Talking Sports: Meet Nicole Asgar
Nicole Asgar can be a 24-year-old sports presenter as well as also also producer of mixed Iranian as well as also also Indonesian heritage. Spending her childhood travelling between Australia as well as also also Indonesia, she took the plunge as well as also also moved to Jakarta six months ago to gain international media experience. A former Fox Sports reporter, Nicole shares her story as well as also also her passion for sports with us.
What made you come back to your birth land?
Working as a sports reporter in Australia, I found in which we might sometimes ignore news through the planet, due to the fact in which we’re quite secluded in Australia as well as also also show only what we want to show. I felt in which if I wanted to progress into being a serious anchor or sports journalist, I might need to travel as well as also also gain worldly experience to expand my network, so I took the risk as well as also also came to Indonesia as my stepping stone.
How long have you been from the media?
I studied Communications as well as also also Journalism at University as well as also also I did internships during my studies. I worked at Fox Sports as well as also also as a freelancer for three as well as also also a half years before coming here.
Have you ever done some other types of media some other than television?
I used to write for several sports magazines as well as also also online websites such as the Australian Times as well as also also Rugby League Magazine that has a monthly column. I only got into TV because my lecturer at University persuaded me to try This particular. I was actually truly hesitant about working in TV because I didn’t want to be judged as well as also also criticized all the time – I preferred to be behind the scenes with my work being based on my writing. Eventually I did try TV as well as also also I actually liked This particular! I feel in which even though you’re presenting as well as also also reading off a teleprompter, we have a lot of influence doing what we do.
Why sports?
My dad treated me like a son growing up, since I was the eldest as well as also also my dad always wanted a son first. Because I was close to my dad as well as also also my brother, I watched a lot of sports, dressed like a boy as well as also also I was 
In Australia, This particular’s engrained into us in which we have to follow a sport – This particular’s our bread as well as also also butter. Growing up, if you didn’t watch the National Rugby League (NRL), you weren’t part of the ‘cool group’. I always knew I wanted to do the news (Sandra Sully was my idol growing up) as well as also also one of my goals through a young age was to work in sports.
Tell us about the fresh channel, MNC World News. What’s the brand’s vision as well as also also mission?
The whole channel can be dedicated in English as well as also also we’re truly targeting an international audience. We want people to know in which Indonesians keep up with the rest of the planet; we’re putting Indonesia on the map. We have to come across as suitable for international audiences, therefore our content focuses mainly on the international world. The owner, Hary Tanoesoedibjo, has plans to branch out through Indonesia to Southeast Asia, Australia, the Middle East as well as also also eventually the planet.
What about your show, Score Board – what makes This particular special?
This particular can be initially I feel there can be a presenter, producer as well as also also sports show in Indonesia suitable for international audiences. The way I present as well as also also package sports can be completely different to some other shows here. I also think viewers enjoy watching someone with an Australian accent because This particular feels more international. My show can be probably one of the first shows in Indonesia in which covers NRL stories. We will also be covering the Rugby World Cup, which some other channels do not.
What’s your broadcasting style?
My audience can be majority male, which means I have to grab their attention quickly that has a fun as well as also also down-to-earth style. Sometimes I get a bit more serious when we cover scandals or corruption topics like the PSSI (Persatuan Sepakbola Seluruh Indonesia), however the majority of the time, I’m engaging with the audience.
Who can be your target audience as well as also also what’s the reaction been so far to your show?
We are targeting the international audience, expatriates as well as also also English-speaking Indonesians. I’m truly surprised to know in which people actually watch our show because we haven’t done any advertising as well as also also our website isn’t live yet. We have some well-known presenters like Tommy Tjokro through Bloomberg who brings a lot of fans.
How can we watch your show?
Score Board can be on at 10am as well as also also 4.30pm. You can watch us on Indovision on channel 85 as well as also also we will have a YouTube channel as well as also also live streaming on our website soon.
What some other shows can we watch on your channel?
We have World Hour, which can be hard news with some light entertainment at the end; Marketplace, which can be all about the stock market; Showbiz Central, which focuses in on showbiz news; Screenshot, which has feature stories mainly through Asia; as well as also also my show, Score Board. We are looking to do a Russia Today show, due to the high number of Russians in Indonesia as well as also also our ties with the Russian diplomats.
Have you ever met a sports person in which left you awestruck? as well as also also which personalities might you like to meet?
I don’t get fazed by athletes. People see them as gods – I see them as just normal people with talent. I might like to meet Rhonda Rousey, Mohammad Ali or Mike Tyson because I want to pick their brains!
What challenges have you faced coming back to Jakarta?
Yes, things take a lot longer to do here. I took a lot of criticism showing international sports in Indonesia, however apparently Score Board can be at This particular point the number one show on our channel!
Do you speak Bahasa?
I can get by, however I’m still learning – even though people still laugh at me!
What do you desire to achieve in your time working in Indonesia?
Nicole interviewing Ruud Gullit
I’d like to gain as much experience as possible in my field. I also want to travel all over Indonesia – there’s so much to see as well as also also learn. I also want to expand my fan base. There are only 20 million people in Australia, however in Indonesia there are 20 million people who could potentially watch MNC World News. I might like to set up a charitable organization for children where donators can access the kids they donate to or sponsor, so you know where your money goes. I’d like to focus on children because they’re the next generation.
I’m also writing a book about the differences between the two worlds I’m through, however This particular can be still a work in progress!
What sports do you play?
Boxing mainly, however I also play tennis, soccer, as well as also also even rugby.
If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things might you have with you?
I’m Gen-Y, so definitely my phone. as well as also also chocolate – I have to have chocolate every day. I might also need someone to talk to or I’d go insane, so I’d bring either Kevin Hart or Ron Burgundy, the character.
Thanks, Nicole! To get in touch, follow her on Twitter: @nicole_hash
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Talking Sports: Meet Nicole Asgar
Talking Sports: Meet Nicole Asgar