Legendary cricketers Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev and Clive Lloyd hail Channel 2 Group’s launch of Middle East’s first sports FM station - TALK 100.3

By K.R. Nayar

Dubai based Channel 2 Group, which holds multiple audio rights of cricket tournaments, including IPL and ICC T20 World Cup events, will partner with Fun Asia Network (FAN) to launch a sports and business radio station. Through this new venture, Ajay Sethi, Chairman and MD Channel 2 Group Corporation, hopes to create new milestones in broadcasting.

Ajay Sethi

From June 13^th 2021, sports enthusiasts will be in for a treat. Ajay Sethi, Chairman and MD Channel 2 Group Corporation that has catered to the enthusiasm of sports lovers over the years by bringing live coverage of many events, hopes to take a new leap in sports broadcasting. Using his decades of experience in sports broadcasting, Sethi’s Channel 2 Group Corporation will partner with Fun Asia Network and launch Talk 100.3 FM, a sports and business radio station. This is set to create waves by becoming UAE’s only South Asian sport and business radio station.

Channel 2 Group is already the exclusive Global Audio Rights holder for International Cricket Council’s live events. Channel 2 Group’s analogue and digital audio rights also ensures coverage of Asia Cup and the Indian Premier League. Fun Asia is the already the fastest growing media network and entertainment provider in the region. Founded by the Perfect Group of Companies, it is owned and operated by the Thakkar family.

Sethi was instrumental in launching the first ever radio over the internet – Cricket Radio in 2009. His love for sports extends to football, tennis, and golf, and he has supported many events. He co-founded the St Lucia Zouks in the Caribbean Premier League and became the owner of Nelson Mandela Bay Stars team which is one of the eight teams that is a part of the T20 Global league. He also had launched a cricket radio app.

Sunil Gavaskar 

As soon as Sethi announced the launch of his radio station, cricket legends Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev and Clive Lloyd, who have over the years seen Sethi’s enthusiasm and efforts to bring cricket coverage to millions, hailed his plans. Gavaskar said: “It’s terrific to know that Channel 2, with whom I have an old association, is launching the first Middle East sports FM station TALK 100.3. With Ajay Sethi, a sports and music aficionado at the helm, this is exciting because sports fanatics will get to know what’s happening in the sporting world on a moment by moment basis even as they are on their way to and from work, school, training or whatever that they are doing. My very best wishes to TALK 100.3, Go on guys ...get more than a triple hundred.”

Clive Lloyd 

Lloyd, who has witnessed Sethi’s vision of spreading sports, said: “It's a tremendous honor and pleasure to congratulate Mr. Ajay Sethi on this huge and exciting project. Mr. Sethi is a very close and personal friend of mine and he's also a man of vision and very futuristic in his thinking. That is why he is launching the 1st Middle Eastern Sports Station called TALK 100.3 which I'm sure will be a resounding success. Congratulations Ajay. I wish you the very best in this and all your future endeavors. Well done.”

Kapil Dev, who has witnessed Sethi’s dedication over the years, said: "It’s wonderful to see Ajay's hard work and vision come to life, Good luck with the new sports channel TALK 100.3, May you remain "not out” even after 100. As always you are ahead of time with your contribution to the sports business. I have thoroughly enjoyed doing commentary stints during the ICC World Cup with Channel 2. I wish you and your team heaps of success and good wishes. We will bounce back stronger once we are through these difficult times and I look forward to being in the TALK 100.3 studio soon! Once again, Good luck and all the best with your new venture and expanding your decades of experience in sports broadcast.”

Kapil Dev with Ajay Sethi 

Thanking all the legendary cricketers, Ajay Sethi said: “I am very grateful to all my friends from the cricket fraternity for their support towards this new venture. I am delighted to partner with Fun Asia in developing the first talk and sport radio station in the UAE, speaking directly to a South Asian Audience. Fun Asia represents media broadcasting at the highest level.”

Fun Asia’s Thakkar Group is hopeful that the partnership will elevate sports and business coverage in a big away.  Sam Thakkar, Group CEO Thakkar Group, said:  “This is an exciting step for Fun Asia and we are thrilled to partner with the Channel 2 Group Corporation to bring audiences exceptional sports content from around the world direct to the UAE.”

Dheeraj Kapuria, Group COO, said, “We’re excited to partner with the Channel 2 Group Corporation to extend their reach to millions of listeners in the UAE. Fans will now be able to experience the excitement of live matches and business forums, which in addition to 100.3 FM, can be accessed through multiple platforms.”

The joint venture plans are exciting.  Fun Asia Network will develop content in association with the Channel 2 Group Corporation, utilizing content from sport fixtures. The station will also offer live shows, syndicated programs, popular podcasts, as well as the exclusive broadcast rights to the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, ICC Women's World Cup, ICC World Test Championship Final, ICC Men's T20 World Cup, ICC U19 Cricket World Cup, ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Qualifier, ICC Women's T20 World Cup, ICC World Test Championship Final, ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, BCCI, ICC World Cup, EPL, Cup Tournament, IPL as well as the Cricket World Cup.