Ten Sports announces series of rights acquisition

Ten Sports has announced major rights acquisitions starting with the live telecast of the Johnnie Walker Classic, the European Tour’s premier golf tournament in the Asia Pacific, currently under way at the DLF Golf and Country Club in Gurgaon, near New Delhi. The channel has acquired the rights for the tour for 2008 and 2009.

In addition to the European Tour, Ten Sports has also got the rights in the subcontinent for the US PGA Tour, the US PGA Championship and the biennial Ryder Cup clash between the US and Europe, to be played at Valhalla, Kentucky, in September.

In addition, Ten Sports has renewed its rights deal for the GP2 Series and the F1 feeder series. The channel will also telecast the GP2 Asia Series and the Champ Car series. Karun Chandok from India will be seen in action in both the GP2 and GP2 Asia Series.

Ten Sports will telecast the National Hockey League’s Stanley Cup finals, the NCAA Basketball Championships and beach cricket from Australia, the fun version of the game, which features several past cricketers from Australia, England, West Indies and India.

Ten Sports will also beckon Indian field hockey fans as the Olympic qualifiers in Santiago, Chile, will be shown on the channel. India needs to win the event to qualify for the Beijing Olympics in August. Austria, Chile, Great Britain, Mexico and Russia complete the six-team line-up.

Chris McDonald, chief executive officer, Taj Television Ltd, owners of Ten Sports, says, “These are exciting times for Indian sports fans, and with the recent major developments in golf and motor sports, we are certain the viewers’ interest in these sports is going to increase significantly. India now not only has an F1 team, but is also planning to host a Grand Prix in 2009. And with young drivers like Karun Chandok doing so well, the future is extremely bright for Indian motor sports. The same goes for golf. To host two major European Tour events in a single month just shows how popular the sport has become. And with Indian players doing well almost every week, the European Tour just adds to our comprehensive golf portfolio, which also includes live US PGA Tour action.”

Ten Sports broadcasts international cricket action from Sharjah, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa, West Indies and Zimbabwe.