Sony extends commitment to Karnataka Premier League

The sports division of media group Sony Pictures Networks India has extended its rights deal for domestic Twenty20 cricket competition the Karnataka Premier League.

The new one-year deal covers the 2016 season of the state-level league, which commenced on Saturday and is set to run through to October 2.

SPN has covered the KPL for the past three seasons, with games from the 2016 campaign set to be broadcast through the Sony ESPN and Sony ESPN HD channels.

Sony Pictures Networks distribution and sports president Rajesh Kaul said: “KPL started as an experimental format for us and over the past three years it has emerged into a catalyst for the revival of local cricketing leagues. Promoting league cricket at the grass-root level has been one of our key focus areas and we are positive about the performance this year.”

Indian national team players such as Manish Pandey (pictured) and Stuart Binny are among those competing in the KPL.