iWorld
VOOT SELECT gets into sports content, brings Arsenal TV on the platform
KOLKATA: In India, Arsenal fans, famously called as ‘Gooners’ have a reason to celebrate now as Viacom18’s premium English entertainment destinations VOOT SELECT and COLORS INFINITY are exclusively showcasing Arsenal TV on the platform and channel respectively. Gooners will now have access to full matches, press conferences, player interviews, training videos, match highlights, post-match analysis and BTS footage of their favorite team, through Arsenal TV programming – Arsenal World and Arsenal 360.
Football is the most watched and followed sport in the world and the fanfare in India has been rising exponentially, with legendary clubs like Arsenal FC being amongst the most popular clubs in the country. Fans will get an even more immersive experience and insight to the matches through special programming and exclusive access to club related content they never had before.
Along with complete matches of Arsenal FC in the Premier League, European and FA Cup, viewers can watch the exclusive programming of Arsenal World and Arsenal 360, as well as unforgettable moments from previous seasons including the season of ‘The Invincibles’. Furthermore, Arsenal TV will be a window to the training videos, interviews of manager Mikel Arteta, star players Mesut Ozil, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Granit Xhaka, David Luiz and the rest of the squad.
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iWorld
Govt pushes live events sector to Rs 196 billion by 2028
LEDC roadmap targets 15–20 million jobs and global hub status by 2030
MUMBAI: India’s live events story is getting louder and this time, it’s policy turning up the volume. The fourth meeting of the Live Events Development Cell (LEDC), chaired by Chanchal Kumar, was held on 30 April 2026 at Vigyan Bhavan, bringing together representatives from nine Central Ministries, six States and 12 industry stakeholders to chart the sector’s next phase of growth. The numbers already tell a compelling story. India’s organised live events industry was valued at Rs 145 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow at 10 per cent to Rs 196 billion by 2028 making it one of the fastest-expanding segments within the media and entertainment ecosystem.
Set up in July 2025 by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the LEDC is tasked with turning that momentum into a structured growth engine. Its long-term ambition is ambitious, position India as a global live events hub by 2030 while generating an additional 15–20 million jobs.
At the meeting, officials emphasised the sector’s multiplier effect spanning tourism, employment and allied industries while underlining the need for coordinated execution. A key update was the rollout of a single-window clearance system for live event permissions via the India Cine Hub portal, aimed at simplifying approvals and improving transparency.
States have been urged to adopt the system, alongside implementing the “Model Executive Order for Streamlining Licensing and Permissions for Live Events in India, 2026” by 31 May 2026. The framework seeks to standardise what has long been a fragmented and time-consuming regulatory process.
Beyond permissions, the discussion also turned to infrastructure and talent. A draft concept for greenfield venue development was tabled, alongside plans to build a skilled workforce. The Indian Institute of Mass Communication, in collaboration with industry bodies MESC and EEMA, is set to introduce certificate courses tailored to the live events sector.
Chanchal Kumar stressed that alignment across stakeholders is already in place, with the next challenge being execution at scale. The government, he noted, remains committed to creating a facilitative and transparent ecosystem for organisers.
For an industry once seen as fragmented and event-driven, the message is clear, India’s live events business is no longer just about the show, it’s about building an entire stage for growth.
