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Economic Times
16-06-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
Ravi Krishnan aims to blend sport, culture & commerce with new venture Abler Sports & Entertainment
In a changing sports and entertainment landscape, veteran sports marketer Ravi Krishnan is focusing on the intersection of intellectual property (IP), data, and popular culture through his new venture, Abler Sports & Entertainment (ASE).The veteran sports marketing executive aims to reimagine how sport and entertainment are consumed, monetised, and experienced—not just in India, but internationally. ASE is backed by a group of investors from media, technology, sports, and private equity. Notable investors in ASE include Suv Mohapatra, Managing Director at Accenture Singapore; Josh Liberman, Co-founder and Chairman of CVS Lane Capital Partners; Mike Dolan, former Chairman of IMG and former CEO of Bacardi; and Ashutosh Srivastava, former CEO of APAC at his early career at IMG South Asia to initiatives like the Sahara Cup and Lakmé Fashion Week, Krishnan has focused on innovation and long-term strategy. His latest venture centres on fan engagement, IP ownership, and a digital-first approach. He sees this as an opportunity for India to play a more prominent role in the global sports ecosystem. Krishnan's perspective is straightforward: sport remains one of the few true real-time entertainment experiences.'If you want to watch Royal Challengers Bengaluru play Punjab Kings, you need to watch it live. That urgency gives sport an edge,' he says. However, he notes that most digital engagement today still focuses on awareness, rather than driving he believes, is where his company comes in. It positions itself as an 'awareness-to-action' platform—where fan interaction leads to revenue generation, data-driven decision-making, and better returns for rights holders and sponsors.A central element of Krishnan's strategy is the creation and control of IP. 'Everyone wants to build value now,' he says. 'Celebrities don't want a one-time payout to generate $100 million in revenue for others. They want IP ownership.' He contrasts the long-term value of Lakmé Fashion Week, which he launched while at IMG with the Unilever brand as its title sponsor in 2000, with the more transactional nature of properties like the IPL, which has had several title sponsors over the years. His point: lasting IP creates long-term brand equity. Krishnan also sees growing interest in India from global rights holders. 'Manchester City doesn't need more fans in Manchester. They need to monetise fans in India, Indonesia, and Africa,' he argues that while many international entities highlight their Indian fan bases, few have been able to translate that interest into sustainable company seeks to help bridge that gap—supporting both foreign brands entering India and Indian brands looking to expand abroad. 'In the '80s it was Japan, in the '90s Korea, then China. India will make its mark on the globe even more substantially in the future.'With offices in London, Mumbai, San Francisco, and Melbourne, Krishnan describes his venture as a 'global business with an Indian heart.' This positioning, he believes, allows the company to serve as a conduit between Indian and international points to partnerships like Infosys at Grand Slams, TCS with global marathons, and Apollo Tyres with Manchester United as signs of India's increasing presence on the global sports stage.'Indian culture, IP, and commerce are poised for global relevance. And we want to be at the centre of it,' he sees significant untapped potential in women's sports. 'Women's sport is an absolute rising tide in the world of sports,' he says. From growing participation and audiences to rising sponsor interest, he expects the category to grow quickly. His company is already working with World Rugby on the Women's World Cup and integrating women-oriented content on its digital platform, Stepathlon. 'If companies have $100 to spend on sport, they won't spend it all on men in the future.' Another area Krishnan highlights is the 'festivalisation' of sport—blending athletic competition with music, fashion, and food to create a broader experience. 'The Australian Open is a festival with a tennis tournament,' he says. He sees the IPL as another example, having become more than just a cricket goal is to develop IPs that span platforms, cultures, and generations—not just as media products, but as cricket continues to dominate the Indian sports landscape, Krishnan is also exploring tennis, football, and multi-sport formats. He is particularly focused on creating properties that don't rely solely on traditional broadcast models, which he says are heavily tilted toward the IPL.'There's very little left for other leagues. We need to find alternative monetisation models—direct-to-consumer, sponsor-led, or data-driven,' he says. His company is also developing year-round engagement platforms, including non-live content and fan describes India as a 'head and heart' market, where success depends on local insights, cultural nuance, and long-term thinking. With most of the population under 25, he sees both an opportunity and a challenge: the demographic potential is there but remains also sees parallels with other emerging markets such as Africa and Latin Krishnan, sport is more than a business opportunity—it's a tool for positive change. His platform Stepathlon aims to address health challenges by encouraging physical activity.'Wellness is a $6.3 trillion industry. Sport is $500 billion. The connection between the two is undeniable,' he says. 'We use popular culture not just to entertain, but to heal, inspire, and mobilise communities.'Krishnan believes the coming decade could be pivotal for India in global sport and entertainment. He sees the potential to drive change through smart partnerships, IP creation, and a technology-first approach.'We're ambitious—quantitatively and qualitatively,' he says. 'Our goal is to be a thoughtful leader in a rapidly transforming global industry.'
