In India viewers can catch WTA action on Ten Sports.
Under the deal, Sony Ericsson will become the
global title sponsor of the WTA Tour and of the season-ending, globally televised WTA Tour Championships held each November and featuring the world’s top eight singles players and top doubles teams. Sony Ericsson will also enjoy an on-court presence at the many WTA Tour tournaments throughout the season, with hundreds of matches televised in every region of the world that continue to attract all-time ratings highs.
A joint logo representing the partnership was also unveiled. Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications president Miles Flint said, “Together with the WTA Tour we are exploring a range of opportunities that can integrate technology, design, music, sport and fashion into a compelling entertainment proposition for consumers.”
Partnering the WTA Tour with Sony Ericsson has created a natural platform for the integration of technology, design, fashion, sport and music,
attributes that are closely representative of the world of professional tennis. A 50:50 joint venture of Sony and Ericsson, Sony Ericsson brings together industry-leading expertise in digital imaging technology with Bluetooth and telecommunications infrastructure experience. With its line of fashionable and innovative multimedia devices for the 2G and 3G mobile
communications networks, the company states that the partnership can only help to further enhance and differentiate the values of Sony Ericsson as the brand of choice for personal mobile communications.
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.
