Ten Sports secures Sri Lanka TV rights

Ten Sports has successfully secured the broadcasting rights for cricket in Sri Lanka for the next four years from 2009 to 2013.

The minister of sports made the move on behalf of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) following a Supreme Court order to renegotiate the deal with Ten Sports. The estimated figure, it is reliably learnt, is somewhere in the region of US$65 million which is nearly $13m more than the second addendum signed by the Jayantha Dharmadasa interim committee and Ten Sports, one that was cancelled by the sports minister on the grounds of certain irregularities.

Following the cancellation Ten Sports went into arbitration against SLC and the minister then decided to renegotiate with the Dubai-based TV company. But a fundamental rights case was brought up by former Sri Lanka captain Hashan Tillakaratne to stop the renegotiation on the grounds that SLC had lost a lot of money on the second addendum because it was done without calling for tenders. The Supreme Court, however, ordered the Minister of Sports to renegotiate the deal with Ten Sports at a higher price.

The new deal consists of more tours to Sri Lanka, about 13, including two proposed tours by India during the period. Ten Sports hold the cricket television rights for West Indies, Pakistan and Zimbabwe.

However, Singapore-based Nimbus Sport International will be broadcasting the five one-day internationals and one Twenty20 match between Sri Lanka and India. The contest begins on Wednesday with the first ODI in Dambulla.