iWorld
Pickleball gets a streaming smash as WPBL teams up with Sony Liv
MUMBAI: Pickleball is about to bounce onto a bigger screen. The World Pickleball League has announced an exclusive digital streaming partnership with Sony Liv, giving fans front-row access as the league gears up for its high-energy Season 2.
Under the deal, all 120 matches of Season 2 will stream live and on demand on Sony LIV, marking a sharp jump from the 90 matches played in the inaugural edition. The expanded season will run over 13 days and feature 56 players from 18 countries, underlining the league’s growing international ambitions.
Season 2 also raises the celebrity quotient. The seven teams are owned by high-profile names including Samantha Ruth Prabhu, filmmaker Atlee, cricketers Rishabh Pant and Sunil Gavaskar, actors Rakul Preet Singh and Jackky Bhagnani, along with the celebrity couple Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia Deshmukh.
The league, which is affiliated with the All India Pickleball Association, Asia Federation of Pickleball and the United World Pickleball Federation, is positioning itself firmly as a digital-first sports property aimed at young, urban audiences.
Announcing the partnership, WPBL founder and CEO Gaurav Natekar said the tie-up with Sony Liv would help the league scale faster and connect with fans across screens, as Season 2 brings more teams, more matches and a deeper talent pool.
From Sony LIV’s side, Rajesh Kaul noted that pickleball’s fast pace and celebrity involvement have already struck a chord with metro audiences, and the platform’s OTT reach will help deepen engagement through live action and behind-the-scenes content.
With a bigger calendar, a broader international mix and a high-visibility streaming partner, Season 2 of the World Pickleball League is shaping up as the sport’s biggest serve yet to India’s digital sports audience.
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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.
