July 29, 2002: In one of the world’s biggest ever acquisition of international cricket rights, ESPN STAR Sports, India’s leading sports broadcaster, today announced the acquisition of exclusive cricket telecast rights for all international cricket from Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Zimbabwe and England for a period of 5 years, from 2003 up to 2008!
The Multi-Cricket Board Deal will enable ESPN STAR Sports to bring a bonanza of 805 additional days of top quality international test and one-day cricket for the millions of cricket viewers across India.
Rik Dovey, Managing Director of ESPN STAR Sports said, ‘This acquisition along with other rights we hold means ESPN STAR Sports will now be showcasing more than 1100 days of LIVE and Exclusive Top Quality International cricket over the next five years.’
ESPN STAR Sports now holds rights to a phenomenal eight out of ten test-playing nations including Australia, Pakistan, South Africa, West Indies, England, New Zealand, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh.
Mr. Dovey added, ‘ESPN STAR Sports has held an unparalleled leadership in sports broadcasting across Asia and India over the past six years. The acquisition of this Multi Cricket Board Deal demonstrates the continued long term commitment of the shareholders to ESPN STAR Sports.’
‘The cricket rights will further establish ESPN and STAR Sports as the true ‘cricket networks’ and will extend our leadership in sports broadcasting in India way beyond the reach of competition’, he said.
With the acquisition of the cricket rights from five international cricket boards, ESPN STAR Sports will ‘Exclusively’ showcase to the millions of its loyal Indian viewers, a feast of an incredible 110 international tests series and one-day series including an unbeatable 17 India-playing test and one-day international cricket series till 2008.
Mr. Karl Bistany of Octagon-CSI, the marketing agency for the five cricket boards said, ‘We are pleased to extend our relationships with ESPN STAR Sports, the leading sports broadcaster in India. The agreement will facilitate the LIVE and exclusive telecast of some of the most exciting international cricket series from the five countries over the five year period to the Indian cricket lovers.’
According to the agreement, ESPN STAR Sports for their respective markets will have exclusive rights for Cable & Satellite television, Terrestrial television, MMDS, SMATV, enhanced television and Radio and will offer the flexibility for ESPN STAR Sports to reach to the millions of cricket fans across multiple platforms.
The five country rights will help ESPN STAR Sports exclusively feature 119 test matches and 210 one-day internationals…
Manu Sawhney, Managing Director of ESPN Software India Pvt. Ltd., said, ‘ESPN and STAR Sports offer the most comprehensive cricket coverage showcased on any sports channel in India. With this acquisition, the networks will now be able to showcase more LIVE international cricket than the entire competition put together. The acquisition of cricket rights of the five cricket boards is another step in our commitment to bring to our viewers the best and most relevant sports programming from across the world.’
This announcement follows ESPN STAR Sports signing an exclusive marketing and programming partnership with cricket ace, Sachin Tendulkar whereby the batting maestro will actively promote ESPN and STAR Sports and join the channels on air in exclusive programming that will treat Indian cricket fans to Sachin in a new role on TV.
ESPN STAR Sports continues to add value through high quality production and incisive analysis in launching extremely successful initiatives like Super Selector, Harsha Online, Boycs & Sunny Masterclass, Sports News with Sportsline in English and SportsCenter in Hindi, ESPN School Sports Quiz, ESPN Corporate Challenger Quiz, and the ESPN Sports Quiz Book.
In addition, ESPN STAR Sports’ commentary team includes world’s most renowned experts. Cricketing legends Sunil Gavaskar and Geoffrey Boycott, along with Ravi Shastri, Navjot Singh Sidhu and ace commentators, Harsha Bhogle and Alan Wilkins are part of the cricket commentary team.
For more information contact:
ESPN STAR Sports at 011-6092229 / 6096585:
Indrani Gupta, Manager – Corporate Communications, Email: indrani@espnstar.co.in
Or CMCG India at: 011-6236470-3 or 022-4457226, Email: contact@cmcgindia.com
For the latest schedules and program information visit www.espnstar.com