Tata Communications lands five-year World Athletics contract

Tata Communications has secured a five-year global host broadcasting services contract spanning the World Athletics Series of events, including the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo.

This agreement positions Tata Communications as a central figure in delivering innovative and engaging broadcasts for the global athletics community.

The collaboration is set to commence in a significant year for athletics, with notable events including the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing in March, the World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou in May, and the World Athletics Road Running Championships in San Diego in September.

The pinnacle of the sporting calendar, the World Athletics Championships, will take place from 13-21 September 2025 in Tokyo, drawing a worldwide audience of approximately one billion viewers.

Under this agreement, Tata Communications will focus on creating and distributing live content to broadcasters worldwide, ensuring the excitement and drama of the athletics competitions reach fans globally.

As the host broadcaster, the company will play a crucial role in providing immersive coverage for World Athletics events. This will include the provision of localized regional feeds to enhance the viewer experience and establish a connected fan base.

"It is an exciting time of new content and changing viewer demands," Global Head of Media & Entertainment Business at Tata Communications, Dhaval Ponda, commented.

"Tata Communications is ideally placed as a global connectivity provider to help World Athletics meet its ambition of bringing athletics and inspirational stories to fans around the world," he said. "We offer the global footprint and scalable, resilient solutions necessary to carry these stories from arenas directly to viewers, whether from the UK, Tokyo, USA or beyond."

"As we bring the vibrancy of global athleticism to screens, I'm eager to see those stories inspire the next generation of Indian sporting excellence."

The contract leverages Tata Communications' global media platform, which is backed by a video native edge platform and application stack, providing reliable end-to-end support for the demanding schedule of international sports events.

This enhanced technology platform is expected to deliver a superior broadcast experience for athletics fans globally.

Tata Communications will support World Athletics' vision to expand the sport's reach worldwide, with a special focus on strategic initiatives in India.

The collaboration also aims to drive progress in World Athletics' sustainability efforts through the innovative use of technology.

World Athletics has expressed its commitment to increasing the sport's global reach. This partnership with Tata Communications aligns with that mission, aiming to amplify the exhilaration of live athletics and connect fans from different parts of the world.

The deal represents a significant step toward enhancing the global broadcasting landscape for athletics.