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Sony Entertainment
Television has acquired the exclusive Cable and Satellite rights
to broadcast live all ICC Cricket Tournaments till 2007 ending with
the ICC Cricket World Cup. Acquired from Singapore-based Global
Cricket Corporation and World Sport Nimbus, the rights include all
the matches of ICC, namely, two ICC world cups, three ICC Champions
Trophies and three under-19 cricket world cups. “SET Network
enjoys a reputation for providing the most entertaining television
programming and the acquisition of the ICC Cricket Tournaments telecast
rights reaffirms our commitment to bringing the world’s best
in sports entertainment to our viewers,” said Kunal Dasgupta,
CEO, SET.
commenting
on the deal Seamus O’ Brien, Co-Chairman, World Sport Nimbus,
said, “We are excited at the prospect of delivering all the
exciting and prestigious ICC cricket to the millions of viewers
of SET.” Sony which has acquired the sub-continent rights from
ICC for a period of six years is said to have paid the highest amount
of licensing fee ever for television broadcasting in cricket. According
to O’Brien, six major networks were in the race for acquiring
the rights but the deal went to Sony on account of its financial
capability. Malcolm Gray, president, ICC said, “The name ICCC
and the name SET are synonymous with wonderful exciting cricket
matches and the presentation ot it on television.” The first
of ICC matches which begin in September will be be telecast on MAX
and Sony.
As for Doordarshan,
Harish Thawani, co-chairman, World Sport Nimbus said that they will
have access to select matches which include all the Indian matches,
semi-finals and finals.
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