Eurosport’s latest TV network looking to pilot drone racing

By Jessica Toonkel

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Eurosport, Discovery Communications Inc’s European sports broadcaster, is in talks with potential partners to broadcast drone racing, making it the latest network looking to experiment with the fledgling sport in which contestants navigate small, remote-controlled aircraft at high speeds through aerial obstacle courses.

For television networks and advertisers, drone racing represents an opportunity to combine the live-event attraction of NASCAR and Formula 1 with the digital-age appeal of what has become known as eSports, in which video game players compete while millions of viewers watch online, usually for free.

Eurosport would join Disney Corp’s ESPN, British broadcaster Sky Plc, and Germany’s ProSiebenSat.1, all of which have recently signed on to broadcast races by the 15-month-old Drone Racing League. Sky also agreed to invest $1 million in the league.

On top of that, the league has partnered with MGM Television, run by Mark Burnett, to develop a reality series about the pilots.

“We think it’s an area worth us paying attention to and to test on audiences,” Peter Hutton, chief executive of Eurosport, told Reuters in an interview.

Eurosport, a pan-European sports media group that Discovery bought last year, has 228 million subscribers in 93 countries in Europe, Asia and Australia.

While the network typically focuses on traditional sports like tennis and football, drone racing has “potential for sporting credibility,” Hutton said, declining to elaborate on discussions with drone leagues.

NICHE OR MORE?

It is by no means certain the novel sport will be a money-maker for TV networks.

ESPN has not paid for the rights to broadcast drone races, according to two sources familiar with the matter. Instead, the network is sharing ad revenue with the leagues, the sources said.

Such agreements align the interest of the network with the leagues, said Nicholas Horbaczewski, CEO and founder of the Drone Racing League, based in New York City.

The Drone Racing League, the only professional league in the emerging sport, is finalising TV distribution deals in other markets worth millions of dollars, according to another source familiar with the situation, who asked to remain anonymous because the conversations were confidential.

An ESPN spokeswoman declined to comment.

Sky invested in Drone Racing League alongside a number of other investors including RSE Ventures, the New York-based venture capital firm of Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross; and Lerer Hippeau Ventures, owned by media gurus Eric Hippeau and Kenneth Lerer.

The league said it has raised over $12 million since its creation in 2015.

One factor that could limit the sport’s appeal is that most drone racing on TV has been shown on a tape delay, to allow for editing to capture the most compelling visuals. The races, where small drones fly around courses in empty warehouses, stadiums and other venues, can be hard to follow for viewers watching live.

Since an attraction for most sports programming is that the contests are broadcast as they happen, it remains to be seen whether large numbers of fans will want to watch races after the fact.

“Delays don’t really fly anymore,” said Daniel Glantz, global head of sponsorship at insurer American International Group Inc, which sponsored the amateur Drone Sports Association’s National Championships in August, though it did not run ads during the event.

The sport’s boosters say it is only a matter of time until the networks and leagues – there are now a handful of drone racing leagues in the United States, Europe and Asia – figure out how to effectively air the races live.

On the other hand, Drone Racing League’s Horbaczewski said presenting races in a more produced format is the best way to attract new fans, and that live races are not vital. “There are a lot of sports that don’t go live off the bat,” he said. “Look at professional poker.”

Fox Sports is waiting for the sport to evolve to see which leagues or organisations prove to be the best partner before agreeing to broadcast races, said David Nathanson, head of business operations at 21st Century Fox Inc’s Fox Sports.

So far, the TV audience for drone races has been small. Only 223,000 people watched the U.S. Drone Racing Nationals broadcast on Sept. 18 on ESPN, according to Nielsen, which tracks viewer data.

That is tiny compared to the 13 million viewers on average that watch Monday night NFL games last season, but is in line with the 264,000 viewers on average who tuned into an episode of Turner Sports’ first season of its ELeague televised video gaming competition last summer.

“I think what took 10 years for eSports to get to will only take two to three for drone racing,” said Keith Strier, a digital strategy head at Ernst & Young, which sponsored the 2016 National Drone Racing Championships and is considering sponsoring a drone team or organisation. “eSports has paved the way.”

(Reporting By Jessica Toonkel; Editing by Eric Effron, David Gregorio and Bill Rigby)

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Raised-Fist Olympians Punished in 1968 Will be Received at White House

Tommie Smith and John Carlos (right and centre) black-gloved fists in the air during 1968 Olympics.

© AFP

Highlights

Tommie Smith and John Carlos, the two African-American athletes sent home from the 1968 Olympic Games for their raised-fist protest on the medal podium, will receive a long-awaited moment of redemption at a U.S. team event at the White House this week.

