Advertisment

ESS announces mega plans for ICC World Twenty20 Cup

Syndicates broadcast to a record 218 territories; Sourav Ganguly, Sanjay Manjrekar, Nasser Hussain, Wasim Akram, Ramiz Raja and Tony Greig to join 18-member commentary panel

author-image
BestMediaInfo Bureau
New Update
Hockey India League reached 1.5 crore individuals in first week

ESS announces mega plans for ICC World Twenty20 Cup

Syndicates broadcast to a record 218 territories; Sourav Ganguly, Sanjay Manjrekar, Nasser Hussain, Wasim Akram, Ramiz Raja and Tony Greig to join 18-member commentary panel

Best Media Info Bureau | Delhi | August 29, 2012

publive-image

In cricket, it doesn't get bigger than this. In keeping with the scale of the event, ESPN Star Sports (ESS), ICC's global broadcast and production partner, shared its plans around the telecast of the ICC World Twenty20 2012 at a press conference in New Delhi yesterday. Featuring a star-studded panel of 18 commentators for this marquee event, ESS's presentation will feature experts from almost all major cricket playing countries.

ESS also announced that it has sold the syndication rights of ICC World Twenty20 to 218 territories across the world, a new record in terms of coverage for this blockbuster T20 cricket championship.

In India, Star Cricket and Star Cricket HD will showcase all the 27 matches live starting September 18 till October 7. Anticipating a lot of interest, ESS said it would additionally telecast the India-Pakistan warm-up match scheduled for September 17. The sports broadcaster has also planned a simulcast of all India matches, semi-finals and the final with Hindi commentary on its ESPN channel. All matches of the championship will also be streamed on www.espnstar.com with a five-minute delay.

ESS's presentation team will include stars like Sourav Ganguly, Sanjay Manjrekar, Nasser Hussain, Wasim Akram, Ramiz Raja, Tony Greig, Ian Chappell, Mark Waugh, Russell Arnold, Ian Bishop, Pommie Mbangwa, Damien Fleming, Simon Doull, David Lloyd, Harsha Bhogle and Alan Wilkins. ESS's Jatin Sapru will be the in-studio host along with former English cricketer Dermot Reeve playing the role of an analyst.

ESS will also feature, for the first time for an ICC event, a new 'touch screen' cricket presentation tool in its analysis shows around the live coverage. This will bring a new dimension to the way the game is analysed and presented, thus giving fans a fresh perspective of the game.

Aloke Malik, Managing Director, ESPN Software India, said, “We are committed to offer our fans the most engaging and compelling experience of the ICC World T20 and our broadcast and presentation plans reflect this. Our star-studded panel of experts from across the world of cricket along with new-age innovative presentation tools will take fans closer to the game giving them a very enriching experience.”

Regarding sales, Malik said, “In terms of on-air sales, we have sold close to 80 per cent of the total available inventory as on date. We have signed up two Joint Presenting Sponsors, five Associate Sponsors and another additional ten corporates for spot-buys on live as well as pre-post programming. We expect to close a few more within the next two weeks for a complete sell-out.” The main sponsors are Havells and Reliance Communications and the associate sponsors include Tata Motors, Nokia and Hyundai.

Malik added, “This is the first time the ICC T20 tournament is being held in the subcontinent and the timings are favourable for viewership.”

Saurav Ganguly, when asked by the media about the comeback of Yuvraj Singh, said, “Though the decision of taking Yuvraj was an emotional one, but yes, it is a fair decision. The young generation should take inspiration from Yuvraj as he has come out victorious over a difficult phase in his life.”

Sanjay Manjreakr, when asked what can hurt or harm team India most, said, “Dead bowling has always been the weakness of Team India but Dhoni is there to manage everything.”

ICC General Manager – Commercial, Campbell Jamieson, said “The ICC is delighted with the coverage plan ESPN Star Sports has put together for this year's ICC World Twenty20 Sri Lanka 2012. A high-definition broadcast available in a record 218 territories including South America for the first time, means this event will have the best reach for any ICC event. I am sure cricket followers, who are not able to travel to Sri Lanka to watch the tournament, will enjoy the exciting contests through a world-class broadcast coverage.”

The ICC World Twenty20 will be broadcast by ESS as part of its eight-year agreement with ICC.

The broadcaster will also showcase live the semi-finals and final of the ICC Women's World Twenty20 2012.

Info@BestMediaInfo.com

Info@BestMediaInfo.com

Advertisment