Volleyball Foundation
Innovative grassroots broadcasting brings live volleyball to communities across Assam and beyond
As the Brahmaputra Volleyball League (BVL) Season 5 Super League Finals begins, the focus is not only on the matches but also on the extraordinary behind-the-scenes efforts that make live broadcasting possible. This year, an impressive 72 matches will be streamed live during the Finals, culminating a period that has seen nearly 700 broadcasts across 170 villages.
It all started in Season 2 when Amitabh Atreya, a volunteer, documentary filmmaker and creative director, stepped in to develop a cost-effective broadcasting solution. Reflecting on the journey, Atreya shared:
“The first time I heard about the BVL was at an alumni meeting with Abhijit (the league’s founder). We met in Delhi in the winter of 2015/16, and he told me about the remarkable initiative he was planning for Assam. I immediately told him, ‘We have to do this live.’ When the league started in 2020, I wasn’t in India, but I knew we had to make it happen. Satellite costs $3,000 an hour – that’s enough to sustain a whole village. We couldn’t even think about that, so we had to innovate.”
Through a partnership with Sportvot, a start-up providing broadcasting technology, the BVL launched an affordable live-streaming system using just smartphones and minimal equipment. Today, the broadcasts include live scoring, video production and central monitoring by a dedicated team of 5–10 personnel.
What makes this broadcasting initiative truly unique is its community-driven approach aligning seamlessly with the FIVB Strategic Vision 2032, which has the motto “Together as One” at its core. Each of the 170 participating villages in the BVL has a team of four trained broadcast personnel, mostly young people aged 16-18. Since the programme began, over 500 individuals have been trained, gaining not only video production skills but also expertise in storytelling, PowerPoint design and Excel.
“Children are not just involved in playing volleyball; they’re also involved in the broadcast process, and they learn quickly. They now handle designing, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Canva – they’re acquiring new skills every day,” Mr Atreya explained.
In the preliminary rounds, up to 50 matches can be broadcast simultaneously from different villages. Despite some connection challenges, particularly in remote areas where reliable broadband is unavailable, Amitabh and his team have adapted, moving from bamboo tripods in the early days to metal versions that ensure better stability.
Speaking about the inspiring league, Atreya added: “sport is amazing to watch. You get the real, raw emotions – you don’t have to script anything. I feel like part of the BVL family. I’m loving it, and it’s great to see the children smiling and happy.”
By empowering local youth through the BVL’s broadcasting initiatives, the league is, through volleyball, equipping communities with skills that extend far beyond the court.
Click on the below link to watch the competition live! https://sportvot.com/stream/6790d8cb24aa9a0001f3b59a