The two were invited by the U.S. Olympic Committee to attend a gala dinner on Wednesday in Washington honoring the 2016 Olympic team and accompany the team to meet President Barack Obama at the White House the following day, Carlos told Reuters on Sunday.

The image of Smith and Carlos, gold and bronze medalists in the 200-meter track event in Mexico City, thrusting their black-gloved fists into the air, has become an enduring symbol of the fight for racial equality.

Their example has surfaced repeatedly in past weeks as an inspiration to African-American National Football League and college players protesting racial injustice after the fatal shootings of several black men by police.

Smith and Carlos paid a high price for their protest, not only with the Olympic Committee but also in the court of public opinion.

“It was against the charter of the Olympic Committee to make a political statement at the victory podium,” Carlos said in a phone interview. “But we felt it was the only place we could make the statement at that time.”

Standing in black socks, the two Americans bowed their heads and pushed their fists into the air as the U.S. anthem played, shocking the world and many Americans reeling from a turbulent year in the fight for civil rights. They were suspended from the U.S. Olympic team and sent back to the United States.

It was widely interpreted as a black power salute but the athletes later described it as a “human rights salute.”

Carlos said he did not expect or want an explicit apology from the Olympic Committee for sending him and Smith home, because their actions were in clear violation of policy. He said, however, that over time and as their raised-fist salute has become a precedent of sorts, U.S. Olympic officials have a better understanding of the reasons behind their protest.

“Time has gone by to the point where they had to take a look at themselves and say, ‘These guys weren’t bad guys,'” Carlos said. “‘They were courageous enough to make a statement for what they believed in.'”

The U.S. Olympic Committee did not return calls requesting comment. The Associated Press reported on Friday that USOC Chief Executive Scott Blackmun had asked Smith and Carlos to serve as ambassadors as the federation tries to bring more diversity to its own ranks.

“I think Tommie and John have played an important and positive role in the evolution of our attitudes about diversity and inclusion, not only in the United States but around the world,” Blackmun said.

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BCCI Ignoring Recommendations: Lodha Panel To Tell Supreme Court

Flouting Lodha panel guidelines, the BCCI named several committees that’ll be effective for 2016-17.

© Reuters

Highlights

The Lodha panel is submitting a report to the Supreme Court on Tuesday saying that the Board of Control for Cricket in India is ignoring its recommendations on bringing changes in its governance.

The Lodha panel was formed by the Supreme Court in the wake of the 2013 IPL spot-fixing and betting scandal. In its report to the Supreme Court on July 18 this year, the panel, headed by former Chief Justice of India RM Lodha, had suggested several changes in reforming the world’s richest cricket body.

BCCI has called for a Special General Meeting (SGM) on September 30.

The BCCI held its Annual General Meeting on September 21. Flouting the Lodha guidelines, the BCCI named several committees that will be effective for 2016-17.

Lodha panel had set the BCCI two deadlines – September 30 to make constitutional changes and December 15 for the Board to form a nine-member Apex committee that will replace the working committee.

The BCCI did not accept all the proposals made by the Lodha panel. The BCCI appointed former Supreme Court judge Justice Markandey Katju to review the Lodha panel recommendations and advise on whether to implement them.

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Ravichandran Ashwin Is A Priceless Cricketer: Virat Kohli

Ravichandran Ashwin played a key role in India’s win over New Zealand in the 1st Test.

© AFP

Highlights

Kanpur: Effusive in his praise for Ravinchandran Ashwin, Indian captain Virat Kohli on Monday said the off-spinner is a “priceless” cricketer to have in the team having contributed with both bat and ball in the massive win over New Zealand in the opening Test in Kanpur.

Ravichandran Ashwin took 10 wickets and also scored a 40-run cameo in the Indian first innings, playing a crucial role in the 197-run win in the match.

“He’s been outstanding for the Indian team. If you see all the impact players in the world, he comes in the top three-four easily. There are quite a few players making big impact for their respective sides. Especially bowlers. Bowlers are the one I feel that win you Test matches and Ashwin is one of them,” Kohli said after India’s big win.

“There’s no doubt that he has been bowling wonderfully well for the last couple of years. He works very hard on his game. He is a very keen thinker of the game. He understands the game very well.

“Very smart cricketer, very intelligent. That shows in his batting as well. He understands the situation and plays accordingly. He knows when to get runs and when to play the situation out accordingly. So it’s priceless to have a cricketer like Ashwin in your Test team,” he elaborated further on the skills of his premier spinner.

