Sony to take a big leap in sports programming with debut of ESPN docus in India

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Award-winning ESPN Films documentaries are set to debut in India on Sony Pictures Network’s sports channels Sony ESPN and Sony ESPN HD. ESPN Films will air every Sunday at 12 noon beginning 27 November.

The launch of ESPN Films is part of Sony and ESPN’s joint strategy to bring high-quality sports-related storytelling and original programming to Indian viewers. Sony and ESPN have a brand and content licensing partnership for the Indian market encompassing TV and digital.

Since its launch in March 2008, ESPN Films has been an industry leader in documentary filmmaking, producing more than 100 documentaries that have showcased some of the most compelling stories in sports.

For the Indian market, Sony has shortlisted more than 50 titles that it will showcase on its sports channels and later on digital platforms. The documentaries will also be available on Sony’s OTT platform Sony Liv and ESPN.in, the joint collaboration between Sony and ESPN.

The series will debut in India with ‘The Two Escobars’. Directed by the Zimbalists, it tells the tale of two men named Escobar: Andrés, the captain and poster child of the Colombian national team, and Pablo, the infamous drug baron who pioneered the phenomenon known in the underworld as ‘narco soccer’.

Following that, on 4 December, the series will continue with ‘The 16th Man’. Directed by Bestall, and narrated by Academy Award-winner Morgan Freeman, it tells the emotional story of Mandela, the cornerstone moment of the 1995 Rugby World Cup and what it meant to South Africa’s post-apartheid healing process.

ESPN India head and VP South Asia Ramesh Kumar said, “Part of what has always distinguished ESPN is that we do not only cover the games; we cover the ‘game around the game’ and we do it as storytellers. We are delighted to introduce these award-winning and critically acclaimed films to fans in India on the Sony ESPN channels. These films go beyond sports and engage viewers with compelling, often unknown or previously unseen, narratives that capture the power, emotion and poignancy of sports in our lives.”

Commenting on the launch, SPNI EVP & business head, sports cluster Prasana Krishnan said, “Some of the most inspiring stories in the world have come from sports. We are showcasing a curated collection of award-winning ESPN Films documentary series for the first time in India that is sure to appeal to both die-hard sports fans as well as people that don’t know much about sports.

“The ESPN films are a differentiated offering from Sony ESPN channels that comprise legendary human-interest stories that will give our viewers an opportunity to relive some of the greatest moments in the history of sports. As a sports network, we hope that our viewers will get inspired by the strength of the human spirit that they will experience with these films and live through the magic of sports.”

Sony to take a big leap in sports programming with debut of ESPN docus in India | TelevisionPost.com
 
Mumbai: ESPN and Sony Pictures Network will present the ambitious and Award-winning ESPN Films documentaries on SONY ESPN and SONY ESPN HD channels, beginning November 27.

Appearing the first time in India, the critically-acclaimed, Emmy and Peabody Award-winning series of documentaries brings Indian viewers a thoughtful and innovative examination of the sports world, its characters, events and intersections with society at large, whose stories are told by incredible filmmakers partnered with ESPN.

The debut also offers another example of the power of the SONY ESPN collaboration, highlighting that it not only delivers the best in live sports, but the most innovative, high-quality sports-related storytelling and original programming to Indian viewers.

ESPN Films documentaries are more than sports stories – they are the affecting and compelling stories that touch upon broad topics through the lens of sport. With topics ranging Nelson Mandela’s embrace of the 1995 Rugby World Cup as a ce racial unity, to the rise and fall of Pablo and Andres Escobar during the “Narco-Soccer” era in Colombia, to the bravado and fool hearty courage of Muhammad Ali in his twilight, fighting to hold on to greatness – the range and poignancy of stories is timeless and will appeal to any Indian viewer who loves great storytelling.

Credited with revitalizing and revolutionizing the art of sports documentary, ESPN Films projects are brought to life by a roster of gifted filmmakers collaborating with ESPN. Among those who have created films the series are Jeff & Michael Zimbalist, Clifd Bestall, Albert Maysles, Barry Levinson, Bradley Kaplan, Brett Ratner, Spike Jonze, John Singleton, Brian Koppleman, Michael Rappaport, Daniel Gordon, Alex Gibney, Eric Drath, Ezra Edelman and many more.

The series will debut in India with The Two Escobars – directed by the Zimbalists, it tells the tale of two men named Escobar: Andrés, the captain and poster child of the National Team, and Pablo, the infamous drug baron who pioneered the phenomenon known in the underworld as “Narco-soccer.”

Following that, on Dec. 4, the series continues with The 16th Man – directed by Bestall, and narrated by Academy Award winner Morgan Freeman, it tells the emotional story of Mandela, the cornerstone moment of the 1995 Rugby World Cup and what it meant to South Africa’s post-apartheid healing process. The film, which illustrates how a game can be bigger than just sport and serve as a binding ce among people, was previewed a select audience as part of a special screening held at The Walt Disney Company offices in Mumbai, today.

The series will continue every Sunday on SONY ESPN and SONY ESPN HD channels at 12 noon.

SONY ESPN Channels Bring Award-Winning ESPN Films Documentaries
 
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