Indian Sony Entertainment Television and Singapore based World Sports Group got the IPL (Indian Premier League) telecast media right on 15 January by bid. It acquired the 10 years right for US$1 billion. The dealing part is different and the BCCI will be paid US$908 million and US$108 million will be paid for the development of the IPL tournament. The inaugural IPL which is setup by BCCI and backed by ICC will be telecast live from 18 April in different media such as TV media, internet media, IPTV etc. Not only Sony and WSG but also GEO, Channel 10, Setanta Sports, TenNetwor Ten, Willow TV and Super Spots will telecast live in different continents.
Channel 10 is an Australia based television has acquired five years media telecast rights almost $15 million. Another Australia based TV Network Ten has secured five-year’s right. It will be showed in UK and Ireland. Both the TV channel will show 59 matches.
Dubai-based Arab Digital Distribution bought the rights to broadcast the IPL in the Middle East by securing a 10 year deal. Games will be broadcasted on ADD's ART Prime Sport, and will be available to viewers in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Sudan and Libya. Terms of the deal were not released. SuperSport holds the broadcast rights in South Africa.
Willow TV, The Leader in Online Cricket, will show online live video steaming in North America. It has acquired five years right Form WSG. It has got telecast and broadcast rights of Indian Premier League. Willow TV’s exclusive rights in a five-year deal to distribute on television, radio, broadband and internet the Indian Premier League in North America (including the United States and Canada), Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean. If you visit Willow TV official website that is showing an advertisement, you will have to pay US$59 for 59 matches live video steaming to watch.
Geo Super is a first Sports pay TV channel in Pakistan. Geo Super’s offer gives the opportunities to the Pakistani people a little bit refreshment. We all know that the Sub-Continent is craze for cricket especially if it is India-Pakistan match. Viewers will have a chance to see great cricket stars besides more than 10 Pakistani players in action during these matches. Skipper of Pakistan Cricket Team Shoaib Malik, All Rounder Shahid Afridi, fast bowlers Mohammad Asif, Umar Gul, Sohail Tanvir, star batsmen Mohammad Yousaf, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Yasir Hameed and Muhammad Hafeez will represent various Indian teams during this mega event whereas inclusion of Shoaib Akhtar depends on the final decision on the hearing of his appeal.
The 45days 59 matches will be more mind blowing, BCCI is expectation it. But I think it will be difficult but timing. Most of the match times are in prime time (according to IST). For Australia and New Zealand fans it is nearly mid-nigh. For England it is morning and for American fans it is earlier down. Do you think that it will hit the heart of those fans that live in those geological locations?