The captain also spoke on how both Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, who shared 16 of the 20 Kiwi wickets in the match, take lead when things do not pan out as planned.

“I like the fact that both of them, at times when they feel like we are trying too much as a team, both of them can come back to you and say that ‘I’m trying to bowl to this one plan and let’s see how that goes’.

“As a captain it always gives you more assurance that both these guys obviously know what they are doing and they are going to pitch the ball in the right areas. Both of them are pretty open to hearing suggestions, but when they feel like they are very convinced about what they want to do, they tell you that. And I personally like that as a captain as well,” he said.

Kohli was also pleased with Cheteshwar Pujara, who he says, has improved a lot as he was now scoring at a brisk pace. Pujara has been criticised for a below average show at number three in the previous West Indies tour.

“He is someone who absorbs the pressure really well but after a certain stage in the innings there comes a time when the team needs runs. That’s where we felt that he has the ability to capitalise. It was just about conveying that to him. He has worked hard on his game.

“He scored at a good strike rate in the Duleep trophy. Even on this wicket he was scoring at 65, almost 70 strike rate, which for me was a revelation to see Pujara bat that way.”

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Mitchell Santner's All-Round Ability Huge Positive, Says Kane Williamson

Mitchell Santner was New Zealand’s standout performer with both bat and ball in the Kanpur Test.

© BCCI

Highlights

Kanpur: On his first visit to India, Mitchell Santner has made a good impression with his all-round performance and that’s a huge positive for the New Zealand side from the Kanpur Test, captain Kane Williamson said.

Santner played fighting knocks of 32 and 71 (his maiden Test fifty) in Kiwis’ resistance against the dominating Indian spinners and took five wickets, albeit in a losing cause.

“He played outstandingly well. It’s his first time in this part of the world playing Test cricket and it was a great step in the right direction for his game. We all know he has got the talent with bat and ball and in the field, to apply himself like he did and bowl a number of overs and be successful was very good against good players of spin. It was a huge positive for us,” said Williamson.

“He’ll look forward to the next one and I’m sure he’s learned a lot from this experience,” added the young Kiwi captain at the post match press conference after New Zealand lost the first Test of the three-match series by 197 runs.

Not only Santner, he also lauded Luke Ronchi for his defying knocks in tough conditions. He scored 32 in the first innings and delayed India’s victory march with his 80-run knock during the Kiwi chase.

“There were a lot of positives for us. Guys who hadn’t played here before spent some valuable time in the middle and made some valuable contributions. Mitch Santner for one and Luke Ronchi another who certainly showed they had the skill-sets to perform well in these conditions.

“It is a challenge against a very good attack but they’ve got the skill-sets and it’s being able to stick to it for a lot longer. That is the same with the ball for our young spin attack who are extremely talented. Being over here in these hot conditions, being able to remain focussed for a long period because you know if you put the ball in the area for long enough, you’ll get your rewards. That’s what the Indian team showed us,” said Williamson.

The 26-year-old said a few bad phases in the match took the game away from them.

“On the scorecard it looks like a biggish defeat but there were a couple of moments that I would reflect on as where the game turned slightly more in their favour. The back end of our first innings with the bat and certainly when we bowled in the second innings there was probably a three-hour period where we didn’t bowl very well and they got away from us. It’s a combination of us not quite being at our best at certain times and they played very well,” he said.

Williamson got out to Ashwin in both the innings. The first dismissal was of a ball which turned sharply from outside off and hit the gates and he spoke about that moment.

“They were pretty good balls, and he is a pretty good bowler. In these conditions there is certainly more spin so you do take those things into account. The nature of the conditions later on in the game you tend to get some good deliveries. It is part and parcel of playing here and we have to adapt our games to be better equipped going into the next match,” he said.

The captain also said that Jeetan Patel, who has replaced injured Mark Craig in the squad for the remainder of the series, was not in the mix initially.

“For Jeetan to come into the squad after a period of time away from the team is a great opportunity for him. He’s been a quality performer for a long period of time and it is that like-for-like swap as well. Jeets loves the game of cricket and loves playing for his country. It was perhaps unexpected. He has played a lot in England lately and almost considers himself a local in that part of the world but we know he’s not and we are looking forward to having him back in the side.

“There are a number of other players from Wellington in the side who have spent a lot of time with Jeets and they’re all very excited about it. He is looking forward to coming back and making an impact.”

Williamson refused to reveal if opener Martin Guptill, who is struggling for runs, will be retained in the side for the Kolkata Test, beginning Friday.

