ESPN-Star Sports combine is all set to become a virtual monopoly in the broadcast of international cricket matches in Asia following the world's biggest ever acquisition of international cricket rights.
Industry analysts maintain that the ESPN-Star combine could now have control over the live broadcast of almost 75 per cent of international cricket matches over the next five year period i.e. up to 2007.
According to available figures, ESPN-Star Sports will now have the rights for live broadcast of international cricket for 1,108 days over the next five years, while its rival Sony which bagged the rights to the ICC World Cup, ICC Champions Trophy and the ICC Youth World Cup, has the live broadcast rights for 153 days of international cricket with another 165 days of cricket for the Youth World Cup.
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Ten Sports the other sports channel in India holds rights for live telecast of cricket matches for around 184 days for the next five years. However of these around 84 days account for the broadcast of cricket related to the Sharjah circuit which does not fall under the purview of the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Doordarshan on its part is way behind the pack accounting for the rights for live telecast of just 80 days of cricket over five years. However Doordarshan also has a sharing agreement with Sony for the telecast of most of the ICC knockout and World Cup matches.