GECs
IOC finalises broadcast deals for Athens 2004
MUMBAI: With a little over a year to go before the curtain goes up on the 38th edition of what is considered to be pinnacle of sporting excellence -The Olympic Games Athens 2004 – the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has been busy putting into place broadcast deals across the globe.
The event takes place in Greece – the father of the event – from 13-29 August 2004. The largest radio and TV networks of the world have secured broadcasting rights for the event and will be present in Athens with around 12,000 employees including journalists, directors, technicians amongst others.
Revenues from radio and TV broadcasting rights for Athens 2004 are expected to reach around $730 million. The organisations with whom deals have been concluded include the Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU). Countries participating in the ABU include India, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand amongst others.
Other broadcasters that the IOC has reached include the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Television New Zealand, Chinese Taipei Television Pool, and Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU) Unions of radio and TV networks.
More recently the IOC and Japan Consortium signed an agreement. Japan Consortium will transmit the Games to Japan’s six largest independent television stations and also to the members of the National Association of Broadcasters. Japan Consortium will bring to Athens around 1,000 employees to meet broadcasting requirements.
In a related development, Stefi Productions, Gearhouse Broadcast and GlobeCast, the companies behind Athens Broadcast Services have announced that their website has gone live.
www.athensbroadcastservices.com has been designed to outline services that will be provided through their broadcast base for non-rights holders during the Olympics next year.
The broadcast base is a physical office space just minutes away from the main Olympic stadium in Athens, which will contain work space, studio facilities, an equipment rental shop, edit suites, radio suites, uplink facilities, live locations and much more.
Targeting broadcasters, the broadcast base will enable producers and technical crew to carry out any production work in Athens literally minutes away from the action.
Athens Broadcast Services’ project manager Andre Nel said: “We know that space and production facilities will be at a premium in Athens next year and wanted to create something now that programme makers will view to be of value. I think that the option of a total solutions provider saves a lot of headaches for all parties involved with interaction with just one point of contact for all their production needs.”
GECs
Pocket FM partners with Indian Open Pickleball 2026
Audio platform joins forces with major tournament to engage young fans.
MUMBAI: Pocket FM just served up a perfect partnership because when audio storytelling meets pickleball’s fast-paced rallies, even the sidelines start listening. Pocket FM, the world’s largest audio series platform, has announced a strategic partnership with Indian Open 2026, one of India’s biggest pickleball tournaments organised by Global Sports in Hyderabad in association with Pickl’Out and Crosscourts Sports Club.
The collaboration brings Pocket FM’s immersive storytelling to one of the fastest-growing emerging sports in India. Pickleball, known for its accessibility, energy and strong community appeal, is rapidly attracting younger, digitally savvy audiences making it an ideal platform for Pocket FM to deepen its cultural relevance.
Under the partnership, Pocket FM will enjoy extensive on-ground and digital visibility throughout the tournament, which begins on 1 April 2026. This includes centre court branding, venue-wide presence, presenting rights for select matches, player lounge branding, team jersey integration, and strong integration across live streaming and social media.
Pocket FM, SVP and global head for brand marketing and partnerships Vineet Singh said, “Pickleball is building a strong connection with young and engaged audiences in India. This partnership allows us to connect with people in a meaningful way through strong on-ground presence and digital visibility.”
Global Sports and Indian Open 2026, founder Hemal Jain added, “Partnering with Pocket FM adds an exciting new dimension to the experience. As a brand that has built deep resonance with young audiences, Pocket FM is a strong fit for the energy and ambition of this tournament.”
The move reflects Pocket FM’s continued strategy of aligning with emerging passion points and building deeper engagement with communities driven by competition and shared experiences.
In a country where sports and stories often collide, Pocket FM isn’t just sponsoring a tournament, it’s turning every rally into a narrative, proving that the best audio moments sometimes happen when the paddle meets the ball.