“This game has just finished so we get to sit down and talk about whatever the team may be for the next one and what balance will go in with. In the first innings he got off to a good start and was perhaps a bit unfortunate in the second innings but he has certainly shown his class in the white ball format and we are backing him to show that in the red ball.

“He is working hard at his game and looking to improve. It isn’t the easiest of places to play sometimes. We’ll sit down in the next day or two and look at the side we might go with,” he concluded.

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Iachini sacked for third time in a year

Udinese v Middlesbrough – Pre Season Friendly

MILAN (Reuters) – Giuseppe Iachini became Serie A’s second coaching victim of the season when he was fired by Udinese on Sunday, a day after a painful 3-0 home defeat by Lazio.

It was the third time in less than a year that the 52-year-old had been fired — he was sacked twice by Palermo last season, first in November and again in March after being recalled in February.

Iachini was appointed by Udinese in May following the end of the previous season and took charge of only eight competitive matches during his five months at the helm.

“Udinese have relieved Giuseppe Iachini of his post as coach of the first team,” said the club in a brief statement.

In his 15-year coaching career, Iachini has done the rounds of some of Italy’s less fashionable clubs.

He has had two stints each at Brescia and Palermo and also coached Venezia, Cesena, Vicenza, Piacenza, Chievo, Sampdoria and Siena. He has won promotion to Serie A with Brescia, Chievo and Sampdoria.

Udinese are 16th in Serie A with seven points from as many games.

The only other coach to lose his job in Serie A this season so far was at Palermo where Davide Ballardini was replaced by Roberto De Zerbi.

(Writing by Brian Homewood; Editing by Clare Fallon)

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Ravichandran Ashwin Will End as a Cricket Legend, Says Sunil Gavaskar

Ravichandran Ashwin celebrates the wicket of Neil Wagner on Day 5 of the first Test.

© BCCI

Highlights

The rate at which Ravichandran Ashwin is picking up wickets and demolishing opposition batting line-ups will make the off-spinner a cricket legend very quickly, says former India captain Sunil Gavaskar.

“Ashwin is galloping towards legendary status. He is already showing himself to be a great bowler and cricketer. The way he is batting and bowling, he will be a legend when he finishes his career,” Gavaskar told NDTV on Monday.

Ashwin finished with a 10-wicket haul at Kanpur’s Green Park Stadium as India beat New Zealand in the first Test by a massive margin of 197 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

On being asked to compare Ravichandran Ashwin with other spin greats, the 67-year-old batting legend said in his exclusive chat with NDTV: “Opposition has been different when Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh played and when the four great spinners played. But Ashwin has got a huge heart and is a keen student of the game who is looking to get better every single day. He will certainly leave a mark on the game with both bat and ball.”

The 30-year-old Chennai-born on Saturday became the fastest Indian bowler to pick up 200 wickets in Tests. He took 37 matches, nine less than Harbhajan whose record he broke.

Gavaskar praises Ravindra Jadeja, Anil Kumble

But not just Ashwin, left-arm orthodox spinner Ravindra Jadeja also performed brilliantly at Kanpur as he helped bring about New Zealand’s collapse in the first innings, earning him the the Man of the Match award.

“Jadeja deserved the Man of the Match award. It is good to have three-four people in contention for the award as it means most of the players in the team have done well,” Gavaskar, who played for India from 1971 to 1987, said.

.@imjadeja is Man of the match for his match-winning performance in the #500thTest#TeamIndia#INDvNZpic.twitter.com/kdwtAOldTP

— BCCI (@BCCI) September 26, 2016

The victory also marked Anil Kumble’s first victory at home as the head coach of the Indian cricket team. Gavaskar feels the former leg spinner’s contribution has been invaluable for the home team.

“As a coach, Kumble has been superb so far. His inputs must have been invaluable at the end of Day 1, when it was just one wicket down for New Zealand. The manner in which India struck back the next day in the first innings and got New Zealand dismissed for not too many, he must have told them what line and length to bowl and that made a big difference,” said the former India skipper.

“This is where somebody who has played a lot of cricket, who has been a part of a winning team and who has been captain, can make a huge difference and we are begining to see it. It’s early days as far as Kumble is concerned but the beginning has been very good and impressive.”

Gavaskar, who was the first to reach 10,000 Test runs, also had a word of praise for the visiting team, saying that there is plenty to look forward to from the Black Caps.

“New Zealand didn’t give up at all. They fought very well. There is plenty in this New Zealand side to like about and look forward to in the next two matches,” concluded Gavaskar.

The second Test of the series will be played at the iconic Eden Gardens from September 30 to Ocotber 4. This will be India’s 250th Test at home.

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