MTV India acquires broadcast rights for Box Cricket League

In a recent development, youth channel MTV India, has acquired broadcast rights for Box Cricket League. The channel will be joining hands with Balaji Telefilms and Marinating Films to bring together two of the most vital sources of entertainment in India- cricket and television - to present an all new exciting season of celebrity cricket matches with the launch of MTV Box Cricket League. Bringing cricket and over 200 television celebrities under one roof, MTV Box Cricket League will be telecast on MTV starting February 13, 2018.

Raj NayakCommenting on the association with Balaji Telefilms, Raj Nayak, COO, Viacom18, says in a press release, “We all know about young India’s obsession with cricket! With MTV Box Cricket League, we will be taking the nation’s obsession with cricket and entertainment a notch higher by ensuring we give the youth of India what it wants – celebrities and cricket – on a channel they love the most - MTV. Not only is the MTV Box Cricket League a fun concept but also an opportunity for viewers to see their favourite stars in a new avatar and engage with brand MTV in a whole new manner. It’s going to be extremely exciting to see the league unfold on screen for both, us and the viewers.”

Ferzad PaliaFerzad Palia, head - youth, music and English entertainment, Viacom18, says in a press release, “MTV is a brand that knows the pulse of the youth like no one else does and cricket being a sport which fascinates a lot of youngsters, we knew this would be a perfect association for us. When Prime Time stars take on their new role on the cricket pitch, we’re positive young India is going to sit up and not only take notice but follow each match in the league with keen interest. The stellar line up of celebrities will definitely make MTV Box Cricket League all the more engaging for our young viewers.”

On partnering with MTV, Ekta Kapoor, JMD, Balaji Telefilms, says in a press release, “MTV BCL 2018 is a reboot that's set to excite and entertain viewers across the television and digital medium. With a prime time slot on India's top youth channel, MTV BCL is poised to take the audiences on a dramatic sport extravaganza. Add to this the top male and female faces of indian television and the landscape is unlike any other. Audiences today are ready for clutter breaking content and this is a step in that direction.”

Nachiket PantvaidyaNachiket Pantvaidya, COO, Balaji Telefilms, says in a press release, “Balaji Telefilms is proud to be associated with India’s premier youth channel MTV, to bring its flagship property BCL to the youth of India. MTV is India’s leading platform for youth content and BCL on MTV will bring to life the emotion that the game of cricket has, with the added tadka of the off the pitch drama!”

This starry cricket league will boast of 10 cricket teams named after 10 Indian cities - Chennai Swaggers, Mumbai Tigers, Rowdy Bangalore, Delhi Dragons, The Ahmedabad Express, Pune Anmol Ratn, Lucknow Nawabs, Jaipur Raj Joshiley, Chandigarh Cubs and Kolkata Babu Moshayes with celebrities like Karan Patel, Shabbir Ahluwalia, Rithvik Dhanjani, Anita Hassandani associated with the teams.