Time of India
16-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Ravi Krishnan aims to blend sport, culture & commerce with new venture Abler Sports & Entertainment
In a changing sports and entertainment landscape, veteran sports marketer Ravi Krishnan is focusing on the intersection of intellectual property (IP), data, and popular culture through his new venture, Abler Sports & Entertainment ( ASE ). The veteran sports marketing executive aims to reimagine how sport and entertainment are consumed, monetised, and experienced—not just in India, but internationally. ASE is backed by a group of investors from media, technology, sports, and private equity. Notable investors in ASE include Suv Mohapatra, Managing Director at Accenture Singapore; Josh Liberman, Co-founder and Chairman of CVS Lane Capital Partners; Mike Dolan, former Chairman of IMG and former CEO of Bacardi; and Ashutosh Srivastava, former CEO of APAC at GroupM. From his early career at IMG South Asia to initiatives like the Sahara Cup and Lakmé Fashion Week, Krishnan has focused on innovation and long-term strategy. His latest venture centres on fan engagement, IP ownership, and a digital-first approach. He sees this as an opportunity for India to play a more prominent role in the global sports ecosystem. Krishnan's perspective is straightforward: sport remains one of the few true real-time entertainment experiences. 'If you want to watch Royal Challengers Bengaluru play Punjab Kings, you need to watch it live. That urgency gives sport an edge,' he says. However, he notes that most digital engagement today still focuses on awareness, rather than driving action. This, he believes, is where his company comes in. It positions itself as an 'awareness-to-action' platform—where fan interaction leads to revenue generation, data-driven decision-making, and better returns for rights holders and sponsors. Focus on IP ownership A central element of Krishnan's strategy is the creation and control of IP. 'Everyone wants to build value now,' he says. 'Celebrities don't want a one-time payout to generate $100 million in revenue for others. They want IP ownership.' He contrasts the long-term value of Lakmé Fashion Week, which he launched while at IMG with the Unilever brand as its title sponsor in 2000, with the more transactional nature of properties like the IPL , which has had several title sponsors over the years. His point: lasting IP creates long-term brand equity. India as a growth market Krishnan also sees growing interest in India from global rights holders. 'Manchester City doesn't need more fans in Manchester. They need to monetise fans in India, Indonesia, and Africa,' he says. He argues that while many international entities highlight their Indian fan bases, few have been able to translate that interest into sustainable revenue. His company seeks to help bridge that gap—supporting both foreign brands entering India and Indian brands looking to expand abroad. 'In the '80s it was Japan, in the '90s Korea, then China. India will make its mark on the globe even more substantially in the future.' Bridging worlds With offices in London, Mumbai, San Francisco, and Melbourne, Krishnan describes his venture as a 'global business with an Indian heart.' This positioning, he believes, allows the company to serve as a conduit between Indian and international markets. He points to partnerships like Infosys at Grand Slams, TCS with global marathons, and Apollo Tyres with Manchester United as signs of India's increasing presence on the global sports stage. 'Indian culture, IP, and commerce are poised for global relevance. And we want to be at the centre of it,' he says. Growing opportunity in women's sport Krishnan sees significant untapped potential in women's sports. 'Women's sport is an absolute rising tide in the world of sports,' he says. From growing participation and audiences to rising sponsor interest, he expects the category to grow quickly. His company is already working with World Rugby on the Women's World Cup and integrating women-oriented content on its digital platform, Stepathlon. 'If companies have $100 to spend on sport, they won't spend it all on men in the future.' Sport as a cultural experience Another area Krishnan highlights is the 'festivalisation' of sport—blending athletic competition with music, fashion, and food to create a broader experience. 'The Australian Open is a festival with a tennis tournament,' he says. He sees the IPL as another example, having become more than just a cricket league. His goal is to develop IPs that span platforms, cultures, and generations—not just as media products, but as experiences. Exploring new models Although cricket continues to dominate the Indian sports landscape, Krishnan is also exploring tennis, football, and multi-sport formats. He is particularly focused on creating properties that don't rely solely on traditional broadcast models, which he says are heavily tilted toward the IPL. 'There's very little left for other leagues. We need to find alternative monetisation models—direct-to-consumer, sponsor-led, or data-driven,' he says. His company is also developing year-round engagement platforms, including non-live content and fan communities. Understanding the market Krishnan describes India as a 'head and heart' market, where success depends on local insights, cultural nuance, and long-term thinking. With most of the population under 25, he sees both an opportunity and a challenge: the demographic potential is there but remains under-monetised. He also sees parallels with other emerging markets such as Africa and Latin America. A broader purpose For Krishnan, sport is more than a business opportunity—it's a tool for positive change. His platform Stepathlon aims to address health challenges by encouraging physical activity. 'Wellness is a $6.3 trillion industry. Sport is $500 billion. The connection between the two is undeniable,' he says. 'We use popular culture not just to entertain, but to heal, inspire, and mobilise communities.' Krishnan believes the coming decade could be pivotal for India in global sport and entertainment. He sees the potential to drive change through smart partnerships, IP creation, and a technology-first approach. 'We're ambitious—quantitatively and qualitatively,' he says. 'Our goal is to be a thoughtful leader in a rapidly transforming global industry.'
