Broadbandindia Magazine

ESPN Star Sports has signed an exclusive three-year deal with Eurosport, which would allow Eurosport to broadcast the Airtel Champions League T20  tournament in Europe and the UK. The new rights deal includes rights to broadcast the tournaments onair and online, with featured matches being telecast exclusively on the Eurosport Player, the channel’s online subscription player service. Fan with iPhones and iPads can access the tournament on the move in the UK via the Eurosport Player application which simulcasts British Eurosport and Eurosport 2.

“The Airtel Champions League Twenty20 continues to enjoy a strong following across Europe and we are committed to further build on that popularity along with the Eurosport Group,” said Mr Manu Sawhney, ESPN Star Sports’ Managing Director. “As a new, emerging international tournament, the Champions League T20 fits perfectly with British Eurosport’s portfolio of events,” said Mr David Kerr, Director of British Eurosport. The 2010 edition of the tournament will take place in South Africa from September 10–26 and will feature 23 matches with the tournament format.

The participating teams include, the Chennai Super Kings, the Mumbai Indians, the Royal Challengers Bangalore, the Victorian Bushrangers (KFC Twenty20 Big Bash – Australia), the South Australian Redbacks (KFC Twenty20 Big Bash – Australia), the Warriors (Standard Bank Pro 20 Series – South Africa), the Highveld Lions (Standard Bank Pro 20 Series – South Africa), the Central Stags (HRV Cup Twenty20 – New Zealand) and the Wayamba Elevens (Inter-Provincial Twenty20 Cup – Sri Lanka).

The team from West Indies is yet to be decided. Of the nine teams already qualified, just three – the Royal Challengers Bangalore (India), the Victorian  Bushrangers (Australia) and the Wayamba Elevens (Sri Lanka) – will be returning from the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2009.