Halfway through Season 5 of DLF IPL 2012, what seemed like a lackluster response from the public has suddenly turned gung ho.
Stadiums are packed and there is invariably a clamor for seats. Of course certain oddities do stand out like the entire section which remains empty at the Chepauk in Chennai, as that portion has been deemed unfit for the public by the administrators.
At the same time, there is certainly scope for a whole lot more as far as marketing and promotion of the entire event is concerned.
In particular, the event organizers and management seem to have completely failed to realize the potential of SMS or Mobile based interactivity which can be had, throughout the IPL.
For instance, there can be competitions held over the mobile networks, with attractive prizes in store for all respondents. As an instance, in order to encourage viewers on television to watch the DLF IPL on their television sets, why not have quizzes held during the matches - while they are being broadcast?
These SMSes anyway tend to have premium rates in the order of at least INR 3 for each message. Even a very modest response of 100,000 for each question will generate a gross revenue of INR 3,00,000. Given the millions of mobile subscribers in the country, of course actual responses will be so many more!
In lieu, cash prizes to the tune of say INR 1,00,000 (one lakh), INR 50,000 (fifty thousand), and INR 25,000 (twenty five thousand) can easily be doled out to three lucky winners. And in spite of these prizes, the organizers and everyone else concerned will end up making significant profits.
And as far as the ultimate aim of ensuring viewership on television is concerned, that will definitely be achieved.
That said, cash prizes are always encouraged since they are most preferred by potential winners. A meeting with their favorite cricketing heroes might seem great but eventually there is precious little other than memories and photographs that are left behind. When cash prizes are given out, there is a lot more which can be achieved and the desire to participate will be that much higher.
The same can be done for spectators coming to watch the match LIVE at cricket grounds; since every ticket has a specific number, 3 numbers can be drawn at random for attractive cash prizes, given to those lucky ticket holders. The prize winners can be announced at the same post-match presentation which is held at the end of each match - and their prizes given out right there. This will in turn also ensure that more and more spectators present at the grounds remain inside right till the end of the match, including the post-match presentation. Otherwise, we find just too many spectators leaving, as soon as a match concludes, especially if the home side has lost.
Overall, these relatively simple ways can easily go a long way as far as promoting the IPL is concerned. Logistics for these competitions should not be an issue, given the fact that there are umpteen third party entities who can easily be given the charge. Money should also definitely not be an issue, with the cart loads of cash which the BCCI is sitting on, plus the fact that separate sponsors can easily be roped in for all such competitions.
The only fervent hope remains that at least someone in the BCCI or the IPL Governing Council is actually listening to these suggestions.
Stadiums are packed and there is invariably a clamor for seats. Of course certain oddities do stand out like the entire section which remains empty at the Chepauk in Chennai, as that portion has been deemed unfit for the public by the administrators.
 |
| This section of the Chepauk remains perpetually empty |
At the same time, there is certainly scope for a whole lot more as far as marketing and promotion of the entire event is concerned.
In particular, the event organizers and management seem to have completely failed to realize the potential of SMS or Mobile based interactivity which can be had, throughout the IPL.
For instance, there can be competitions held over the mobile networks, with attractive prizes in store for all respondents. As an instance, in order to encourage viewers on television to watch the DLF IPL on their television sets, why not have quizzes held during the matches - while they are being broadcast?
 |
| SMS / Mobile based competitions can take audience interactivity and overall viewership of the IPL to an all new level |
These SMSes anyway tend to have premium rates in the order of at least INR 3 for each message. Even a very modest response of 100,000 for each question will generate a gross revenue of INR 3,00,000. Given the millions of mobile subscribers in the country, of course actual responses will be so many more!
In lieu, cash prizes to the tune of say INR 1,00,000 (one lakh), INR 50,000 (fifty thousand), and INR 25,000 (twenty five thousand) can easily be doled out to three lucky winners. And in spite of these prizes, the organizers and everyone else concerned will end up making significant profits.
And as far as the ultimate aim of ensuring viewership on television is concerned, that will definitely be achieved.
That said, cash prizes are always encouraged since they are most preferred by potential winners. A meeting with their favorite cricketing heroes might seem great but eventually there is precious little other than memories and photographs that are left behind. When cash prizes are given out, there is a lot more which can be achieved and the desire to participate will be that much higher.
The same can be done for spectators coming to watch the match LIVE at cricket grounds; since every ticket has a specific number, 3 numbers can be drawn at random for attractive cash prizes, given to those lucky ticket holders. The prize winners can be announced at the same post-match presentation which is held at the end of each match - and their prizes given out right there. This will in turn also ensure that more and more spectators present at the grounds remain inside right till the end of the match, including the post-match presentation. Otherwise, we find just too many spectators leaving, as soon as a match concludes, especially if the home side has lost.
 |
| Attractive prizes can be given to lucky spectators which will easily boost their numbers in a big way |
Overall, these relatively simple ways can easily go a long way as far as promoting the IPL is concerned. Logistics for these competitions should not be an issue, given the fact that there are umpteen third party entities who can easily be given the charge. Money should also definitely not be an issue, with the cart loads of cash which the BCCI is sitting on, plus the fact that separate sponsors can easily be roped in for all such competitions.
The only fervent hope remains that at least someone in the BCCI or the IPL Governing Council is actually listening to these suggestions.
Yes, indeed it's an excellent way to promote, not only IPL but anything for that matter. It's an effective tool of marketing these days.
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