ESPN STAR Sports announces grand plans for ICC World Twenty20 2012

August 29, 2012

·         Syndicates broadcast to a record 218 territories across the world

·         Sourav Ganguly, Sanjay Manjrekar, Nasser Hussain, Wasim Akram, Ramiz Raja and Tony Greig to join a 18 member commentary panel

·         STAR Cricket and STAR Cricket HD will showcase all 27 matches from ICC World Twenty20

·         Special Live & exclusive telecast of India Pakistan warm-up match on September 17

·         Simulcast with Hindi commentary for all India matches; semi-finals and final of the championship on ESPN

 

New Delhi, August 28, 2012 – ESPN STAR Sports (ESS), Asia’s number one sports content provider & ICC’s global Broadcast & Production Partner, shared their plans around the telecast of the ICC World Twenty20 2012 at a press conference in New Delhi today. 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 thus giving fans the most insightful and comprehensive experience possible. 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 the coverage for this blockbuster T20 cricket world championship.

 

In India, STAR Cricket and STAR Cricket HD will showcase all the 27 matches from the event live starting September 18 till October 07. Anticipating a lot of interest, ESPN STAR Sports will 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 5 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 very first time for an ICC event, a new Touch Screen cricket presentation tool in its analysis shows around the live coverage. This will bring in a new dimension to the way the game is analysed and presented thus giving fans a fresh perspective of the game. ESPN STAR Sports will do extensive programming in and around the live telecast. All matches will have detailed pre and post-match shows.

 

Speaking on the occasion, Aloke Malik, Managing Director, ESPN Software India Pvt Ltd, said, “We are committed to offer our fans the most engaging and compelling experience of the ICC World T20 and our broadcast & presentation plans truly 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.

 

In terms of on-air sales, we have sold close to 80% of the total available inventory as on date. We have signed up 2 Joint Presenting Sponsors, 5 Associate Sponsors and another additional 10 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. ”

 

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 in this Nation versus Nation event through a world-class broadcast coverage.”

 

The ICC World Twenty20 will be broadcast by ESPN STAR Sports as a part of its eight-year agreement with ICC. The tournament has stirred up tremendous interest for cricket fans all over the globe. The broadcaster will also showcase live semi-finals and finals of the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 2012.

 

About ESPN STAR Sports

 

ESPN STAR Sports is a 50:50 joint venture between two of the world’s leading cable and satellite broadcasters. As Asia’s biggest sports content provider, ESPN STAR Sports combines the strengths and resources of its parent companies – Walt Disney (ESPN, Inc.) and News Corporation Limited (STAR) – to deliver a diverse array of international and regional sports to fans across multiple platforms.

 

ESPN STAR Sports features a comprehensive portfolio of multimedia assets including its television networks (ESPN, STAR Sports, STAR Cricket, ESPNEWS, ESPN HD, STAR Cricket HD), broadband network (ESPN Player), digital content services (espnstar.com, mobileESPN),  and its on-ground Event Management Group with the aim to engage and entertain sports fans anytime, anyplace.

 

ESPN STAR Sports showcases an unparalleled variety of premier sports from around the globe featuring some of the most iconic sports events to viewers across 24 countries in Asia through its 25 television networks and 3 broadband networks, each localized to deliver differentiated programming to meet diverse needs of Asian sports fans