•   Entertainment & Sports Direct, Al Nisr Cinema and Gulf Films bring the big-screen IPL experience live to theatres
•   All matches to be screened live at nine theatres in high-definition quality across the UAE
As the Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 cricket championship enters the final leg of an exciting season, cricket enthusiasts in the UAE can now watch the matches live on the big-screen at select theatres in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah.
Entertainment & Sports Direct (ESD), which has acquired the IPL global theatrical rights to matches in the league to be played in Seasons 2010 through to 2019, has joined hands with Al Nisr Cinema and Gulf Films to bring the stadium-like experience for cricket fans in the UAE with live screenings in high-definition quality at nine theatres currently across the country.
The matches are being screened live in Dubai at Lamcy 2 (166 seats), Grand Cineplex 6 near Grand Hyatt (237), Grand Cinecity 5 at Al Ghurair City (138) and Grand Megaplex 15 in Ibn Battuta Mall (140). The screenings are held in Sharjah at Star Cineplex 2 (231 seats); in Ras Al Khaimah at Gulf Cinema 2 (202 seats); in Fujairah at Grand Dana 3 (80 seats); in Abu Dhabi at National Cinema 4 (150 seats) and in Musaffah at Grand Safeer 3 (123 seats).
Promoted by DAR Capital Group, a leading investment advisory and private equity firm, ESD is focused on sports and entertainment related content acquisition. It has tied up with UFO Moviez, the largest satellite based digital cinema network in the world, to facilitate the exhibition of these matches in cinema screens. Since the commencement of this year’s edition of the IPL, cricketing fans are flocking to the over 650 cinema screens in India that are exhibiting the matches live.
Arun Rangachari, Chairman of DAR Capital Group, said that the big-screen experience for the IPL matches in the UAE will be a novel experience for cricket enthusiasts: “This is the first time in the world that a major sporting tournament is being exhibited in cinema screens in High Definition quality, and will bring about a radical transformation in the way the sport of cricket is viewed and enjoyed by fans across the world. This is evident from the high viewership levels that this initiative is generating in India.
“IPL has one of the strongest following internationally in the UAE given the multicultural population of the city. The UAE also has a strong history of active participation in international cricket that has enhanced its popularity among residents here. In India, the theatre screenings of the matches are a huge hit, and we expect the same public response to our initiative in the UAE through our partnership with Al Nisr Cinema.â€
Mr Khushi Khatwani of Al Nisr Cinema Company said the theatre screening of IPL matches is unprecedented in the UAE. “Cricket is an immensely popular sport, loved by a large majority of the UAE’s residents, and now all the excitement of the IPL games comes to the big screen and with high definition quality. The matches will be screened uninterrupted throughout the rest of the season, and movie enthusiasts can make advance bookings at the respective theatres not to miss out on the fun and action. The theatre screenings were originally planned in the UAE for the next year. However, we are launching it this year itself due to strong demand, especially from the corporates for bulk bookings.â€
ESD has also tied up with select hotels and restaurants in the UAE for screening the matches in high-definition on large screens. The company holds the exclusive exhibition rights for IPL in cinema halls, stadia and public venues. There are two matches daily, and the screenings are at 2.30 pm and 6.30 pm. The regular prices will apply for the tickets. The grand final is on April 25.
In its third season now, IPL has eight teams battling it out: Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Deccan Chargers, Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Daredevils, Kings XI Punjab, Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals.
With film stars and business tycoons among the team owners, IPL has whipped up sheer frenzy across India. According to the inaugural Annual Review of Global Sports Salaries, IPL is the second highest-paid league next only to the American National Basketball Association (NBA), having edged out the English Premier League, among others.