India.com
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
This player couldn't become a star due to Waqar Younis, Wasim Akram, had love story like Tendulkar, his name is...
In this collection of pictures we shall know the player who couldn't become a star due to Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram. Cricketer also has a love story like Sachin Tendulkar. Let's dive in. Meet Aaqib Javed, who played more than 150 ODIs for the country, was once Pakistan's lead bowler and also led the team to victory in many matches. Due to the presence of bowlers like Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, he was always overlooked in the eyes of the fans. He made his first class debut at the age of 12. Aaqib was born in a Sandhu Jat family living in Sheikhpura, Pakistan. He made his first class debut in 1984 at the age of only 12, playing for the Lahore Division team. Aaqib made his ODI debut in December 1988 against West Indies. He made his Test debut in February 1989 against New Zealand in Wellington at the age of 16 years and 189 days. Aaqib Javed played 22 Test and 163 ODI matches in his 10-year cricket career. Out of which he took 54 wickets in Test and 182 wickets in ODI. He also took 182 wickets in 163 ODIs for Pakistan, played his last ODI at the age of 26. Aaqib Javed's wife name is Farzana, with whom he has had a love cum arranged marriage. Aaqib first saw her at the Pakistani Embassy in Toronto. At that time Aaqib was in Canada to play the Sahara Cup with India. The love story of Aaqib Javed is also like Sachin Tendulkar and Anjali Tendulkar's love story. Aaqib Javed fell in love with her at first sight, after which Aaqib proposed to her and only after she said yes, they started trying for marriage. There were many problems in Aaqib's marriage. Because Farzana came from a traditional Pathan family, where girls cannot talk about their marriage, while Aaqib was a non-Pathan. Here Aaqib got the advantage of being a cricketer. Actually Farzana's father was a big fan of cricket, that is why when he came to know that the boy is a cricketer, he immediately agreed to this marriage. Aaqib Javed's wife's name is Farzana who is the sister of famous Pakistani singer Adil Burki. Farzana was raised in Lahore, Pakistan. She completed her education in Pakistan as well as Canada. She has worked as a journalist in major Urdu and English newspapers of Pakistan. Farzana also worked as a youth leader for the Human Rights Commission in Pakistan. Apart from this, she was also the host of a famous TV celebrity show. Aaqib Javed's wife Farzana is also a good poet. Her first book was published in 2008. Apart from this, her first English novel 'A Thousand Obolos Coins' was also published. This couple has a daughter who has no interest in cricket at all.
