ITV bags IPL rights in UK

[Seatherny]

Cricket coverage in the UK will return to free-to-air television with ITV getting rights to broadcast the IPL for the 2010 season. The broadcaster will show live all the matches on ITV4 - one of its digital channels - from the feed supplied by Sony and will employ its own studio experts.

The IPL, which was without a UK broadcaster following the collapse of Setanta last year, will have a specialist section on the ITV website and has the right to webcast matches. The latest deal follows the YouTube-IPL tieup in January, whereby the internet channel will webcast live IPL matches globally.

Lalit Modi, the IPL commissioner, said, "This is a hugely significant deal for the IPL and ideally suited to the British passion for both cricket and entertainment."

"In only two years, the IPL 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," said Zai Bennett, ITV's director of digital channels and acquisitions. "It is 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."

The move also comes at a time when the ECB is fighting the listing of the home Ashes to be shown on terrestrial television, which they fear would lead to a major cut in funding. The only cricket previously available free-to-air in the UK is Five's highlights show during Tests and one-day internationals, while all international and domestic action is live on Sky Sports.

The third season of the IPL starts on March 12 and runs for 45 days.

http://www.cricinfo.com/ipl2010/cont...ry/450790.html

One word: Awesome!

[luce]

that's cool but i still don't agree with the legue really paying them a lot with saftey questions and really taking them away from their home leauge which doesn't happen that often in cricket when you're a top class player you may move away when you're off the international team or something.

It just seems a bit like that game where the team who won the match got a hell of a lot of money which had problems with it anyway :S

[StefanWolves]

Surprised Sky didn't bag these rights, they show a hell of a lot of cricket. It's nice for cricket to be back on free tv though.

[Seatherny]

Surprised Sky didn't bag these rights, they show a hell of a lot of cricket. It's nice for cricket to be back on free tv though.

Way too many matches. Sky wouldnt be able to show them all all day.

[StefanWolves]

They would, easily. ITV are going to show them on one channel, Sky have 4 dedicated channels just for sports. People also forget they have about 10 other sports channels available via the red button if they're needed. (Sky Active)

I'm actually struggling to see how ITV are going to broadcast ALL games just on one channel. (ITV 4)

[Seatherny]

They would, easily. ITV are going to show them on one channel, Sky have 4 dedicated channels just for sports. People also forget they have about 10 other sports channels available via the red button if they're needed. (Sky Active)

I'm actually struggling to see how ITV are going to broadcast ALL games just on one channel. (ITV 4)

I meant people might get annoyed with Sky if they show way too much cricket all of a sudden.

I haven't really watched IPL but I am sure they only ever have 1 game at a time. But like 2 a day. Morning and the other in the evening. Or ITV might have a red button. Who knows.

[StefanWolves]

ITV don't have red button, only BBC and Sky have that, some say Sky shouldn't have it cause it's anti-competitive, e.g. putting Champions League games on their, so only people with Sky boxes can view the matches on their.

[Seatherny]

Whats the point in having it as red buttons to show the games :S I dont understand. They are actual channels so why not have it as the number.

[StefanWolves]

Because Red Button is only available Via Sky boxes, NOT on Virgin Media. That's why.

Meaning they want people to buy Sky boxes/subscriptions instead of Virgin Media.

[Seatherny]

Because Red Button is only available Via Sky boxes, NOT on Virgin Media. That's why.

Meaning they want people to buy Sky boxes/subscriptions instead of Virgin Media.

Well on Freeview you get red button for BBC? And the red buttons are just an additional channel.

You cant get Sky red button on Virgin? :| Oh my. Are you sure :S?
I was thinking of getting Virgin in June too. Maybe I will ring and confirm it.