iWorld
GroupM sports report: Cricket leads in online buzz, but Olympics and Football are flexing their muscles
MUMBAI: India’s digital sports scene is a proper riot, with cricket still the undisputed king, but other sports are making a right racket too, according to GroupM ESP’s Sporting Nation report for 2024. According to the data, a whopping 74.70 per cent of online sports conversations revolve around cricket, proving it’s more than just a game; it’s a national obsession.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) takes the crown for sporting event chatter, accounting for a staggering 56.65 per cent of all online discussions. It’s a two-month T20 spectacle that keeps fans glued to their screens and keyboards.
But the Paris Olympics also made a significant splash, grabbing 24.46 per cent of the online conversation. It seems India’s medal hopes in shooting, wrestling, javelin, and badminton whipped up a proper frenzy. And while the T20 World Cup saw a 15.17 percent share of discussion, the Olympics still pipped it to the post.
Football, meanwhile, trails behind at 12.62 per cent, showing a more “nuanced but demographically concentrated following.”
It’s not just the Indian Super League (ISL) getting tongues wagging; global events like the FIFA World Cup and European leagues are also part of the digital discourse.
When it comes to individual athletes, cricket’s Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli dominate, accounting for over two-thirds of all athlete-related discussions. Rohit’s T20 World Cup victory and Kohli’s “generational talent” debates keep them firmly in the spotlight.
Outside cricket, wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s Olympic disqualification sparked a wave of online sympathy, placing her third in athlete chatter. Neeraj Chopra, Manu Bhaker, Lakshya Sen, PV Sindhu, and chess champ Gukesh Dommaraju also made their mark, capturing the nation’s imagination.
Team-wise, Virat Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings (CSK) lead the IPL pack, while Mohun Bagan Super Giant reigns supreme in the ISL.
The data reveals that Indian sports fans are a passionate bunch, shaping narratives and amplifying their voices through digital platforms. They’re not just spectators; they’re active participants in the sporting drama. And with increased media penetration and improved streaming, their voices are louder than ever. It’s a proper digital sports carnival.
iWorld
WhatsApp tests ‘WhatsApp Plus’ paid subscription tier
€2.49 plan adds customisation tools, messaging and calls remain free.
MUMBAI: Your chats may soon get a glow-up at a small monthly price. WhatsApp is testing a new paid subscription tier called ‘WhatsApp Plus’, signalling a shift towards premium personalisation features while keeping its core services free. The feature is currently being rolled out to a limited set of Android beta users, with early reports from WABetaInfo indicating a price of €2.49 per month (approximately Rs 274). Meta has confirmed the test, stating that it is designed for users who want more control over how they customise and organise their app experience.
Importantly, the subscription remains optional. Core functionalities including messaging, voice calls and community features will continue to be available free of charge, ensuring that the platform’s primary use case remains unchanged.
Instead, WhatsApp Plus focuses on aesthetic and organisational upgrades. These include exclusive sticker packs, new themes, custom app icons and personalised notification tones. On the functional side, subscribers may be able to pin up to 20 chats significantly higher than the current limit of three along with access to custom chat lists and enhanced categorisation tools.
Industry observers suggest the offering is largely cosmetic. Social media consultant Matt Navarra noted that the features lean more towards visual and usability enhancements rather than altering the app’s core functionality.
While global pricing has not been finalised, the subscription is expected to remain a low-cost monthly plan, with reports indicating a possible one-month free trial for eligible users. The feature is still in beta, meaning the final set of offerings could evolve before a broader rollout. Support for iOS users is also anticipated in the coming weeks.
The move mirrors a broader trend in the social and messaging ecosystem, where platforms such as Snapchat and Instagram have introduced similar subscription layers adding premium features without placing core services behind a paywall.
For WhatsApp, the strategy appears clear, keep the conversation free, but charge for a little extra flair around it.
