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MUMBAI:
UK broadcaster Setanta Sports has further broadened its coverage
of sport by announcing that it has secured the rights to the
upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) in a five-year deal.
The
exclusively live coverage will start with all 59 games of
the inaugural Indian Premier League season that takes place
across India from 18 April to 1 June, 2008.
The
eight teams involved in the tournament - Bangalore, Chennai,
Delhi, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata, Mohali and Mumbai - have
attracted big names in world cricket to play in the competition.
Indian cricketing stars such as Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid
and Sourav Ganguly will all feature alongside cricketing legends
such as Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Muttiah Muralitharan,
Jacques Kallis and Adam Gilchrist.
Setanta's
director of sport Trevor East said, "The Indian Premier
League is going to be massive. We're absolutely thrilled to
acquire these rights and add another major sport to Setanta's
programme line-up. Twenty20 cricket has been a phenomenal
success and this tournament with all its world-class players
is sure to capture the imagination of sports fans young and
old.
"I
firmly believe that the IPL will become a highlight of the
international sporting calendar for years to come. That's
why we've shown our commitment to it by signing a five-year
deal."
World
Sport Group CEO, South Asia Venu Nair says, "We are delighted
to have concluded this landmark deal with Setanta, the UK's
fastest growing sports network, on their first major international
cricket property."
"The
IPL, which is set to become one of the top sports leagues
in the world, featuring some of the finest international stars
of the modern game, is a natural fit for Setanta, itself the
rising star of the UK sports broadcast market."
IPL
chairman and commissioner Lalit Modi said, "BCCI-IPL
would like to welcome Setanta as its newest Broadcast Partner
and is pleased to be working with Setana Sports on the broadcast
of the DLF Indian Premier League in the territory of United
Kingdom and is confident that this will be a successful working
partnership for the next five years.
"
We believe that the viewers of Setanta will have a exciting
line up of matches to look forward to with an array of international
stars and the best of cricketing action."
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