Star enhances commitment to hockey in Indian market

Asian pay-television broadcaster Star Sports has signed a three-year extension to its rights deal with the Hockey India governing body.

The deal includes broadcast rights to all major hockey events held in India, including club competition the Hockey India League, from 2016 to 2018.

Star Sports will also be the host broadcaster of the league and all national team matches, in India and globally, for the period 2016 to 2018.

Star India chief executive Uday Shankar said: “The decision to continue our association with Hockey India is in line with our commitment towards development of a multi-sports culture in India.”

In January 2014, the Star India broadcast subsidiary of media company 21st Century Fox signed an eight-year strategic partnership with the International Hockey Federation (FIH) in a deal running from January 2015 to December 2022.

The partnership, which aims to improve the production of international hockey and extend the sport’s reach worldwide, granted Star Sports host broadcaster rights for key FIH events both in India and throughout the world.

As part of the deal, Star Sports acquired global media rights for all territories, excluding Argentina.