Manifest Play is a half-day summit scheduled for the first half of April 2025.
According to a Google and Deloitte report, India's sports ecosystem is poised to reach USD 130 billion by 2030. While cricket continues to prevail, 90% of fans embrace multi-sport consumption. Kabaddi and football are also growing, and given the recent emergence of sports like padel and pickleball, along with the ongoing Kho Kho World Cup, interest in sports is at an all time high.
Manifest Play aims to help brands and media prepare for the future, while celebrating the best work in the sports marketing arena over the last 13 months. Entries for the awards will be opening shortly with the best pieces of work first released between 1 January 2024 and 31 January 2025 in contention to be rewarded.
More details around the summit and awards will be revealed in due course.
For speakership, sponsorship and awards related queries write to:
CATEGORIES 2025
Best Promo
Cricket this category will recognise the best promo for a cricket tournament/match on air across TV/OTT/Radio/Print. Football this category will recognise the best promo for a football tournament/match on air across TV/OTT/Radio/Print.
Best brand integration
Broadcast This category recognises and rewards the best brand integrations within broadcasts on sports tournaments on TV/OTT/Radio. On-ground This category recognises and rewards brand integrations between brands and sporting events on-ground.
Best marketing for a sports IP
Awards in this category will be based on the best marketing of a sports IP. Please note that this will be based on the budget the IP has to spend, and not just on the scale of the event.
Best new sports IP of the year
This is to reward and recognise the best new sports property of the year. Jurors will be judging this category based on the popularity and buzz the tournament gauged in its inaugural edition.
Best IP of the year
This is to reward and recognise the best sporting property of the year. Jurors will be judging this category based on the popularity of the IP and how it grew in the eligible period versus the year before.
Best sponsorship of a tournament
This analyses the best sporting sponsorship of a tournament. This could be a lead sponsor or any other partner tag. It's about how the brand leveraged the association with the tournament.
Best sponsorship of a team
This analyses the best sporting sponsorship of a team/franchise. This could be a lead sponsor or any other partner tag. It's about how the brand leveraged the association with the team.
Best eSports IP
This will recognise the best eSports property created with a focus on participation and brand interest garnered.
Best eSports brand integration
This will reward the agency/brand that has most effectively leveraged eSports to reach out to its audience.
Best sports podcast
This category looks into the best podcasts/online chat shows in the sports space.
Best TV broadcast channel
This is awarded to a channel with the best portfolio of content across sports with proof of coverage of how each was covered. This includes new deals secured as well as old deals extended, best packaging of sports on TV.
Best OTT Platform
This is awarded to an OTT platform with the best portfolio of content across sports with proof of coverage of how each was covered. This includes new deals secured as well as old deals extended, best packaging of sports on the medium.
Sports PR campaign of the year
This will award and recognise the best PR campaign for a sporting event/initiative.
Best Commentator - English
This is awarded to the most impactful English-speaking commentator across sports in India. This is open to OTT/TV/Radio commentators.
Best Commentator- Hindi
This is awarded to the most impactful Hindi-speaking commentator across sports in India. This is open to OTT/TV/Radio commentators.
Best Commentator - other language
This is awarded to the most impactful non-English and Hindi commentator across sports in India. This is open to OTT/TV/Radio commentators.
Best Sports Editor
This is awarded to the best sports editor across languages. The jury will be looking to reward the editor with the best viewpoints as well as accurate reportage.
Best brand ambassador for a sporting event
This is for sporting leagues/tournaments hiring brand ambassadors and how he/she was leveraged to garner interest around the sport.
Best influencer partnership with a sporting event
This is to recognise and reward an influencer who has partnered with a sporting event to promote it. Jurors will be looking for fan engagement with the influencers' posts.
Sports PR person of the year
This award will recognise the best PR person related to a sporting activity during the eligibility period.
Best Promo
1) Cricket
This category will recognise the best promo for a cricket tournament/match on air across TV/OTT/Radio/Print.
2) Football
This category will recognise the best promo for a football tournament/match on air across TV/OTT/Radio/Print.
3) Other sports
This category will recognise the best promo for a sports tournament/match on air across TV/OTT/Radio/Print.
Best brand integration
1) Broadcast
This category recognises and rewards the best brand integrations within broadcasts on sports tournaments on TV/OTT/Radio.
2) On-Ground
This category recognises and rewards brand integrations between brands and sporting events on-ground.
3) Team sponsorship
This category recognises and rewards effective integration between brands and teams and how the team sponsorship has been leveraged.
4) Ambush
This category recognises and rewards the best ambush/unofficial marketing during a sports event.
Best marketing for a sports IP
Awards in this category will be based on the best marketing of a sports IP. Please note that this will be based on the budget the IP has to spend, and not just on the scale of the event.
Best new sports IP of the year
This is to reward and recognise the best new sports property of the year. Jurors will be judging this category based on the popularity and buzz the tournament gauged in its inaugural edition.
Best IP of the year
This is to reward and recognise the best sporting property of the year. Jurors will be judging this category based on the popularity of the IP and how it grew in the eligible period versus the year before.
Best sponsorship of a tournament
This analyses the best sporting sponsorship of a tournament. This could be a lead sponsor or any other partner tag. It's about how the brand leveraged the association with the tournament.
Best sponsorship of a team
This analyses the best sporting sponsorship of a team/franchise. This could be a lead sponsor or any other partner tag. It's about how the brand leveraged the association with the team.
Best Commentator - English
This is awarded to the most impactful English-speaking commentator across sports in India. This is open to OTT/TV/Radio commentators.
Best Commentator- Hindi
This is awarded to the most impactful Hindi-speaking commentator across sports in India. This is open to OTT/TV/Radio commentators.
Best Commentator – other language
This is awarded to the most impactful non-English and Hindi commentator across sports in India. This is open to OTT/TV/Radio commentators.
Best Sports Editor
This is awarded to the best sports editor across languages. The jury will be looking to reward the editor with the best viewpoints as well as accurate reportage.
Best TV broadcast channel
This is awarded to a channel with the best portfolio of content across sports with proof of coverage of how each was covered. This includes new deals secured as well as old deals extended, best packaging of sports on TV.
Best OTT Platform
This is awarded to an OTT platform with the best portfolio of content across sports with proof of coverage of how each was covered. This includes new deals secured as well as old deals extended, best packaging of sports on the medium.
Best brand ambassador for a sporting event
This is for sporting leagues/tournaments hiring brand ambassadors and how he/she was leveraged to garner interest around the sport.
Best influencer partnership with a sporting event
This is to recognise and reward an influencer who has partnered with a sporting event to promote it. Jurors will be looking for fan engagement with the influencers' posts.
Best eSports IP
This will recognise the best eSports property created with a focus on participation and brand interest garnered.
Best eSports brand integration
This will reward the agency/brand that has most effectively leveraged eSports to reach out to its audience.
Best sports podcast
This category looks into the best podcasts/online chat shows in the sports space.
Sports PR campaign of the year
This will award and recognise the best PR campaign for a sporting event/initiative.
Sports PR person of the year
This award will recognise the best PR person related to a sporting activity during the eligibility period.
Jury
Finn Bradshaw
Head - digital, ICC
John Dykes
Sports presenter
Neha Ahuja
Director, head - marketing, Spotify India
Seema Jaswal
Sports presenter
Joy Bhattacharya
CEO, Prime Volleyball League
Mayur Hola
Vice president - brand, Swiggy