In one of the world's biggest ever acquisition of international cricket rights, ESPN-Star Sports, has acquired the exclusive cricket telecast rights for all international cricket from Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Zimbabwe and England from 2003 up to 2008, according to a company statement issued today.
Though the exact value of the deal has not been disclosed, industry sources estimate the value to be in the region of $200 million (approximately Rs 1,000 crore).
In a press statement, Rik Dovey, managing director of ESPN-Star Sports, said, "The acquisition along with other rights we hold means ESPN STAR Sports will now be showcasing more than 1,100 days of Live and exclusive top quality international cricket over the next five years."
After the finalisation of the deal , ESPN-Star Sports will hold the rights to eight out of ten test-playing nations, which include Australia, Pakistan, South Africa, West Indies, England, New Zealand, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh.
According to the agreement, ESPN-Star Sports will have exclusive rights for cable and satellite television, terrestrial television, MMDS, SMATV, enhanced television and radio. The five country rights will help ESPN-Star Sports exclusively feature 119 test matches and 210 one-day internationals over the next five years.
According to industry experts, with this acquisition, the network will now be able to broadcast more live international cricket than the entire competition put together.
Apart from cricket, ESPN STAR Sports holds telecast rights to the world's premier sporting events which include the English Premier League, UEFA Champions League, Spanish Primera Liga and Italian Serie in football, Wimbledon, US Open, Australian Open and ATP Tour in tennis , the Formula One championship, golf's Augusta Masters, US Open and the PGA Tour as well as the rights to the NBA in basketball and the Thomas and Uber Cup in Badminton.
