BCCL-backed Sports Flashes launches Internet radio channel

New Delhi-based India Sports Flashes Pvt. Ltd, which operates sports content app Sports Flashes, has launched an Internet radio channel dedicated to sports, a top company executive told VCCircle.

The Internet radio channel will operate 24×7 and will provide live updates and chat commentaries from more than 400 sports events happening across the world including Premier League, IPL, FIFA World Cup, etc.

The channel will broadcast sports content in English, Hindi, Tamil, Bangla, Marathi, Gujarati, Marathi, Khasi and Garo (languages from the north-east), covering cricket, football, hockey, kabaddi, wrestling and other 34 sports categories.

“Our aim is to provide digital coverage to sports content that does not appear on any sports TV channel. While promoting various sports through our association, we are sure to increase the reach of sports in the country,” said Raman Raheja, Founder of Sports Flashes.

The startup plans to raise about $1 million from international investors, Raheja said. “This will help boost the company’s current valuation of $4 million. We are also in talks with EPL for acquiring content rights,” he added.

Sports personalities that are associated with Sports Flashes’ radio include the former captain of the Indian hockey team Sandeep Singh; boxer and Arjuna awardee Akhil Kumar; and cricketer Wasim Jaffer.

The startup, which claims to have 5 lakh subscribers, was founded in August 2016 by Raheja, an entertainment and sports professional with more than 20 years of experience, and Keshaw Sinha, an entrepreneur and IT veteran. Raheja has been associated with the Commonwealth Games, World Kabaddi League, International Indian Film Academy Awards, and Indian Premier League, among others. Sinha is no longer with the firm.

In March 2017, it raised angel funding from Vineet Shrivastava, managing director of Nasdaq-listed investment solutions firm SEI India; Advitya Dewan, a seasoned angel investor; Vikas Bajaj, joint managing director at Bajaj Motors Ltd; and Amit Kharbanda, founder of digital set top box maker MyBox Technologies Pvt. Ltd.

In April 2017, wrestler and Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar and Global Edusports Ventures’ Sandeep Singh invested in the company.

In August 2017, Sports Flashes raised an undisclosed amountfrom media conglomerate Bennett, Coleman and Company Ltd (BCCL).

Other players in the digital sports content segment include Sportskeeda, Sports Asia, Khel Now and Floodlightz.