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Raja Simhan T.E.

Relocation not driven by cost considerations: Gleeson

MR TOM GLEESON

Chennai , Nov. 30

Cricinfo, part of the Wisden Group and a provider of cricket-related content and entertainment services, will focus its business on India and Indian cricket fans. This follows the recent relocation of its global development centre and headquarters from London to Bangalore.

It has around 20 million unique users per annum, including online and mobile, and around 60 per cent of them are supporters of India, according to Mr Tom Gleeson, CEO, Wisden, UK.

Moving to Bangalore has not in any way been driven by cost considerations. "India is our key market and it is important that we are based here," he told Business Line.

The Wisden Group employs around 120 people and would double the number over the next 18 months. It consists of four companies operating with focus on print and online media properties, said Mr Gleeson, who, along with other key personnel, has moved to Bangalore from London. Founded by Mr Simon King in 1993, Cricinfo set up a network of volunteers to distribute cricket scores and news to fans across the world. It has operations and interests in Australia, West Asia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the UK and the US. The commercial opportunities around cricket in India are substantial given that cricket is such a massive sport in India.

The change underscores the strategic focus Cricinfo is placing on India as an important growth engine for the group. Cricinfo's offices in Mumbai and Chennai have now been consolidated in the new facility, which will house content, technology, sales and marketing teams under one roof, he said. Bangalore has a significant labour pool of highly educated and skilled people, especially in software development.

The city is also strong in content and commercial fields.

Cricinfo distributes content across multiple platforms and channels, including Internet, mobile, magazines, books, newspapers and television channels. It also produces different types of content such as news and features both in written and audio format, games and interactive applications. It also offers a whole range of mobile applications — from SMS scores to Genie (mobile live cricket animation programme), wallpapers, ring tones, screensavers and audio, he said.

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