ESPN STAR Sports (ESS), Asia’s No. 1 sports broadcaster, has been awarded the Global Commercial Rights to the new and exciting Champions League Twenty20 for the next ten years till 2017. The deal gives ESPN STAR Sports the exclusive Global Commercial Rights for all the matches in the inaugural Champions League Twenty20 season, due to be held from December 3 to 10, 2008, and for all upcoming seasons until 2017.
The deal awards ESS a multitude of rights across various platforms, including television, internet, mobile and radio. In addition, ESS will also have all title rights, event sponsorship, ground rights and merchandizing rights around the property.
The Champions League Twenty20, developed by three founding member boards, the Board of Control for Cricket in India, Cricket Australia and Cricket South Africa, is well set to become the world's top international Twenty20 cricket tournament involving domestic sides. Eight teams, consisting of the reigning winners and runners-up from the domestic Twenty20 competitions in India, Australia and South Africa, plus the winners of 2008 Twenty20 championships (to be held in October 2008) from Pakistan, and the reigning Twenty20 Cup champion from England, Middlesex, have been invited to contest the 2008 Champions League Twenty20.
Mr. Manu Sawhney, Managing Director, ESPN STAR Sports, said: “We're extremely pleased at having won the Global Commercial Rights to the new and exciting Champions League Twenty20. This is a testament to our commitment to the game of cricket and fans as we cement our relationship with the BCCI, Cricket Australia and Cricket South Africa.
“With the phenomenal success that we have had with inaugural ICC Twenty20 World Cup last year, we are confident that we will be able to take this exciting Champions League Twenty20 to new heights as well. This world-class event will reiterate ESS’ position as the number one choice for cricket fans in Asia for years to come.”
“Through our television channels - ESPN, STAR Sports & STAR Cricket, our website www.espnstar.com, and our wireless platforms mobileESPN and STAR Sports Mobile, we are confident of taking the Champions League Twenty20 to new heights by working along with the various partners involved and are committed to set new benchmarks in the broadcast and distribution, such that fans of this crowd-pulling format can look forward to an exciting time when the league begins this December”, added Sawhney.
The Champions League Twenty20 acquisition further strengthens ESPN STAR Sports’ position as the Number 1 broadcaster in cricket in Asia with a comprehensive schedule of international cricket. ESS also holds the exclusive global telecast rights by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for all ICC events till 2015, and features international and domestic cricket from its exclusive broadcast deals with the Cricket Australia and England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
