- The premier B-school has renamed Media and Entertainment Management Area to Media Entertainment and Sports Management
- MICA’s move to reorient our specialisation will ensure our students stay ahead of the curve: Dr Shailendra Raj Mehta, President & Director of MICA
- The media and Entertainment industry, enabled by experience-led companies in sports, gaming, e-sports, etc., will touch Rs 3 trillion in business in the next couple of years: Dr Bhaskar Das, Mentor, MESM Area and Governing Council Member of MICA
NE EDUCATION BUREAU
AHMEDABAD, APRIL 5
Tapping on the recent and notable transformations in the sports sector and advancements leading to significant developments, MICA, Ahmedabad has added sports business specialisation to its curriculum. The premier B-school has renamed one of the most prominent areas, ‘Media and Entertainment Management’ to ‘Media Entertainment and Sports’, which will now offer multiple courses like the sports business, gaming, and e-Sports, to name a few.
Speaking of this move, Dr Shailendra Raj Mehta, President & Director of MICA, said, “The transformation of the Indian sports ecosystem is happening rapidly. Emerging trends such as virtual reality experiences, esports, and digital streaming revolutionise how sports are played, consumed, and monetized. MICA’s move to reorient our specialisation will ensure our students stay ahead of the curve.”
Dr. Githa Heggde, Dean of MICA, Ahmedabad, said, “MICA has been catering to the management of the creative industry and its business since its inception. The media department at MICA has undergone multiple transitions from media planning to media management to media and entertainment management, and this year, we go a step forward by integrating sports and experiential business as the core of the department.
As the sports sector continues to evolve, the industry will need professionals with a comprehensive understanding of sports business models and a diverse skill set; and this approach will not only add value for stakeholders but unlock numerous professional opportunities for our students”, she said.
The institute will interweave ‘sports’ into its current offerings. Students opting for the new specialisation will get exposed to various dimensions of sports like monetisation, franchising, club management, etc. The students recently attended a workshop on ‘Sports Marketing’ by Mr. Vinit Karnik, Head of Sports, ESports and Entertainment at GroupM.
Delving more, Prof. Santosh Kumar Patra, Head, Media Entertainment and Sports Management, shared, “Twenty-five per cent of the total business classified under experiential business is primarily driven by sports, gaming, live events, and categories allied to these segments. Sports as a sector is not only growing exponentially in India but also growing beyond cricket. As a young sports nation and a new experience-driven category of entertainment business, it requires special knowledge and skill to manage the business. Considering the need of the growing industry trends and after getting inputs from multiple stakeholders including alumni, advisory committee, and industry leaders, we decided to reorient our focus to sports business in India”.
Interestingly, in the past year, the Centre for Media Entertainment and Sports (CMES) undertook a few case studies on IPL valuation and annual sports and published e-sports and gaming reports.
Dr Bhaskar Das, Mentor, MESM Area and Governing Council Member of MICA said, “The future lies in becoming an excellent manager, financier, or marketer with an understanding of sports management. The media and Entertainment industry, enabled by experience-led companies in sports, gaming, e-sports, etc., will touch Rs 3 trillion in business in the next couple of years. It is essential to note the growth of the industry and the need for the required knowledge and skill set to manage the rapidly growing sector in India.”
