English Football And Indian Audience

English Football And Indian Audience

Barclay's premier league (as its famously known) is the top division of  football league of England (and Wales) and is payed between top 20 clubs. although the league is going on since 1888, but it became premiership tournament in 1992. Football in India has been in pathetic state right from the start and is pathetic even now.( although INDIA did play in  asia cup last year in Qatar.) but still nothing has improved.In januray,I went to see the match between INDIA n Bayern Munich( yes, the same team who is playing champions league final on may 19) and the match more looked like a sponsorship commitment on the part of German club for AUDI. India was defeated 4-0.Sadly, there is not much to talk about Indian football.

English football is being telecast in india live through ESPN STAR SPORTS for last so many years. football  viewing became popular in india only after 2002 world cup, when the football was telecast live by then new channel TEN sports. many adults,kids n teenagers( including me) who earlier had not seen much of professional football started watching football.I still remember FRANCE the defending champion had lost out in first round.
So, that's how football viewing became popular in india. BPL slowly became popular n 90% of Indians  who used to watch football( at that time)  became fans of Manchester UNITED( may be coz they were winning and they also had David Beckham the most popular english player at that time), n sum others( including me) became fans of 2 other famous clubs ( arsenal n Liverpool). Then subsequently, with euro championships n world cups, football became more popular  in India.  as of now in  2012,football( particularly) BPL has become very common among teenagers n adults. and it has become a big market in india.

Manchester united has been the most aggressive of them  to cash in on this big market. They opened cafe bars n restaurants in india through a franchisee mode with an indian company (link ) and other clubs are following too. all the big sponsors(kit suppliers) of these clubs are selling jerseys of these foreign clubs in india n many big brands( like pepsi) are getting associated with football. pepsi even launched a campaign "change the game" to support football, although they later re-framed it again in favour of cricket. The end of last Season was great with MANU failing to win n MANC winning it in extra time. the success of other clubs in BPL will make them follow MANU n many more will come in india to fulfill their commercial interest.