News Broadcasting
UK’s ICE 365 partners Airtel to launch ‘Spot the ball’ contest
MUMBAI: ICE 365, the UK-based mobile interactive community service provider, today in association with Airtel announced the launch of an exciting new cricket contest ‘Spot the Ball’. The contest will provide Airtel cricket enthusiastic subscribers, a perfect opportunity to test their skill and mettle as they try to ‘Spot the Cricket Ball’ located in the grid displayed on the mobile screen.
Spot the Ball, is a multi-platform (spot the ball) game, accessible through the Web, Mobile, SMS and IVR systems, in which a picture of cricket maestro Sachin Tendulkar playing on a cricket pitch is displayed on the mobile screen of the user. The cricket ball is removed from the picture and subscribers through their skill and judgment need to spot the correct position of the ball, states an official release.
A contest, accessible to Airtel subscribers across 23 circles, Spot the Ball is a first of its kind cricket game, wherein the mega prize winner will take home a brand new Mercedes worth Rs 30,00,000, the release adds.
Commenting on the launch of Spot the Ball, ICE 365 Ltd. group president Paul Shoker said, “Mobile gaming is a rising star in India’s fast-growing wireless business. In fact, Indian telecom analysts have pegged mobile gaming as the next big revenue earner after short messaging. The Indian mobile-game business currently makes up about 5 per cent of the global wireless market. Market researchers expect the Indian mobile gaming market will generate annual revenue of about $336 million by 2009.”
Shoker further said, “ICE 365 on its first advent to the booming India telecom market has partnered with leading service provider, AirTel, to bring to the cricket enthusiasts of the country, a first-of-its-kind cricket contest – ‘Spot the Ball’. Through such partnerships we hope to bring to the table much more exciting, interactive value added services, which cater to the communication and entertainment needs of Indian mobile subscribers.”
How to play ‘Spot the Ball’
One of the ways in which the game can be played is through WAP i.e. Mobile Internet Service on Airtel Live. The user to go to Airtel Live WAP portal from their phone, or SMS FUN to 646 from their GPRS enabled phone. Sending the SMS results in a URL pushed to them, which they must open with their GPRS enabled phone.
The user is shown a short introduction to the competition & presented with a choice of four menu options: How to play, Start Game, Terms and Exit. After clicking “Start Game” the user is shown an image, with the ball removed from the picture, and he/she is required to guess where the ball is on the picture.
The user enters the grid no. (e.g. C3) where he/she thinks the ball would be, and clicks on “Submit”. At this point the user can select “Submit” to submit entry or “Replay” to reposition the ball. The user selects “Submit” and the grid reference of the position they choose is submitted.
If they are correct they are informed of their successful entry. If their entry was incorrect the user is informed how far away from the correct position their entry is. The user is charged a nominal fee of Rs.30/- for each entry they make by clicking “Submit”.Once a user has successfully made a successful entry from an image they do not have the opportunity to play that image again.
Airtel director marketing & communications Hemant Sachdev said, “We are delighted to bring this service to our subscribers. Today, gaming downloads form a significant part of our subscribers’ mobile experience. In a nation of cricket lovers, nothing connects with the populace like cricket. The game, ‘Spot the Ball’, is involving and highly engaging and will further endorse our effort to bring the best in gaming content to our subscribers”.
News Broadcasting
News18 India launches Command Centre war explainer with Arya
New show shifts from debates to decoding global conflicts and impacts
MUMBAI: News18 India has rolled out a new war-focused programme, Command Centre, featuring Gaurav Arya, as it looks to offer viewers a sharper, more grounded take on global conflicts amid rising tensions in West Asia.
Positioned as an “insider war room”, the show moves away from conventional panel debates and instead focuses on explaining military developments, decoding strategy and connecting global events to their everyday impact, from fuel prices to economic shifts.
The format leans heavily on visuals and data. The studio has been designed like a command hub, complete with large LED war maps, real-time graphics and an alert system to track developments as they unfold.
At the centre of it all is Arya, who brings his military background to simplify complex war strategies for viewers. His signature line, “Seedhi baat samjhiye”, anchors the show’s promise of clarity over noise.
News18 India managing editor Jyoti Kamal said, “Command Centre, featuring Major Gaurav Arya is designed to deliver accurate insights and a clear perspective on how evolving conflicts impact everyday life, from household budgets to national security. With expert voices analysing every development in real time, the show goes beyond headlines to decode what’s happening now, what it means, and what could come next.”
Echoing the intent, Gaurav Arya added, “In times of war, confusion is the biggest threat. With News18 India’s Command Centre, we are bringing viewers inside the war room, decoding strategies, tracking every escalation, and explaining, in the simplest terms, what it means for India and for every household. Seedhi baat samjhiye, this is where you understand not just what is happening, but what happens next.”
The weekday show will air in the afternoon slot and will also feature Gaurav Shukla, adding to its editorial depth.
With its mix of analysis, visuals and a clear focus on impact, the show reflects a broader shift in news consumption. Viewers are no longer just watching events unfold, they are looking to understand what those events mean for them.
