ESPN STAR Sports launches second season of ‘The Dream Job’

The winner of the ‘Clinic All Clear Dream Job’ will be a presenter on ESPN STAR Sports’ new channel, STAR Cricket

Sports gets a flavour of reality television with the launch of ESPN STAR Sports’ second season of ‘The Dream Job’. In its new avatar as ‘Clinic All Clear Dream Job’, the programme is a national level talent hunt for a sports presenter.

The winner of ‘Clinic All Clear Dream Job’ will be offered a one year contract as a presenter on the new channel of ESPN STAR Sports, STAR Cricket.

The jury for the second edition will include stars Ravi Shastri, Wasim Akram, Harsha Bhogle and Alan Wilkins. Sharon van Zwieten, executive producer, news, ESPN STAR Sports, and SportsCenter presenter Colette Wong will also play a critical role in the jury. Mandira Bedi has been roped in as a celebrity judge on the show.

‘Clinic All Clear Dream Job’ will be televised on STAR Cricket every Thursday starting September 20, 2007.

The launch of ‘Dream Job’ is a part of the overall strategy of launching quality sports based feature programmes. According to executives at ESPN STAR Sports, the format of the show has been made bigger and the focus is on going international.

The contestants will be tested on various parameters such as presence of mind, domain knowledge, presentation, camera readiness as well as non-cricket sport and performance during live matches.

‘Clinic All Clear Dream Job’ has started with entries through audio-video clips and call-in phone lines that will operate till August 6, 2007. The entries will be reviewed and the shortlisted candidates will be called for on-ground auditions at the four metros in the presence of the jury. The auditions will be held in Delhi on August 18, in Mumbai on August 25, in Bangalore on September 1 and in Kolkata on September 8.

The talent search also goes international as India takes on England for three Tests and seven one day internationals. On each match day, ESPN STAR Sports will hunt for candidates from the stands and four deserving candidates will make it to the final leg of the reality show.

From the on-ground auditions, 16 contestants will make it to the studio rounds, with the final four heading to Sydney. Viewers will not just see the contestants live during the semi finals, they will also be able to vote for their favourites. The final round will see the top two contestants go to the ESPN STAR Sports studios in Singapore, where each of them will get to do a story live on SportsCenter. The two will then have a final job interview with the managing director of ESPN STAR Sports and the winner will get a one year contract as a sports presenter.

During the last season, ‘The Dream Job’ had on-ground auditions in six cities, and after a process lasting six months, Anand Narsimhan from Bangalore was chosen winner.