Think global, act local
SANGEETA BAROOAH PISHAROTY
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ZEE Sports Head Gary Lovejoy talks about the "gap" that it would fill as the country's first private sports channel.
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We will definitely promote Indian sport but it would also have to help itself
THE NEW PLAYER Zee Sports Chief Operation Officer Gary Lovejoy at the channel's Noida studio PHOTO: S. SUBRAMANIUM
This is Londoner Gary Lovejoy's first India assignment. As the Chief Operating Officer of the recently started Zee Sports, he meets many people on a single day. Some call him, `Yes Sir.' Some are much more discreet in addressing him - `Respected Sir.'
It confounds him no end but in the last few months, he has learnt that everything comes here with a flavour of its own.
"There are many things that I am not so used to but I am enjoying here. My focus is to make the channel prominent and I am at it," says a relaxed Gary, armed with a smile, at his Noida office. For not less than 13 hours he remains at work and is relieved that his family has not joined him here. "They are in London. Even in my earlier job as Director of Broadcasting for Eurosport, they didn't move with me to Paris. With a TV job, it becomes difficult to give them much time anyway. Thanks to the direct flights now, if you start from here tonight you can be home for breakfast tomorrow," he says.
At Zee Sports, Gary wants to promote Indian sports but on his own terms. "I want to highlight Indian sports but it should also help itself. It should get professional," and here, Gary is talking of an oft-seen scene where a game would not start on time because the minister or the secretary of a club has either not arrived on time or wants to address the spectators or shake hands with the players.
"You wouldn't see such a thing elsewhere. All professional sports start on time and are strict about what should be allowed in the field and what not. Petty politics is not allowed to hamper the calibre of a good sportsperson," he adds. Coming from a man with 28 years of experience in sports television broadcasting, which includes working on six football World Cups, three rugby World Cups and seven Olympic Games besides other events, he is pretty definite about what he is talking here.
Motor sport and cycling
Keeping the cards close to his chest, Gary though tries to give an idea about what he is up to. "We have got the rights for a few international matches though I am not yet ready to talk about them. Also, you know about the competition these days. But Zee Sports would never shy away from bidding big. Nothing is off limits for us. Being the first Indian private sports channel, we want to pose ourselves as an international channel but with an Indian soul." The thrust of the channel's programmes, he adds, is to deliver shows that can provide family entertainment too.
And the sports that he would highlight first are cycling and motor sports.
Gary feels there is enough scope for a good home-based sports channel here, the only player till now being the DD Sports. And jumbling shows at present to make it look attractive and interactive for viewers, he says the channel's distribution will get the next focus. A 24-hour encrypted channel, Zee Sports, which started on June 9, is broadcast on PAS 10 satellite and is distributed as part of the Zee Turner bouquet.
"We are getting good response in Kolkata. The cable element is an important point here. We might use the Dish TV route here," he states, adding, "Come back after three months. I would be able to tell you more."
Sure, Sir. Oops!
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