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MUMBAI:
Neo Sports Broadcast is slowly trying to regain the ground
that it lost after the termination of BCCI rights agreement
in 2011.
Close
on the heels of renewing Asia Cup rights for 2014 edition,
the broadcaster has acquired the broadcast rights to showcase
all domestic and international cricket played in New Zealand
until 2020.
Pitch
International, New Zealand Cricket’s exclusive international
broadcast and sponsorship agents, was also talking to other
broadcasters like Star Sports, Ten Sports and Sony Six.
The
seven-year deal includes 261 days of live cricket including
18 T20s, 63 ODIs and 36 Tests and includes rights for all
of Asia excluding Middle-East.
The
rights cycle involves two India tours in 2014 and 2019. It
also includes a Trans-Tasman rivalry double header with Australia
in 2016 and 2018 and England being hosted thrice in 2013,
2018 and 2020.
The
broadcast rights for New Zealand were earlier held by Multi
Screen Media (MSM) till 2012. However, the broadcaster was
only willing to renew the property at a favourable price.
For
Neo, which had lost the lucrative BCCI rights in 2010, the
New Zealand rights along with Asia Cup will ensure its presence
in the game that makes or breaks the fortunes of many a sports
broadcaster in the country.
What
could possibly dampen the spirits for Neo is the fact that
New Zealand cricket team is no more a force to reckon with.
It has not been performing well for the last many years which
will make the task of attracting viewers all the more difficult.
The timing of the matches is also an issue.
However,
Neo Sports Broadcast COO Prasanna Krishnan feels that timings
are only an issue for Tests.
“While
the timing of Test match is an issue, the day/night ODIs are
quite favourable for the Indian market. The ICC is also planning
day/night Tests so that should solve the issue of timings
of Tests as well in future,” Krishnan said.
With
its focus on five sports namely Football, Badminton, Golf,
Tennis, and Hockey, the broadcaster wants to have a good mix
of cricket and non-cricket sports.
“Cricket
is an expensive sport so we will buy cricket rights that come
at the right price. For us New Zealand cricket rights make
business,” Krishnan added.
He
also feels that in a digitised market even non-India cricket
along with non-cricket sports has good potential.
While
India will be the market that will bring in revenue for Neo,
Krishnan also sees an opportunity to make some money outside
of India from markets like Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
New
Zealand Cricket CEO David White said, “Neo are market
leaders in cricket broadcasting in the Indian sub-continent
and we are delighted to have established a direct relationship
with them for the next seven years.”
The
coverage will begin on 6 March with New Zealand hosting England
in a three match Test series.
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