ITV And IPL Strike Long-term Deal
ITV has signed a deal with Nimbus Communications to air the Indian Premier League (IPL Twenty20 cricket tournament for a further four years, meaning IPL matches for the upcoming tournament will be broadcast free-to-air, live on ITV4, as well as simulcast live on ITV.com.
ITV4 showed last season’s IPL campaign after signing a late deal to broadcast the tournament, but the new agreement has been announced following ITV’s increased commitment to the sport.
ITV acquired broadcasting highlights of England’s 2010-11 Australia campaign – including the Ashes series, Twenty20, and one-day international series.
Niall Slone, ITV’s controller of sport said: ‘ITV4 has a fast growing reputation for broadcasting sport and, after a terrific audience response to our coverage of last year’s competition and more recently the winter Ashes series’.
‘I’m delighted that we have secured a new four-year deal for free-to-air coverage of the Indian Premier League’.
The competition, now in its fourth season, will run from 8th April to 28th May.
Nimbus chief operating officer Yannick Colaco, added: ‘We are delighted to partner with one of UK’s biggest commercial broadcasters, ITV, to telecast the IPL in UK. We look forward to a fruitful partnership and an exciting IPL season four’.
