Press Launch: Kapil Dev & Sourav Ganguly to select India’s First ‘CRICKET STAR’
Dec 05 2006
Reality Show based on Talent Hunt to be simulcast on DD National & ZEE Sports
Dynamic cricketer Ajay Jadeja will be the Cricket Expert & Analyst
Entry Now Open via SMS, land & mobile phones for aspirants across India
Reality Show based on Talent Hunt to be simulcast on DD National & ZEE Sports
Investors in Cricket (IIC) announced its glittering star cast at a launch event held at the C.K. Nayudu Hall, CCI today. Mr. Manoj Badale, Chairman, IIC, officially launched Cricket Star”, an interactive multimedia talent hunt for the best young cricketer in the world. Cricket Gurus Kapil Dev and Sourav Ganguly will be the Judges while Ajay Jadeja will be the Expert and Analyst in the thrilling reality TV show based on this talent hunt, which will be hosted by TV personality Shweta Salve.
Young cricket fanatics aspiring to become the next cricket phenomenon, now have an opportunity to apply for Cricket Star by calling 5052727 from GSM Mobiles, 127777 from MTNL Mumbai land-lines, or 1255527 from MTNL and BSNL land-lines across the rest of India. The application process is also open through SMS, by sending ‘CSTAR’ to 7575.
The winner of the first series, Cricket Star India, will win a year's all-expenses-paid contract with Leicestershire County Cricket Club and attractive cash prizes and will also achieve international celebrity status. The final 11 contestants will also have the opportunity to participate in the global rollout of Cricket Star which is slated for a UK launch in summer 2007 and a subsequent launch in Pakistan, where there is significant interest in the format.
Cricket Star, India’s pioneering cricket talent hunt, will be presented to TV audiences in a reality show format, simulcast on DD National and the Zee Network. The programme goes on air in mid January and will run for eleven weeks, with three weekly simulcast episodes on DD National and Zee Sports, and a weekly episode on Zee TV.
Additionally, Cricket Star will introduce to Indian audiences the emerging 20:20 format which is currently sweeping the cricketing world. Cricket Star aspirants will play a series of 20:20 cricket matches as part of the programme, which will be telecast on Zee Sports.
Speaking to the Press, Kapil and Ajay reaffirmed their commitment to Cricket Star, which seeks to tap into undiscovered pools of talent in the country. Sourav, speaking to the Press via tele-conference, said “this is my way of giving back to the game that has given me so much”.
Manoj Badale, Chairman, Investors in Cricket, UK said, "Cricket Star is a ground-breaking TV format that will showcase the best of India's unsung cricketing talent. This exciting project supports our aim of unearthing and developing talent to produce the future stars of the game. The show also provides large scale opportunities to associate with a Sports property that will be India’s next TV phenomenon."
Cricket Star is presented by high profile corporate sponsors including Airtel and HLL’s Fair & Lovely Menz Active, both of whom were present at the launch.
Mr Gopal Vittal, Director, Marketing and Communications of Airtel said “In India, cricket and Bollywood share a passion that cuts across geographies, cultures and religions. Today, every street, nukkad, or galli in this country has an enthusiastic budding cricketer waiting for an opportunity to perform on a bigger stage. Cricket Star is a unique interactive multimedia talent hunt for India’s best young cricketers. It is a platform to search for those individuals who have the hunger, ability and desire to perform at the highest level and become India’s next Cricket Superstar”.
Speaking on the occasion, Ashok Venkatramani, Vice President-Skin Care, Hindustan Lever Limited, said “We are happy to extend our support to the first ever Reality Cricket show in India. The Reality Cricket Show represents the opportunity to unearth new talent in the field of cricket – it is our contribution to the Indian cricket and we are certain this will help discover many Sachins, Dhonis, Pathans and Sehwags. We see this support we are extending as a sure way of changing the story of Indian cricket and taking it to greater heights of glory”.
The Cricket Star show format is as simple as it is compelling.
The journey begins today, when eager young cricketers in India can apply by phone or SMS.
A nationwide application and screening process will lead to a shortlist of talented candidates being invited to attend the Regional Auditions. These begin in mid December. A final group of about 25 candidates will then be invited to attend the 11 week long Cricket Star Academy where they will be subjected to a televised series of unique physical and mental tests and a range of patented cricketing challenges to test their ability. The contestants' performance and ability will be showcased each week through an exciting 20:20 cricket match where they will be expected to shine.
Speaking to the Press, Mr. Himanshu Mody, Business Head, Zee Sports, said “this is the first format which truly brings together cricket and television in an entertaining manner. We aim to find the hidden wonders in India’s villages and towns, and showcase them to the country along with their struggles and travails. At Zee Sports, it has always been about showcasing sports and sportspersons from India, being India’s first private sports channel. As they say, may the best man or woman win.”
Based on their performances each week, from week one to seven, the judges will nominate the bottom four performers, out of whom two will be evicted by the other contestants. From week eight onwards, with the final eleven contestants, millions of television viewers will be asked to vote by phone or by SMS. The contestant receiving the maximum votes cumulatively will be declared the ‘Cricket Star’. The ‘Cricket Star’ will be chosen by millions of television viewers in a dramatic final episode at the end of March 2007.
While Cricket Star boasts all the latest technological innovations in cricket training and analysis, it won't be just about cricket: the show will also uncover the candidates' human sides, portraying life at the “Cricket Star Academy”, the interaction between the hopefuls, and insights into their passion for the game. To bring out this passion, drama and energy that will capture the hearts and minds of millions of viewers, IIC has signed on Miditech Pvt. Ltd as the Production house. Miditech is India’s leading reality TV specialist, having recently bagged the Telly Awards for their expertise in reality formats.
Nikhil Alva, CEO, Miditech said “We at Miditech are thrilled to be associated with Cricket Star, the hunt for India’s next cricket icon. Cricket Star is a unique innovative format with great potential. As India’s biggest producers of reality entertainment programmes, we intend to pull out all stops to make Cricket Star a truly memorable reality television brand.”
About Investors in Cricket (IIC)
Investor in Cricket is an innovative company which specializes in the creation and management of sports rights that have relevance to the Asian sub-continent. IIC was formed by a group of businessmen and entrepreneurs who were convinced that their commercial acumen, can-do attitude and passion for the game could have a positive impact on cricket. Over the past 24 months that conviction has been borne out and IIC has grown rapidly. Its properties now include Cricket Star (the cricket reality TV show), The International 2020 Club Championship (the “Champions League of 2020 Cricket”), and the commercial rights of Leicestershire County Cricket Club.
