Zee completes 34 years as Subhash Chandra recalls media journey 
Ficci FRAMES session discusses what makes reality TV tick 
Shekhawat: India must shift from content consumer to global creator 
Puneet Goenka, Gaurav Banerjee, Rahul Kanwal share views on TV ratings 
Uday Shankar urges Indian M&E sector to help nation’s global narrative 
At FICCI FRAMES ‘26, Vaz bats for more innovation, regulatory flexibility 
India b’band base at 1.1bn in August, telecom subs cross 1.36bn 
Shibasish Sarkar bids adieu to Reliance Ent to start Katha Studios 
Paramount’s David Ellison to have his people run merged entity’s studio biz 
Drishyam: The Conclusion’ earns Rs. 179 cr. at global BO 
Ind, Pak cricket & hockey matches most viewed in Asian Games history 
Nivedita Basu’s Self-Made Woman Awards make Delhi debut with 75 women achievers 
The men’s cricket final and hockey semifinal between India and Pakistan were the most viewed matches in Asian Games’ history, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) said yesterday and cited 212 records as proof that athletes were provided “best environment” in the Aichi-Nagoya edition.
India beat Pakistan 4-3 in the men’s hockey semifinal at the Gifu Prefectural Green Stadium at Kakamigahara in Japan. India went on to win the gold medal after beating Malaysia in the final.
India also beat Pakistan by 19 runs in the men’s cricket final.
“The broadcast had the biggest viewership ever for the Games. Thanks to two big matches: yesterday, the Pakistan-India cricket match was the most-viewed match, and the day before (on Thursday, Oct. 1), the Pakistan-India hockey match was the most-viewed match ever in the Games’ history,” OCA Coordination Committee President Tayyab Ikram said at a press conference, according to a PTI report from Nagoya in Japan.
He did not give figures regarding the viewership. He also did not specify which between the two matches had more viewership.
On the economic success of the Games, OCA Director General Husain Al-Musallam Al-Musallam said, “In these Games, the OCA marketing and sponsorship did 19 per cent more than the last Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, in 2023.
“This is because the sponsors, the partners, the TV rights holders and all the different digital platforms trust in Asian Games. This is because the Asian people are united in sport.”
Logistical chaos due to the cost-cutting decision to scrap a traditional Athletes’ Village, cramped lodgings and transport hassles marred the Games, inviting sharp criticism.
Meanwhile on September 30, Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI), holders of the media rights for the India region for the Asian Games 2026 edition, had said the Games set new multi-sport revenue record for SonyLIV — even when the India versus Pakistan men’s cricket gold match and closing ceremony were few days away.
SPNI had said that advertising revenue from Sony LIV’s coverage has surpassed the previous edition. More than 18 brands had till then come on board. (Images courtesy ©AINAGOC/Canon & Asian Hockey Federation)
