Mumbai, January 02, 2019: Star Sports – India’s leading sports broadcaster – has launched Star Sports 1 Kannada, the country’s first dedicated Kannada sports channel. Star Sports aims to provide quality viewing experience in local languages for its fans across India. Earlier this year, Star Sports introduced India’s first Telugu sports channel – Star Sports 1 Telugu – paving the way formoreregional sports channels after the successful launch ofStar Sports 1 Tamil in 2017.
Celebrating the spirit of the Kannadiga culture is at the heart of the launch of Star Sports 1 Kannada. Karnataka as a region, has shown very distinctive viewing habits and an affinity to differentiated language content. This has enabled Star Sports to create a unique, engaging and most importantly, viewer centric offering for the southern state.
Star Sports 1 Kannada, with its rich line-up of sports properties, will help bring Kannadiga sports fans closer to their favourite sports. Now on-air, the broadcast calendar includes live events such as Bengaluru Bulls’ panga in the VIVO Pro Kabaddi Season 6 finals as they eye their first ever VIVO PKL trophy. The fans can also enjoy Karnataka’s domestic cricket matches, Hero Indian Super League, Premier Badminton League, upcoming AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019, Khelo India Youth Games, VIVO IPL and a host of other sporting events being broadcast in Kannada throughout the year. Star Sports 1 Kannada aims to provide fans with region specific quality sports content allowing them to connect with their heroes.
A Star India spokesperson said, “Sports is more engaging, enjoyable and thrilling, when it is watched in a language one speaks. Our strong presence in Karnataka has helped us understand how Kannadiga sports fans like to consume sports content. Kannadigas possess an inherent sporting quality of resilience and an undying desire to always win. Star Sports 1 Kannada, with its extensive line-up of popular sports content, is a resolute step towards bringing these Kannadiga fans closer to their favourite games and heroes.”
A promo campaign was launched to support the launch of Star Sports 1 Kannada. Keeping true to essence of the Kannadiga culture, the promo focuses on watching our sport in our language, and the determination and never say die attitude of a kannadiga.
Star Sports 1 Kannada will be available on leading DTH/cable operators across Karnataka as well as rest of India soon.
Fans of Bengaluru Bulls can cheer for their favourite team in their favourite language as they raid for glory in the final panga of VIVO Pro Kabaddi Season 6. The game will be live on Star Sports 1 Kannada on Saturday, January 05, 2019, 8 pm onwards.
Upcoming marquee LIVE sporting action
| Sport | Event | Dates |
| Kabaddi | VIVO Pro Kabaddi – Playoffs and finals | January 03 & 05, 2019 |
| National sports | Khelo India Youth Games 2019 | January 2019 |
| Football | AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 | January – February 2019 |
| Badminton | Premier Badminton League | January 2019 |
| Cricket | India’s Tour of New Zealand | January – February 2019 |
| Cricket | Australia’s Tour of India | February – March 2019 |
| Cricket | VIVO IPL 2019 | TBC |
| Cricket | ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 | May – July 2019 |
| Football | Hero Indian Super League | February 2019 onwards |
| Kabaddi | VIVO Pro Kabaddi 2019 (Season 7) | July 2019 |
