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ESPN-Star bags telecast rights from 6 countries

The ESPN-Star sports channel has staged a coup of sorts by acquiring exclusive telecast rights from six Test-playing countries for four years - 2000 to 2004 - even as Prasar Bharti and the Board of Control for Cricket in India are still trying to arrive at a similar arrangement.

ESPN Software India Pvt. Ltd managing director Manu Sawhney told newspersons in Delhi today that his channel now has exclusive rights for all the international cricket out of Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Zimbabwe, West Indies and England.

For next four years, starting from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2005, Star Sports will telecast 696 days of cricket, which includes 500 days of Test cricket and 196 one-day internationals.

Sawhney clarified that the dates don't include the triangular series involving India, Pakistan and Australia. "If that is added, then the total days of telecast will go up to 729 days," he said.

The 33-day triangular series includes three Test series between Australia and India besides one-day internationals.

Sawhney said out of 729 days of cricket on Star Sports, India will figure in 161 days. He also made it clear that the agreement does not include the World Cup, to be held in South Africa in 2003, because that event is controlled by the International Cricket Council.

The deal struck between CSI and ESPN-Star Sports (ESS) means that Indian viewers will be able to enjoy an additional 432 days of international cricket till the year 2004.

Asked about telecast rights for India, Sawhney said he had read reports that Parsar Bharti have bagged the rights from the BCCI to telecast in India. "It is up to them to decide how they will like to sell the telecast rights to other channels for showing the matches abroad. It will be the right of Prasar Bharti to decide about the channel," he said.

UNI