iWorld
FanCode expects India West Indies series to grow its user base to 100 mn sports fans
MUMBAI: Last year the Dream Sports owned digital platform FanCode had taken the media rights for the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) till 2024. The Indian cricket team will play West Indies in an eight match series comprising three ODIs and five Twenty20 Internationals. The series runs from 22 July – 7 August 2022.
Speaking to Indiantelevision.com FanCode co-founder Yannick Colaco highlighted the importance of matches being played during primetime. “We expect the event to grow our FanCode user base to 100 million sports fans.”
The platform is being innovative in terms of its pricing. He explains that the focus has always rested on subscription packaging being inclusive and easily accessible for sports fans across the country. “For the India tour, fans will get to watch the entire tour of three ODIs and five T20s by paying just Rs 99. Fans will also be able to take a monthly subscription of FanCode, which will include events like The Hundred, and other cricket internationals featuring New Zealand, Bangladesh, Pakistan & Zimbabwe, in addition to the India West Indies tour for Rs 199. First, we are also creating an “ad free” premium subscription, where users will get to watch each match without ads for the price of Rs 159,” he explains.
He further noted that the Caribbean is home to some of the most entertaining cricket played in the world. “Our partnership with Cricket West Indies is a comprehensive one, which includes close to 400 matches from the Caribbean featuring some of world cricket’s biggest and brightest stars, over a four year period. The partnership has allowed us to give millions of cricket fans in India the opportunity to experience FanCode and the many digital innovations we are bringing to fans in redefining their sports consumption experience.”
He goes on to note that FanCode is the first-ever digital-only platform to host an India bilateral series and the entire coverage of the event will be customised for digital audiences. The aim he noted is to put the fan first. “Fans will now have the ability to choose the highlights they want to watch with the “real time highlights” feature, access real time stats like wagon wheels, manhattans, etc., through interactive overlays on the “Match Hub” and choose their commentator of choice.”
FanCode, as had been reported earlier by Indiantelevision.com, has sublicensed the broadcast rights to DD Sports. It marks the first time in over two decades that the pubcaster will air India cricket exclusively. “We are laser focused on providing great user experiences and solving for accessibility gaps that fans have in sports consumption & experience. DD Sports reach in smaller cities and towns is unbeatable, making it the ideal partner to help broadcast the tour on linear television while we continue to build a superior digital experience for fans nationally” he said.
Talking about cricket properties that FanCode has besides WICB, he said that the platform also has partnerships with the English Cricket Board, New Zealand Cricket, the ICC, Afghanistan Cricket Board, Zimbabwe Cricket, Cricket Ireland, Cricket Scotland, KNCB (Netherlands), Cricket Namibia and Malaysia Cricket. It is the exclusive partner for Vitality Blast, The Hundred, which are events done by the English Cricket Board. For the record, The Hundred is both a recently introduced event and a new format. There are 100 balls per innings for example.
Also Read: FanCode & DD Sports partner for exclusive TV broadcast of India tour of West Indies
It is also worth noting that Vitality Blast was established by the England & Wales Cricket Board in 2003 as the first professional Twenty20 league in the world. It was back when the concept of Twenty20 cricket was alien to India. Sharing his views on The Hundred, he said the format has been well thought out and is innovative in achieving its goal of engaging younger audiences better. “The response for the event last year was very positive and we expect the fan base for the event to grow exponentially this year.”
FanCode is also the ICC exclusive partner for all Pathway (World Cup Qualifier) events. It is also the exclusive partner for the cricket boards in Zimbabwe, Ireland and Afghanistan. In addition to this, it is a partner for New Zealand’s Twenty20 competition Super Smash.
When asked if viewership for non India cricket is growing, he said, “Sports fandom has grown exponentially in India, especially among the youth. What has been missing is the depth in coverage of non-India cricket events and an integrated experience for sports fans. We are constantly striving to solve both these fan problems & the response has already been tremendous, as evident by over 50 million sports fans who have used FanCode”.
iWorld
Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square makes $64 billion bid to acquire Universal Music Group
Ackman pitches NYSE relisting plan as UMG board weighs unsolicited offer
The hedge fund has proposed a business combination that values UMG at €30.40 per share, representing a hefty 78 per cent premium to its current trading price. The offer includes €9.4 billion in cash alongside stock in a newly formed entity, with shareholders set to receive €5.05 per share in cash and 0.77 shares in the new company for each UMG share they hold.
Under the proposal, UMG would merge with Pershing Square SPARC Holdings Ltd and re-emerge as a Nevada-based entity listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The move is designed to boost investor visibility and potentially secure inclusion in major indices such as the S&P 500.
Pershing Square Capital Management ceo Bill Ackman argued that while UMG’s operational performance remains strong, its market valuation has lagged due to external factors. “UMG’s stock price has languished due to a combination of issues that are unrelated to the performance of its music business,” Ackman said, pointing to concerns ranging from shareholder overhang to delayed US listing plans.
Ackman also flagged what he sees as untapped potential in UMG’s balance sheet and a lack of clear capital allocation strategy. He added that the market has not fully recognised the value of UMG’s €2.7 billion stake in Spotify, alongside gaps in investor communication.
The proposed transaction would also result in the cancellation of around 17 per cent of UMG’s outstanding shares, while maintaining its investment-grade balance sheet. Pershing Square has said it will fully backstop the equity financing, with debt commitments secured at signing. The deal is targeted for completion by the end of the year.
UMG, however, has struck a measured tone. The company confirmed that its board has received the non-binding proposal and will review it with advisers. It reiterated confidence in its current strategy and leadership under Lucian Grainge, signalling no immediate shift in stance.
The proposal comes at a time when global music companies are navigating evolving investor expectations, streaming economics and capital allocation pressures. For Pershing Square, the bet is clear: sharpen the financial story, relist in the US, and let the music play louder in the markets.
Whether UMG’s board is ready to change the tune remains to be seen, but the spotlight on its valuation just got a lot brighter.
