ESS Takes South Asian EPL Rights

NEW DELHI, November 29: ESPN STAR Sports has extended its
agreement with the FA Premier League (FAPL) for the exclusive, multiplatform
live rights to the Barclays English Premier League (EPL) for the Indian
subcontinent through 2010.

The agreement grants ESPN STAR Sports the rights to
broadcast 370 matches per season in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal,
Bangladesh, Bhutan, Mongolia and the Maldives via television, broadband and
mobile platforms. The news follows ESPN STAR Sports deal with the FAPL for the
EPL rights in 12 Southeast Asian markets.

Announcing the deal, managing director Jamie Davis noted,
“Our company has been the catalyst for increasing the popularity of the EPL in
India, ordinarily a cricket crazy nation. Our world-class studio shows,
intensive marketing campaigns, and localization efforts, including the
introduction of Hindi commentary, have made the EPL a highly watched sports
property. We are very excited to continue our efforts to deliver the best of
English football to the growing breed of football fans across India and the
subcontinent.”

Sricharan Iyengar, the VP of new media and marketing at ESPN
Software India, added, “EPL is a rage among the younger generation in the
country. The younger audience in India identifies as much with Wayne Rooney and
John Terry as they do with Irfan Pathan and Mahendra Dhoni. Keeping the young
fans in mind we plan to enhance our EPL offering on mobile ESPN substantially.
Football fans can look forward to getting live scores, match schedules, player
statistics, contests and much more from mobile ESPN going forward.”