Neo goes high on cricketainment

MUMBAI: In a bid to boost its ratings for the upcoming India-South Africa Test series, official broadcaster Neo Sports on Wednesday announced a bouquet of cricket-based programmes, which will be launched over the next two weeks, beginning with the first Test in Chennai.

The nine shows are ‘Dial C for Cricket’ (an interactive show where viewers can call in to discuss the game), ‘Baat and Bowl’ (getting up, close and personal with cricketing stalwarts), ‘Sports Zone’ (daily dose of sports updates from around the world), ‘Cricket Tadka Marke’ and ‘Tour Diary’ (a sneak peek into the behind the scenes happenings of the two teams), ‘Encounter’ (classic matches in cricket history, which will be treated like a real story with a theme, dramatisation and anecdotes), ‘Ballebaaz’ (greatest innings of Indian cricketers, with a filmy twist), ‘Extra Cover’ (preview, review and expert opinion before and after the matches, featuring Mohinder Amarnath and former South African opener Peter Kirsten) and ‘The Great
Indian Run Chase’ (a look at India’s rise in rankings, with stats and trivias).

The first show begins on March 24, the opening day of the first Test.