Pan-Asian sports broadcaster ESPN Star Sports has acquired rights for the new Hockey India League and India national team hockey matches in the country, and has also extended a rights agreement for the Superbike World Championship.
ESPN Star Sports’ deal with the Hockey India governing body will run for five years, from 2013 to 2017.
The Hockey India League, which has been approved by hockey’s world governing body, Fédération Internationale de Hockey, the international hockey federation, will be launched in January 2013 and feature at least six franchise teams.
“This partnership with ESPN Star Sports will play a key role in our overall plans,” Hockey India League secretary general and chairman Narinder Batra said. “The proposed league will be the biggest initiative that hockey has ever seen in India. We have been working out the details for months now and I am glad to announce that things are quickly falling into place. I am confident that our partners ESPN Star Sports will help us deliver a flawless, world-class product.”
The broadcaster’s deal to extend its rights for the Superbike World Championship for three years, from 2016 to 2018 was struck with the Infront Sports & media agency, which distributes the series’ worldwide media rights on behalf of Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme, the international motorcycling federation.
Last year, the agency said that ESPN Star Sports had signed a new five-year rights deal for the series, from 2011 to 2015, but it has not been confirmed whether the new three-year extension includes a renegotiation of the terms of the existing deal through to 2015.
The rights for the Superbike World Championship include live and delayed coverage of races as well as highlights via television, mobile and online platforms.