Cricket’s ‘glamour’ tournament coming to ITV4
BRITISH broadcaster ITV has secured an exclusive deal to televise the forthcoming Indian Premier League season.
The channel today announced details of the deal which will see live broadcasts on ITV4 of 60 matches over the 45 day season which kicks off later this month.
Live coverage, produced by ITV Sport, will be presented by Matt Smith alongside Bollywood actress and presenter Mandira Bedi, who hosted Cricket World Cup coverage in India.
The move will be a major coup for ITV in its first ever acquisition of live cricket in 30 years.
Failed pay-tv broadcaster Setanta previously held the rights to the IPL – described as cricket’s glamour and glitz tournament – before it went bust last year.
Lalit Modi, Chairman and Commissioner of the IPL described the deal as “hugely significant” in light of the huge numbers of cricket-loving British Asians.
He said: “Cricket has a massive following in the UK and this landmark agreement is fantastic for those fans, for IPL and cricket as a whole. This is a hugely significant deal for the IPL, given the large Indian and Asian Diaspora. IPL is a truly global competition unlike any other in cricket and is ideally suited to the British passion for both cricket and entertainment.
“We are delighted that ITV has recognised the game’s appeal and are certain that it will pull out all the stops in ensuring that our fans have access to creative, innovative and enriching content that will be available in full, free to air, throughout the UK.”
Coverage of the tournament will also extend online at itv.com.
Announcing the deal, ITV’s Director of Digital Channels and Acquisitions, Zai Bennett said: “In only two years, the Indian Premier League has already established itself as one of the world’s most high profile and exciting sports events which attracts some of the very best cricketers from around the globe. It’s an exciting acquisition for one of the UK’s fastest growing digital channels and we’re delighted to be able to offer the whole tournament free-to-air to our viewers.”
