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CNN-IBN's Gaurav Kalra joins ESPNcricinfo

The leading digital cricket brand debuts new Bangalore studio, rolls out incisive video programming

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CNN-IBN's Gaurav Kalra joins ESPNcricinfo

CNN-IBN's Gaurav Kalra joins ESPNcricinfo

The leading digital cricket brand debuts new Bangalore studio, rolls out incisive video programming

BestMediaInfo Bureau / Delhi / February 6, 2014

Gaurav Kalra Gaurav Kalra

ESPNcricinfo, the world's leading digital cricket brand, has announced that respected television journalist Gaurav Kalra has joined ESPNcricinfo as Senior Editor for the emerging video editorial and content development group.  Kalra, who joins ESPN from CNN-IBN, will work with ESPNcricinfo's in-house digital video production teams and acclaimed editorial team to continue to grow and develop the brand's use of high-quality video in their journalism and storytelling, as well as original analyses and programming. Kalra will report to Sambit Bal, Editor of ESPNcricinfo.

Kalra will be based in ESPN's Bangalore office, where ESPNcricinfo also unveiled a new studio and control room built to enhance the production capabilities and quality for the site. The highly-flexible digital video production studio is designed with four different "pocket sets” that can be purposed for four entirely different programming uses – including a main set, smaller and more casual “discussion” space, a video wall and a “pitch” demonstration set. Each can be customised for different shows and sponsor elements. The studio features multiple HD camera positions, cutting-edge digital switcher and recorder equipment, an 8-line Telos audio system, professional grade talk back system and a live streaming encoder – allowing it to produce full TV-quality programme production.

“ESPN has been at the forefront of developing world-class sports content and is known to have revolutionised the way content is delivered on digital platforms. The opportunity to keep pace with evolving tastes of sports fans and develop high-impact, shareable content in the process, is tremendous. ESPNcricinfo has enjoyed enviable brand loyalty from cricket fans thus far, and I look forward to enhancing the offering by looking at new series and video programming to take story-telling to the next level,” said Kalra.

ESPNcricinfo's focus on creating compelling digital video content reflects ESPN's global leadership in digital sports video. Leveraging ESPN's 34 years of expertise in video production and reflecting the widening appetite for video content among India's modern sports fans, ESPNcricinfo is expanding and enhancing its existing video content offering.

Globally, ESPN's online sites logged more than 2.3 billion video views in 2013. Non-US markets saw online video views increase 80 per cent compared to 2012. ESPNCricinfo saw total online video starts in 2013 increase of +80 per cent compared to 2012. In India, ESPNCricinfo ranked as the #1 site for online cricket video, according to comscore, reaching more unique visitors than the next seven competitive properties combined.

Speaking on the developments around video, Sambit Bal said, “The sports fan has changed considerably since we first began reporting cricket 20 years ago. All through, our endeavour has been to develop content in keeping with these changing consumption patterns. Today, against the background of multi-screen usage, we are trying to offer content on-the-go that is crisp and without any interruptions in delivery. Video enables this process, and growing our capabilities here is a natural next step. We believe Gaurav's experience in this field will lend the required expertise to leverage this opportunity.”

Info@BestMediaInfo.com

Info@BestMediaInfo.com

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