UK broadcaster Setanta bags IPL rights for 5 years
UK broadcaster Setanta Sports has further broadened its coverage of sport by announcing that it has secured the rights to the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) in a five-year deal.
The exclusively live coverage will start with all 59 games of the inaugural Indian Premier League season that takes place across India from 18 April to 1 June, 2008.
The eight teams involved in the tournament - Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata, Mohali and Mumbai - have attracted big names in world cricket to play in the competition. Indian cricketing stars such as Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly will all feature alongside cricketing legends such as Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Muttiah Muralitharan, Jacques Kallis and Adam Gilchrist.
The exclusively live coverage will start with all 59 games of the inaugural Indian Premier League season that takes place across India from 18 April to 1 June, 2008.
The eight teams involved in the tournament - Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata, Mohali and Mumbai - have attracted big names in world cricket to play in the competition. Indian cricketing stars such as Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly will all feature alongside cricketing legends such as Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Muttiah Muralitharan, Jacques Kallis and Adam Gilchrist.
Setanta's director of sport Trevor East said, "The Indian Premier League is going to be massive. We're absolutely thrilled to acquire these rights and add another major sport to Setanta's programme line-up. Twenty20 cricket has been a phenomenal success and this tournament with all its world-class players is sure to capture the imagination of sports fans young and old.
"I firmly believe that the IPL will become a highlight of the international sporting calendar for years to come. That's why we've shown our commitment to it by signing a five-year deal."
World Sport Group CEO, South Asia Venu Nair says, "We are delighted to have concluded this landmark deal with Setanta, the UK's fastest growing sports network, on their first major international cricket property."
"The IPL, which is set to become one of the top sports leagues in the world, featuring some of the finest international stars of the modern game, is a natural fit for Setanta, itself the rising star of the UK sports broadcast market."
IPL chairman and commissioner Lalit Modi said, "BCCI-IPL would like to welcome Setanta as its newest Broadcast Partner and is pleased to be working with Setana Sports on the broadcast of the DLF Indian Premier League in the territory of United Kingdom and is confident that this will be a successful working partnership for the next five years.
" We believe that the viewers of Setanta will have a exciting line up of matches to look forward to with an array of international stars and the best of cricketing action."
"I firmly believe that the IPL will become a highlight of the international sporting calendar for years to come. That's why we've shown our commitment to it by signing a five-year deal."
World Sport Group CEO, South Asia Venu Nair says, "We are delighted to have concluded this landmark deal with Setanta, the UK's fastest growing sports network, on their first major international cricket property."
"The IPL, which is set to become one of the top sports leagues in the world, featuring some of the finest international stars of the modern game, is a natural fit for Setanta, itself the rising star of the UK sports broadcast market."
IPL chairman and commissioner Lalit Modi said, "BCCI-IPL would like to welcome Setanta as its newest Broadcast Partner and is pleased to be working with Setana Sports on the broadcast of the DLF Indian Premier League in the territory of United Kingdom and is confident that this will be a successful working partnership for the next five years.
" We believe that the viewers of Setanta will have a exciting line up of matches to look forward to with an array of international stars and the best of cricketing action."