India/Australia cricket series rights go to.Setanta

It’s finally been confirmed! With only hours to go to
the big India vs Australia test matches starting
tomorrow, a broadcaster in the UK has been
selected. Setanta Sports, which is available on Sky
Digital channel 435 will screen the upcoming India
matches over the next six weeks.

This news will come as a major blow to the UK Asian
channels who were hoping to walk away with the TV
rights. It is not known how much the Irish broadcaster
Setanta Sports has paid for the exclusive deal.

The UK TV rights reserved by Setanta Sports includes all
upcoming India matches up to December. India’s test
matches against Australia (beginning tomorrow), South
Africa (in November) and the One Day International
against Pakistan (also in November) will be screened on
Setanta live and exclusive. In India, national
broadcaster Doordarshan will telecast the matches.

By December it will be confirmed if ZEE Network has won
the rights to all India matches ’til 2008. An ongoing
court case is currently in ZEE’s favour. Setanta Sports
is charging �14.99 per test series. It is available
on Sky Digital EPG 435.