| MUMBAI:
Ten Sports has secured the rights for Uefa tournaments, including the new-look
Uefa Champions League, until 2012.
The
rights are for the Indian subcontinent, and include, apart
from the Uefa Champions League, the Uefa Cup and the Uefa
Super Cup.
There
will now be 146 live games spread across 34 separate nights
of Uefa Champions League and Uefa Super Cup football per season,
up from 25.
The
final will now be played at 1.15 am on a Saturday night, which
will allow many more fans to enjoy the match live.
Taj
Television CEO Chris McDonald said, “With the signing of this long-term deal,
Ten Sports’ football fans can sit back and enjoy the world’s best football
for years to come. The Uefa Champions League and Uefa Cup are club football’s
premier competitions and have delivered countless hours of the highest quality
sport to million of fans worldwide. “Coupled
with our regular league telecast from France, Holland and Scotland, Ten Sports
now has a formidable array of football action to complement our already strong
bouquet of cricket, hockey, golf, tennis and other leading sports.”
A
Uefa spokesperson says, “Uefa is delighted to renew its
partnership in the region with Ten Sports. In recent seasons
they have proved to be an excellent partner and their continued
involvement is a real positive for fans of the Uefa Champions
League and Uefa Cup throughout the Indian sub-continent.”
Ten
Sports has already begun showing different games simultaneously
across it and Zee Sports as well as making all games available
live on line for broadband viewers.
In
addition to the increased coverage of the Uefa Champions League,
the channels will now also show an extra number of the 205
Uefa Cup ties. In an additional benefit to audiences in the
subcontinent, many of the kick-offs have been moved to earlier
starts, with some matches starting as early as 11.30 pm.
In total, 352
top international games per season will be available to Ten Sports and Zee Sports,
which marks an increase on previous years. | 
