October 8, 2002: ESPN STAR Sports today announced the acquisition of telecast rights to feature comprehensive daily highlights of all international cricket played in India till September 2004.
Starting with the first test of the India-West Indies series beginning on October 9, both ESPN and STAR Sports will showcase the India cricket highlights including a comprehensive analysis of all international cricket played in India, at prime time on a daily basis. The highlights will be aired on each match day on STAR Sports at 8.00 pm with a repeat telecast on ESPN at 11.30 pm.
Manu Sawhney, Managing Director of ESPN Software India Pvt. Ltd. said, ‘With this acquisition, ESPN STAR Sports will present to the millions of its loyal cricket viewers across Asia including India a unique opportunity to enjoy the daily highlights package at prime time presented by ESPN STAR Sports’ popular commentary team using our exclusive Namadgi Graphics system.’
ESPN STAR Sports’ commentary team for the upcoming India Vs. West Indies series highlights will comprise cricketing legend Sunil Gavaskar, along with Bobby Simpson, Ravi Shastri, Navjot Singh Sidhu and ace commentators, Harsha Bhogle and Alan Wilkins.
These rights had previously been with PCC (Pacific Century Corporation), aired on their NOW channel. PCC have now sublicensed these highlight rights to ESPN STAR Sports.
ESPN STAR Sports has acquired rights to telecast the highlights for the following international cricket series to be played in India till September 2004.
India Vs West Indies – October 2002
India Vs New Zealand – October 2003
India Vs. Pakistan – February 2004
India Vs. Australia – September 2004
ESPN STAR Sports already 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, and will be showcasing more than 1100 days of LIVE and Exclusive Top Quality International cricket over the next five years.
In the coming months, ESPN STAR Sports will telecast LIVE
the following international cricket series:
Australia Vs Pakistan – 3 Test matches – Oct 2002
Sri Lanka tour of South Africa – 2 Tests, 5 ODIs – Nov-Dec 2002
Pakistan tour of Zimbabwe – 2 Tests, 5 ODIs – Nov-Dec 2002
West Indies tour of Bangladesh – 2 Tests, 3 ODIs – Nov-Dec 2002
England & Sri Lanka tour of Australia – 5 Tests, 15 ODIs – Nov 2002- Jan 2003
Pakistan tour of South Africa – 2 Tests, 5 ODIs – Dec 2002
India tour of New Zealand – 2 Tests, 7 ODIs – Dec 2002 – Jan 2003
‘The acquisition of India cricket highlight rights for Asia including India is another step in our commitment to bring to our viewers the best and most relevant sports programming from across the world and will further establish ESPN and STAR Sports as Cricket Ke Asli Badshah,’ Sawhney said.
ESPN STAR Sports has also signed an exclusive marketing and programming partnership with cricket ace, Sachin Tendulkar whereby the batting maestro will actively promote ESPN and STAR Sports and will soon join the channels on air in
exclusive programming that will treat Indian cricket fans to Sachin in a new role on television.
ESPN and STAR Sports bring 48 hours of top quality sporting action from around the world on a daily basis. As well as cricket, ESPN STAR Sports holds telecast rights to the world’s premier sporting events for the millions of sports fans in India.
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.
For more details contact:
ESPN STAR Sports at 011-6092229 / 6096585:
Indrani Gupta, Manager – Corporate Communications, Email: indrani@espnstar.co.in