Ten, Foxtel Score 2010 Commonwealth Games

SYDNEY, January 16: Network Ten and FOXTEL have secured the
exclusive Australian broadcast rights to the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi,
India.

The free-TV network and pay-TV platform are promising to
deliver “the most comprehensive coverage of this blue ribbon multi-sport event
ever seen on Australian free-to-air and subscription television.”

TEN officially won the rights from the Organising Committee
for the games, set for October 3 to 14 2010, as part of a competitive bid
process. FOXTEL secured the exclusive subscription television and exclusive new
media rights, including mobile, Internet and digital video broadcast handheld
(DVBH). TEN and FOXTEL will share all broadcast rights, allowing for
simultaneous live coverage of events. Both networks will have coverage of the
Opening and Closing Ceremonies, with TEN exclusively live. TEN last held rights
to the Commonwealth Games in Victoria, Canada, in 1994.

Suresh Kalmadi, the chairman of the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth
Games Organising Committee, said: “The rights for the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth
Games, which are represented by Fast Track, our exclusive broadcast rights
agency, were keenly sought by a number of parties, but the TEN and FOXTEL
partnership was compelling and will deliver the most comprehensive coverage
ever for Australian audiences in the 80-year history of the Games.”

Network Ten’s CEO, Grant Blackley, added: “Securing the 2010
Commonwealth Games rights reinforces TEN’s position as the industry leader in
broadcasting premium high definition sporting events. TEN will showcase the
Commonwealth Games as never before across our HD, SD and analogue platforms.
The Commonwealth Games will be broadcast in a highly favorable time zone
attracting audiences and premium advertisers alike and will deliver TEN both
outstanding ratings and significant revenue.”

FOXTEL’s chief executive and managing director, Kim
Williams, noted: “Australians have always enthusiastically embraced the
Commonwealth Games which have consistently dominated Australian television
ratings. FOXTEL is looking forward to redefining the way in which its
subscribers watch this prestigious sporting celebration with unparalleled, high
definition coverage of the entire games, the likes of which has never been seen
before.”

—By Mansha Daswani