MAM
Star Sports’ new campaign focuses on new fans of Premier league
MUMBAI: Star Sports – India’s leading sports broadcaster has been the home of the English Premier League, arguably the world’s greatest football league, for several years now. The Premier League has always showcased some of the best football and has one of the biggest fan bases not just in India but also in the world. India’s passion for football and in particular the Premier League has grown by leaps and bounds in the recent past.
Premier League over the last 25 years has garnered significant followership and legions of followers across the world. Many new fans stumble upon the league after being influenced by the passion and love that their close ones have for the Premier League or various clubs of the Premier League. The campaign is designed around the central thought of showcasing this journey of how people come to fall in love with Premier League. The context for the film is a typical interaction between siblings where there is a bit of playful banter and one-upmanship. The recent campaign by Star Sports shows a young girl who gradually falls in love with the Premier League as she keeps seeing her brother watch it and wear his emotions on his sleeve for his favorite Premier League club. This slice of life portrayal is inspired by numerous stories of siblings and friends as to how they came to fall in love with their favorite club.
‘Star Sports Select FC’ experiences have also brought fans closer to the game by giving them an incredible experience of celebrating the beautiful game and growing a fanbase of the Premier League in India. The campaign mirrors the emotions shown by fans of the Premier League who come to celebrate their teams in huge numbers at cafés, restaurants and bars at screenings of important matches and historic football rivalries.
By far, the most talked about and watched football league, The Premier League has been seeing a fair increase in the number of new fans in India which could be attributed to the expectation of a highly competitive season. Another key factor which has drawn new fans to the sport is that big games featuring the top teams have been scheduled very early on in the season. This gives fans the opportunity to be a part of rivalries while supporting their favourite clubs for bragging rights throughout the season.
The fans of Premier League in India display a great deal of passion which often pushes them on the edge about the whole craze into full-fledged followers of the League. Matchdays in the Premier League finds fans across the world including India glued to any screen hoping for a win that gets them bragging rights amongst friends and the football community.This campaign is conceptualized and created by the in-house team of Star Sports.
Brands
Bajaj Consumer Care FY26 profit rises to Rs 193.7 crore
Revenue climbs to Rs 1,092 crore as profit grows 49 per cent YoY
MUMBAI: Hair today, growth tomorrow Bajaj Consumer Care Limited seems to have found its shine again, posting a sharp jump in profitability even as it doubled down on brand spends and expansion. The company reported a net profit of Rs 193.7 crore for FY26, marking a strong 49 per cent rise from Rs 130.1 crore in FY25. Revenue from operations also grew to Rs 1,092.2 crore, up from Rs 942.8 crore a year earlier, signalling steady demand momentum across its portfolio.
For the March quarter, profit stood at Rs 64.1 crore, compared to Rs 31.5 crore in the corresponding period last year, while revenue rose to Rs 308.3 crore from Rs 243.5 crore.
The performance came despite a notable increase in spending. Advertising and sales promotion expenses climbed to Rs 168.3 crore in FY26, up from Rs 137.8 crore in FY25, reflecting continued investment in brand building. Other expenses also rose to Rs 151.3 crore from Rs 134.2 crore, indicating a broader push towards growth.
Operating efficiency, however, held firm. Profit before tax increased to Rs 234.8 crore in FY26 from Rs 157.7 crore a year earlier, supported by disciplined cost management across materials and inventory.
On the balance sheet, the company’s total assets expanded to Rs 959.1 crore as of March 31, 2026, compared to Rs 931.9 crore a year earlier. Other equity rose to Rs 780.3 crore, reinforcing a stronger financial base.
Cash flow from operations saw a significant uptick, reaching Rs 196.9 crore in FY26, nearly three times the Rs 67.9 crore recorded in FY25, highlighting improved working capital management.
However, the year also saw aggressive capital allocation. The company spent Rs 190.2 crore on share buybacks, contributing to a net cash outflow of Rs 196.5 crore from financing activities. Cash and cash equivalents stood at Rs 6.8 crore at the end of the year, down from Rs 25.6 crore.
Even as investments in subsidiaries and assets continued, the numbers suggest a company balancing growth ambitions with shareholder returns keeping one eye on expansion and the other on efficiency.
With margins improving and revenue steadily climbing, Bajaj Consumer Care appears to be combing through the competition with renewed confidence.
