Creating Digital Sports Content at HELIX
A dentistry student with a passion for sports media, Nikhil Gandamaneni, transformed his love for cricket into a successful digital content platform. He co-founded Diamond Duck Cricket, a multimedia brand delivering podcasts, video shows, and short-form content across YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. Within two years, the platform has grown to over 88,500 subscribers on YouTube and 12,000 followers on Instagram, establishing itself as a popular destination for cricket fans worldwide.
To elevate his production quality from basic equipment such as phone cameras and entry-level microphones to professional recording equipment and studio spaces, he used HELIX, an ideal media production space that values quality and helps streamlines processes.
Location: HELIX Media Studio
Aims: To elevate the production quality of content and streamline processes.
Output: Upgrading to professional-grade production contributed to viral success, with a few videos reaching over 5.4 million views. The refined content quality enhanced viewer engagement and subscriber growth.
Why did you choose HELIX for your project?
“I was facing significant challenges in achieving professional-grade video and audio quality. On top of that, to balance the demands of my dentistry coursework with content creation, I needed an efficient workflow. I discovered HELIX Media Studio through a friend. The studio helped me upgrade my production to a fully equipped media space, providing professional cameras, high-quality microphones, and dedicated recording rooms.”
How did working at HELIX help you achieve your aims?
“With guidance from HELIX staff and Innovation Space Manager Peter North, I honed my skills in lighting, sound optimisation, and camera setup. This hands-on learning experience helped me create content that rivaled professional sports media productions.
The resources at HELIX allowed me to work more efficiently, reducing production time while improving content quality. The availability of wireless microphones for public interviews and tools like whiteboards for video breakdowns further enriched the variety and professionalism of my content.”
What's next?
“I aim to expand Diamond Duck Cricket into live sports commentary and conduct interviews with professional athletes. I'm also planning to explore HELIX’s advanced editing suites and collaborate with sports media professionals to further enhance content quality. My experience with HELIX has not only refined my digital media skills but has also helped create a potential career opportunity in sports broadcasting.”