The International Hockey Federation today signed an eight-year telecast deal with Asia's leading sports broadcaster Star Sports, where in the channel will have the exclusive rights of all FIH events throughout the globe barring Argentina.
FIH president Leandro Negre informed that as per the deal brokered between Star Sports and FIH, the broadcaster will also have internet, marketing and digital rights of all events.
He said money earned from the deal will enable FIH to be more self dependent, which means they will not have to rely on funding from the International Hockey Federation, which will drop down significantly.
"In a significant development for the game of hockey, the FIH today signed an important contract with Star Sports. It is a comprehensive deal and as per it Star Sports will also control the broadcasting, marketing, digital and internet rights of all FIH events starting from 2015," Negre told reporters before the start of the first semifinal of the Hero Hockey India League 2014 at the Astroturf Hockey Stadium here today.
"It is a global arrangement signed between FIH and Star Sports except for any event in Argentina as we already have an existing arrangement there. As per the contract, Star Sports will promote hockey all around the world," he said.
The FIH president was full of praise for HIL and said the franchise-based league has inspired other hockey playing nations to organise such events.
"For FIH, HIL is a key event as it has made a big change in the way how hockey is looked upon now," Negre said.
"Such has been HIL's influence that European nations are now thinking of organising a tournament like HIL. FIH is really indebted to Hockey India for giving the game such an event," he added.
