Ten Sports acquires Pakistani ICC rights package

04 January 2012 | Posted in Broadcast, Cricket | By David Cushnan

Ten Sports will broadcast International Cricket Council (ICC) events in Pakistan from 2012 to 2015 after acquiring sub-licensed rights from Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV).

Ten Sports, through its Taj TV parent, bid US$15 million for the rights in a December tender, US$10 million more than a rival bid from Independent Music Group, which runs the Geo Super channel.

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Independent Music Group had previously won the right to contest the tender through the Lahore High Court, after PTV had originally indicated that Ten Sports would acquire the satellite and cable rights. The court directed PTV to hold a tender.

Ten Sports has now been granted the satellite and cable portion of rights that were originally part of the exclusive package acquired last year by PTV from global rights holder ESPN Star Sports for US$30 million. The high cost of the initial rights fee led to PTV's decision to sub-license the pay TV rights to another broacaster.

The package includes broadcast rights to the ICC World Cup and ICC Twenty20 World Cup.

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