IPL 5: TIL ups the ante!

This year, Times Internet Limited (TIL) has introduced a host of new features and interactivity on its dedicated IPL site, ipl.indiatimes.com. The website will now have interactive scorecards, high-definition streaming of IPL matches, DVR features (to rewind during a match), and video-on-demand facility.

IPL fans can now look forward to the 'Battleground' section on the page, which is a virtual space for fans to fight it out for their favourite teams or players, with different pages for each team and player. This section is fully integrated with Facebook, and fans can come together to support their favourite teams. To make it more interesting, they can indulge in some fun by throwing virtual objects such as eggs and tomatoes on opposing teams, players or even commentators.

The new live streaming feature will allow fans to go back on the time-line and watch any part of the match that they may have missed. Adding to all the fun is the cheerleader application, video scorecard, which shows important highlights such as wickets and runs scored, and the new video-on-demand feature, which offers match highlights such as fours, sixes and face-offs between players.

What's more, the website has tied up with Google to provide match streaming on YouTube. This year, for the first time, TIL is in talks with AIR (All India Radio) to run match commentary on their AM radio network. The website has also partnered with several IPL teams as digital partner.

"With IPL on Indiatimes since last year, there has been a 79 percent rise in viewership of the site in just a year's time. This year, we hope to take that figure even higher by creating a virtual IPL hub where fans can view and engage with the game even more actively," said Rishi Khiani, CEO, Times Internet Limited (TIL).