Organisers of the Premier League Soccer tournament in India are in talks with three broadcasters about a South Asia rights deal for the competition, according to Bhaswar Goswami, director of Celebrity Management Group, the agency that has created the league.
“We are still evaluating what kind of [broadcast] deal we want to have,” Goswami told the Indian Television website. “We are looking at a broadcaster who would help us in promoting the league. We want the matches to be shown live.”
Goswami said organisers wanted a broadcaster who would show the league across the whole sub-continent, rather than have a local broadcaster in West Bengal region of India, where the league is taking place, and a different broadcaster or broadcasters to show the league in the rest of South “We are looking to sell a South Asian package. I want my league to be a pan-Indian product,” he said.
The inaugural league – which has attracted a number of veteran star players including former Argentina international Hernán Crespo, and former Italy international Fabio Cannavaro – will take place from February 25 to April 8, 2012.
Celebrity Management Group has a 30-year deal with the Indian Football Association to manage the league.