IPL could be shown live in UK cinemas

With a TV rights partner looking unlikely in the UK for the upcoming series of the Indian Premier League cricket, organisers are planning to screen the matches in various cinema halls.

Sources told Business Line that Mr Lalit Modi, Commissioner of IPL, is in talks with various halls in the UK and West Asia which screen Bollywood movies to show matches live. This initiative will extend to bars and restaurants abroad since these are popular hangouts for watching sports events like NBA, FIFA and the English Premier League.

“Given the huge popularity of IPL, this initiative could be targeted at the cricket crazy Indian population in these countries,” an official said.

Today, it was announced that UFO Moviez’s sister company, Crown Infotainment, has bought the rights for to screen IPL matches live at over 700 screens in India when the tournament kicks off on Friday 12th March.

Viewers will also be able to watch the IPL series live on YouTube and through special programming on Colors UK.