ESS Scores Champions League Twenty20 Production Rights

SINGAPORE, November 18: ESPN STAR Sports (ESS)
has been appointed as the long-term global TV production partner for cricket's
Champions League Twenty20 tournament.

ESS recently acquired the
exclusive global commercial rights for the league for a period of ten years.
The company has lined up a series of new features to include in the tournament
coverage, among them an HD telecast of the championship and the use of as many
as 34 cameras at each venue to cover the matches. Other features include aerial
views with Fly cameras, a boundary side field camera and a new mid-wicket
camera position.

Super Slo Motion cameras
will also be used at each match, along with player and umpire microphones and
new dugout and crowd cameras. In addition, ESS will use a new suite of graphics
for the broadcast, specially developed for the Champions League Twenty20. A new
anthem for the tournament has also been composed. Different versions of the
anthem will feature in the presentation, including title sequence, music video
and other on-air elements.

Manu Sawhney,
the managing director of ESPN STAR Sports, said, "Champions
League Twenty20 is the marquee global tournament where only the top Twenty20 club
teams from top cricketing nations qualify to compete for the greatest
honor, to be adjudged as the Champion of Champions. This World Championship therefore positions itself
as a one of its kind international tournament. We are committed to set a new benchmark
in the way cricket will be produced, presented and distributed across the
globe."

He continued,
"Therefore, our global production plan will create the most memorable,
unique and engaging experience for audiences across the globe through a series
of innovative production features and enhancements. With the phenomenal success that we have had
with inaugural ICC Twenty20 World Cup last year, we are confident that we will
be able to take this exciting Champions League Twenty20 to new heights as well.
This world-class event will further reinforce ESS's position as the number one
choice for cricket fans for years to come."

Lalit Modi,
the chairman of the Champions League Twenty20, commented, "We are very
pleased to award the global production rights to ESS. Over the years, ESS has
produced and presented the game of cricket in a manner that is truly gold
standard. We are confident that with many new innovative and unique features
that ESS had planned for the inaugural Champions League T20, fans across the
globe can look forward to the most compelling and riveting action on
television."

—By
Kristin Brzoznowski