NDTV Signs an Exclusive Tie-Up with Mahendra Singh Dhoni

New Delhi, Delhi, India , 2006-05-07

NDTV today signed an exclusive contract with India’s sensational wicket-keeper/batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

The contract between NDTV and M S Dhoni will be for a period of one year starting May 7, 2006. In this tenure, Mahendra Singh Dhoni will be available exclusively on NDTV for all interviews, views and special shows.

“We are pleased to announce our exclusive association with Mahendra Singh Dhoni. It has been our continuous effort to bring quality content to the millions of cricket fans across the country. Our viewers will now be able to watch and hear one of India’s most adored youth icons. The decision to sign him was taken in view of his immense talent, maturity and exemplary display of sportsmanship”, said, Dr Prannoy Roy, Chairman, NDTV.

To mark the commencement of this special relationship, Dhoni presented an autographed bat to NDTV. Commenting on the tie-up, M S Dhoni said, “It is a privilege to be associated with India’s most reputed and respected media house. I am sure that through this platform I will be able to reach out to all cricketing fans in India and across the world. I look forward to a successful and fulfilling relationship.”

Jeet Banerjee, CEO GameplanSports added “NDTV with its extensive coverage on sports, specially cricket, on both its English and Hindi news channels is the ideal platform to showcase Dhoni. With Dhoni signing exclusively for NDTV, this will immensely benefit his brand value. I am very excited at the beginning of this new relationship which will provide high entertainment value to the viewers”.

To begin with, M S Dhoni will feature in NDTV’s special programme ‘India Questions’ on NDTV24x7 with Dr Prannoy Roy and NDTV India with Abhigyan Prakash, which was recorded earlier today.

About NDTV
NDTV Ltd, founded in 1988, is India's first and largest private producer of current affairs, sports and entertainment television. It is home to the country's best and brightest reporters, anchors and producers; 23 offices and studios across the country host India's most modern and sophisticated production, newsgathering and archiving facilities. NDTV has an unmatched track record of successfully launching 3 news channels. NDTV 24x7 is a clear leader in the English news segment, NDTV Profit a 24 hour business plus channel is India’s number 1 business news channel, and NDTV India, is amongst the country’s leading Hindi news channels. As an organization, NDTV is committed to one cause: to use its extensive expertise, technology and reach to create unparalleled coverage of the latest in domestic and international news, sports and entertainment for viewers at home and around the world. For more information: www.ndtv.com.

About GameplanSports
Gameplan started its operations in 1999 and has gradually emerged as a leading sports marketing and management company. Right from syndications to sponsorships and managing various on ground activities, Gameplan further forayed into areas of managing young, emerging sports personalities. Besides Dhoni, Gameplan is already managing young, exciting cricketers like Piyush Chawla, Munaf Patel and Robin Utthappa, all three of whom have already represented the senior Indian cricket team. Gameplan is committed to the cause of unearthing more such young talents and will provide professional expertise in managing the players.
Contact

Manisha Natarajan, NDTV, +91 9811999246
[email protected]