DIRECTV Acquires Exclusive Rights to Broadcast International Cricket Matches from Bangladesh
DIRECTV, Inc., the nation's leading and fastest growing digital multichannel television service provider, announced today it has acquired exclusive broadcast rights for all international cricket matches from Bangladesh through 2008, and will offer matches from the Indian tour of Bangladesh beginning Thursday, Dec. 9.
The cricket matches from Bangladesh will be available to all CricketTicketTM customers at no extra charge. DIRECTV's CricketTicketTM package, which includes more than 120 days of cricket through March 2005, is available for $199. As a special promotion through Dec. 31, customers can get the first season of CricketTicketTM for free with a one-year commitment to any South Asian package, any PREFERRED CHOICETM or higher base package ($29.99/mo. or above), and a subscription to the DIRECTV DVR service ($4.99/month). DIRECTV customers can also purchase the Indian tour of Bangladesh a la carte for $99.99.
"We are delighted to add the Bangladesh national team to our roster of cricket nations for which we've acquired host match broadcast rights," said Aaron McNally, vice president, International, DIRECTV, Inc. "This is an unprecedented offer for cricket fans and we are excited to begin the broadcast with the Indian tour, which is certain to attract wide viewership among our South Asian customers and cricket enthusiasts throughout the United States."
The Indian cricket team, which has a large worldwide following, will play a 22-day tour, from Dec. 9 through Dec. 27 that will be comprised of two tests and three one-day internationals.
DIRECTV completed licensing agreements with the Australian Cricket Board (ACB), the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCB), the New Zealand Cricket Board (NZCB) and the Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU), which gives DIRECTV access to all international cricket being played in those countries over the next four years. DIRECTV offers customers access to all of these matches via the DIRECTV CricketTicketTM package, the first-ever season-long subscription TV package for international cricket. The package was launched last month.
All new international programming will be broadcast from the 95-degree West Longitude (WL) orbital slot, requiring customers to use a new 36-inch dish capable of receiving programming from 95 degrees WL, as well as DIRECTV's primary orbital slot at 101 degrees WL. In some markets, customers who subscribe to a local channels package will require a second smaller dish.
To order or inquire about residential pricing for these channels, consumers can call (800) 378-4179.
