da lvbet： Sri Lanka Cricket has officially launched the bid process for the sale ofits broadcasting and sponsorship rights for a four-year period starting inJan 2005
Charlie Austin02-Jul-2004
The Indian visits to Sri Lanka in 2005, 2006 and 2008 make the TV rights particularly attractive© Cricinfo
Sri Lanka Cricket has officially launched the bid process for the sale ofits broadcasting and sponsorship rights for a four-year period starting inJan 2005. Prospective broadcasters and rights brokers must submit formalbids by July 22.Taj Television, the Dubai-based satellite broadcaster which has held SriLankan cricket rights since October 2001, is the early frontrunner in thebid process, having already indicated a willingness to table a record offer,said to be close to USD $ 35 million according to board sources.But Taj Television is also likely to face stiff competition, especially fromSony Max and ESPN Star, the other two Asian cricket broadcasters, becausethe four-year period will include three India visits, for one-day tri-seriesin 2005 and 2006 as well as a full tour in 2008.A three-year rights offer in 2003 flopped because Sri Lanka were unable toconfirm any India tours. The board was forced to abandon the sale untilIndia’s involvement had been secured. England and Australia, the other twomajor money-spinners in the cricket rights world, are also scheduled to tourSri Lanka during the contract period.Sri Lanka Cricket is hopeful that the sale of the rights will safeguard itsfinancial future after a difficult two years. The board faced possibleinsolvency after WSG Nimbus, a sports rights company, successfully sued theboard for unlawfully cancelling its contract in 2001. The board faces apossible US$ 6 million payout.