Sony bags telecast rights of ICC matches, World Cups

Sony Entertainment Television network has bagged the exclusive cable and satellite television rights for live telecast of ICC tournaments including 2003 and 2007 World Cup's in the sub-continent, the channel's CEO Kunal Dasgupta announced on Thursday.

"This is the biggest deal in India's television history and largest telecast or broadcast deal in the game of cricket," said Dasgupta in Mumbai.

The rights allow Sony Max channel to beam over 300 days of international cricket including coverage of leading ICC championships, under-19 World Cup and World Cup cricket to be played in South Africa next year and in West Indies in 2007.

"Accordingly, the channel's slogan will now change from entertainment network to World Cup network for next five years," he said.

For telecast rights of ICC championships in the rest of the world, negotiations were on with all leading channels competing for the rights, O'Brien said.

Harish Thawani, Co-Chairman, World Sports Nimbus, said despite the rights bagged by Sony, Doordarshan will have access to all India matches, semi-finals and finals for the World Cup's and also a "few additional key matches in lieu of additional fees".

Mail Cricket Editor