Sports
Neo Cricket introduces two shows
MUMBAI: To take the six months of back-to-back cricketing action on NEO Cricket further, the channel has introduced two new shows Once More and Tata Photon+ Cricket Central.
Once More is an interactive show wherein the viewer can request his/her favourite cricket clip. Tata Photon+ Cricket Central, on the other hand, is a show which brings the viewers a daily dose of cricket news, feature stories on cricketing issues, gossip and masala corner on the lighter side of cricket.
Once More is a half an hour ‘request your cricket clip’ show, telecast from Monday to Friday at 8 pm, with a live format that involves complete viewer interactivity. In this show viewers can not only call, sms or e-mail to request their favorite cricketing moments, but also dedicate songs to their favorite cricketers. To add more zing, the show will include thematic specials like Kumble’s 30 best wickets, Sachin’s ten best knocks, best 6s by Indian batsmen, funniest cricket moments etc. thereby making the format flexible, interactive and fun.
Tata Photon+ Cricket Central is positioned as being the first daily magazine show of its kind and airs from Monday to Sunday from 9 pm to 9:30 pm, hosted by RK – Radhakrishnan Srinivasan. The show will cover all aspects of cricket such as cricket news for the day, feature stories on cricketing controversies/issues, gossip and masala corner on the lighter side of cricket. Another unique aspect of the show is the ‘Cricket Community’ wherein the host would welcome opinions from viewers on anything about cricket through video blog, social networking sites, emails, sms, vox pop interviews etc. The show also plans on having an interactive quiz segment.
Neo Cricket head programming Mautik Tolia says, “The launch of Once More and Tata Photon+ Cricket Central is our endeavour to present the game of cricket in its entirety to our viewers. The live format of these unique and exciting shows will involve a high level of viewer interactivity and will ensure that our viewers get the best of this cricketing season.”
Sports
After Virat Kohli’s exit, One8 Commune Bengaluru shuts down
Outlet near Chinnaswamy closes amid rent row, compliance issues mount
BENGALURU: The One8 Commune outlet near M. Chinnaswamy Stadium has shut down following a court order, bringing a turbulent chapter for the high-profile dining destination to a close.
The immediate trigger was a legal dispute over unpaid dues. The outlet, operated by Trio Hills Hospitality, had reportedly defaulted on rent payments for nearly six months. Including maintenance charges and revenue share commitments, the outstanding amount is said to have crossed Rs 2 crore. A Bengaluru civil court subsequently directed the closure of the premises until all financial obligations are cleared.
The shutdown comes months after Virat Kohli, whose brand name lent the outlet its identity, had already distanced himself from the Bengaluru franchise. According to reports, concerns around repeated compliance-related issues prompted his team to withdraw the association. The removal of the One8 branding is believed to have impacted footfall, further straining the business.
The outlet had also faced regulatory scrutiny over the years. In 2024, authorities booked the establishment for operating beyond the 1:00 am curfew. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike had issued notices over missing fire safety clearances, while an FIR was filed for violating tobacco regulations by not providing a designated smoking zone under applicable laws.
In response to the closure, the brand maintained that the issue stemmed from building-level compliance responsibilities linked to the property owner rather than operational lapses on its part. It also denied that financial default was the primary reason, reiterating that customer safety remained a priority.
For now, the shutters remain down. While a reopening is theoretically possible if disputes are resolved, the absence of Kohli’s brand association makes a return under the One8 banner increasingly unlikely.