Mint
10-06-2025
- Business
- Mint
Ravi Krishnan's ASE to empower IP ownership in sports, entertainment
MUMBAI: Drawing on his extensive experience as former IMG South Asia managing director and Rajasthan Royals vice-chairman, veteran sports and entertainment executive Ravi Krishnan is embarking on his most ambitious venture to date. He's launched ASE (Abler Sports & Entertainment), pronounced 'Ace", a full-service, IP- and data-driven company that converges sports, media, fashion, wellness and entertainment. Goal? To help brands, celebrities, teams and rightsholders stop being 'renters" of intellectual property (IP) and start becoming owners. Also read: Advertising sentiment remains subdued during festive quarter 'We want to build a business of scale, significance and positive impact," Krishnan told Mint. 'Everything I've done till now, from IMG to Stepathlon to building IPs like Lakmé Fashion Week, Sahara Cup feels like it's coming together in this one venture." Built across six divisions—ASE Engage (data), ASE Advisory (consulting), ASE Partnerships (rights and revenue), ASE Consumer (licensing and merchandise), ASE Media (non-live content), and ASE Alive (events)—the company aims to bridge content, commerce and community through a mix of owned IPs and client partnerships. The model allows ASE to act as a content creator, commercial partner, strategic advisor and digital data engine, depending on the brand or market need. At the heart of ASE is the belief that IP ownership unlocks enterprise value, not just brand visibility. Citing examples like Lakmé Fashion Week and the IPL's sponsor churn, Krishnan said the future lies in co-creating long-term assets with commercial control. 'Celebrities don't want to drive $100 million of sales for $100,000 in endorsement fees anymore. They want a piece of the pie." One of ASE's early differentiators is its ownership of Stepathlon, the wellness and fan engagement platform now powering its data division, ASE Engage. With over a million users and a rebuilt tech backbone, the platform helps ethically collect zero- and first-party data, co-owned with clients, to build detailed fan profiles and drive outcomes beyond vanity metrics. 'We don't believe in profitless volume," said Krishnan. 'The idea is to turn awareness into action, and casual fans into actively engaged communities." Also read: CCL rolls out UK's Percol brand in India to push beyond mass-market coffee Zero-party data is a set of information that a customer voluntarily provides to a brand, such as their preferences, purchase intentions etc, while first-party data also include details observed or inferred by the brand, typically from website analytics, customer behaviour and assumptions about visitors. ASE is focused on maximizing what it calls 'Fan Lifetime Value' (FLV) by converting casual interest into long-term monetizable engagement across digital and physical touchpoints. Krishnan is particularly bullish on the role of India and other emerging markets as both creators and exporters of pop culture IP. 'India's time has come. It's not just about inbound. We're looking at outbound too. Look at what Dishoom has done for Indian food in London, or how Apollo and BKT are sponsoring global teams and events. We're focusing on the rise of cool, contemporary India." Women's sport is another area Krishnan sees significant upside in. ASE is currently working with World Rugby on fan engagement for the 2025 Women's World Cup in England, and is in talks to co-create new women-centric IPs across multiple sports and content formats. 'On the field, I believe Indian women can lead the world in sport. We want to go deep with this vertical to ultimately create an ASE W division, an ecosystem for women's sport." ASE also plans to own or co-own IPs in experiential sportainment (sports and entertainment), blending sports, music, fashion, food and wellness into festival-style formats. Krishnan cited examples like the Australian Open and LIV Golf as global blueprints and said profitability independent of linear broadcast will be a key criterion. 'We don't believe in profitless volume. Impact comes from quantitatively and qualitatively building sustainable platforms." The company has already closed five deals across three verticals before launch, including advisory mandates for Destination Sport Group's India entry and Urban Turf (synthetic courts). It is also working on eight more. Through ASE Advisory, it facilitates inbound and outbound partnerships for Indian and global brands. Its investor and advisory board includes former IMG veterans, private equity players, and a diverse group spanning geographies and sectors. Among its notable backers are Mike Dolan (former IMG global president and chief executive officer of Bacardi), Suv Mohapatra (managing director, Accenture Singapore), Greg Sproule (former head, IMG Middle East), Shekhar Ramamurthy (deputy chairman, Allied Breweries) and Jeremy Gardner (founder, Mystic Ventures). It also includes global leaders such as Jim Glover (CSM, ARENA), Ashutosh Srivastava (ex-GroupM APAC chief executive officer), Alison Lee (ATP Tour), John Loffhagen (ex-IMG legal head), Ekta Hutton (FIFA Digital) and investors Josh Liberman and Veeru Murugappan. 'As early backers of Ravi's vision, we believe ASE is uniquely positioned to unlock long-term value at the intersection of sport, data and culture," said Josh Liberman, co-founder of CVS Lane and Lumir Ventures. 'This is a long play, but one that can shape global conversations." Also read: IPL giant GMR tackles rugby with India League, aims to build Olympic-aligned IP 'This is not just an India play. We're a global business with offices in Mumbai, London, San Francisco and Australia. Our head is global but our heart is Indian and emerging markets. We want to be the bridge between analogue and the digital-native future of fan engagement, content and commerce. We want to be the trusted ally for brands, rights holders and even governments—combining purpose and profit, powered by a truly global and locally 'grounded' team," Krishnan said. When asked about the moonshot, Krishnan only smiled: 'It's coming. Big bets don't always start with a roadmap. They emerge when you're in the room, not on Zoom."
