WORLDSPACE Satellite Radio, one of the world leaders in satellite-based digital radio services, today announced it has signed an exclusive broadcast license agreement with ESPN STAR Sports to provide subscribers with live audio coverage of cricket, further enhancing its content offering and providing consumers with a truly unique listening experience. Under terms of the agreement, PLAY, the WORLDSPACE-branded all sports channel for South Asia and the Middle East, will have exclusive broadcasting rights throughout South Asia for 12 tours and over 200 days of cricket comprising both test matches and one-day internationals. Three of the 12 tours include India — WORLDSPACE Satellite Radio’s primary market in the Asia region. Coverage begins November 19, 2006 with India’s tour of South Africa, and runs through February 2008, with conclusion of the India-Sri Lanka-Australia Triangular Series in Australia.
“The exclusive acquisition of these premier cricket internationals is another demonstration of WORLDSPACE’s continued commitment to providing the best in audio entertainment for our listeners,” said Alexander Brown, co-Chief Operating Officer, WORLDSPACE. “We are very pleased to partner with ESPN STAR Sports, the leading sports broadcaster in Asia, to provide our subscribers with another compelling, personalized content option,” Brown continued.
Subscribers will have “ball-by-ball,” real-time coverage of all matches as well as a host of ancillary programming surrounding each match. The coverage will feature matches with the national teams from India, Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, and the West Indies, and will also include the biennial Australia-England test series, “The Ashes.” Broadcasts can be received in countries covered by the WORLDSPACE AsiaStar(TM) satellite’s West Beam and include: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bahrain, Qatar, and UAE.