Sri Lankan terrestrial sports broadcaster the Carlton Sports Network has continued its spending spree on cricket rights, agreeing a three-year deal for the Sri Lankan national team rights from 2012 to 2015.
Carlton was the only bidder for the rights, offering Rs 125 million (€754,000/$962,000), according to Sri Lankan newspaper Daily Mirror. The offer has been accepted by the Sri Lanka Cricket Executive Committee.
The deal follows Carlton’s acquisition last week of rights for the Sri Lankan Premier League Twenty20 competition, and its acquisition last month of rights for the Indian Premier League Twenty20 competition.
State broadcaster Rupavahini, which has held a near-monopoly on Sri Lankan national team cricket rights in the country since the team achieved test status in 1982, declined to bid. However, Rupavahini chairman Mohan Samaranayake said that the broadcaster was still interested in the rights, and that a letter had been sent to Sri Lanka Cricket on the matter.
Meanwhile, the Daily Mirror reported that Rupavahini generated revenue of Rs 556 million from its coverage of last year’s ICC Cricket World Cup after paying Rs 143 million for the rights.