ESPN STAR bags 7-year rights for $200 mn from ECB

ESPN STAR Sports (ESS) has acquired broadcasting rights for seven years from England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for its domestic and home international matches in a deal estimated to be worth $200 million (over Rs 1,100 crore).

"The deal, which runs from 2013 to 2019, incorporates exclusive rights for television, online, mobile and radio, covering major cricket markets of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh among others across Asia," ESS said in a statement.

The broadcast arrangement also includes territories in North Africa, it said without providing financial details of the deal.

According to industry sources, ESS has bought the rights for $200 million.

ESS had acquired ECB rights earlier at $80 million for a period of five years which included just one India series.

This time there are two India series involved and even the duration of contract has been made longer.

Commenting on the tie-up ESPN STAR Sports Managing Director Manu Sawhney said: "We are delighted to further extend our partnership with ECB, with whom we have shared a very strong relationship over the past two decades."

Key highlights of this new agreement include India's next two tours to England in 2014 and 2018 as well as three Ashes series in 2013, 2015 and 2019.

"TV audiences for cricket are expanding rapidly in Asia and the Middle-East and we look forward to working closely with ESS to give both our international and county teams the widest possible TV exposure over the next seven years," ECB Chief Executive David Collier said.