MUMBAI: Ten Sports has acquired the broadcasting rights of the IMG Reliance?s I-League for 2011-2012 season.

The I-League kicks off on 22 October and runs until the end of April 2012. 14 teams participate in the League which comprises 182 matches across 26 rounds. Started in 2007, the I-League replaced the National Football League, which ran for 11 seasons. The winner of the I-League qualifies for the AFC Champions League qualifying round.

As part of the deal, Ten Action+ will broadcast the 75 league games live.

Ten Sports CEO Atul Pande said, "We are delighted to be associated with IMG Reliance, to telecast the I-League, India?s premier?s football tournament. We are committed to bringing the best sports action to our viewers, and this new agreement with the IMG Reliance reaffirms our commitment to grow the sports business and consolidate our position as the leading sports broadcaster. Zee and Ten have been supporters of Indian football for many years and we continue committed to our vision of enhancing and adding value to the sport."

AIFF General Secretary Kushal Das added, "Ten Action+ is a niche football channel and I am sure the visibility and on air promotional activities of the channel will go a long way in enhancing the profile of the I-League. Our partners IMG Reliance deserve all credit for forging this significant partnership."

IMG Reliance spokesperson commented, "We are happy to confirm Ten Sports as the national broadcaster for the 2011-12 season of I-League as part of our ongoing efforts to develop the following of the sport in India. We are committed to pursuing various initiatives as part of our strategic plan to enhance the level of competition as also harness the domestic football talent in the country. Ten Sports shares our vision for the sport in India and we are delighted to partner with them in bringing football into the homes of fans across the nation."

MUMBAI: Ten Sports has bagged the television production and broadcasting rights of the Mena Golf Tour.

The tour will be shown in the Indian sub-continent through Ten Sports and Ten Action+. Fox Sports Middle East, Al Jazeera, Abu Dhabi Media Company and Showtime will air the tour highlights in the Mena region.

Said Ten Sports CEO Atul Pande, "This new agreement with the Mena Golf Tour reaffirms our commitment to grow the sports business and consolidate our position as the leading sports broadcaster. The tour will receive a wide coverage."

Ten Sports is in the process of confirming other broadcasters. "We will very soon be able to announce the details. The Mena Golf Tour is a great initiative and will undoubtedly play an important role in enhancing the popularity of the sport in and around the region."

Promoted and organised by ?Golf in Dubai,? the Mena Golf Tour is a new initiative by the Shaikh Maktoum Golf Foundation, featuring four back-to-back tournaments in its inaugural edition.

The first event will be held at the Saadiyat Beach Golf Club from 25-28 September while the second and third event will be played from 2 - 5 October 2011 and 9 - 12 October 2011 at the Tower Links Golf in Ras Al Khaimah and Dubai?s Al Badia Golf Club respectively, before the tour reaches its climax with the ?Tour Championship? to be held at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf from 16 to 19 October.

As part of the agreement, Ten Sports will produce a 30-minute highlights package of each of the four events in addition to running a news capsule on the final day of each event of the Mena Golf Tour. There will also be an additional highlights show of one-hour duration which will incorporate all the four events.

The top three professionals and the leading amateur from the Order of Merit will receive special invitations to compete in the 2012 Omega Dubai Desert Classic and, possibly, other European Tour events in the region.

Mena Golf Tour chairman Mohamed Juma Buamaim said, "Ten Sports shares our vision for golf which is fastest growing sport in Asia and the Mena region and has a very strong appeal to young people."

Buamaim is also Golf in Dubai vice chairman and CEO. They are the promoters and organisers of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic and the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters.

The Mena Golf Tour, boasting a combined prize fund of $225,000, is open to both professionals and amateurs from any part of the world.

MUMBAI: Ten Sports will be telecating live and exclusive the Nokia Champions League T20 in Pakistan.

ESPN Star Sports, the global commercial rights holder of the Nokia Champions League T20, has awarded the broadcast rights for the Pakistan territory to Zee-controlled Taj Television, the company that owns and operates Ten Sports.

The tournament takes place from 19 September to 9 October.

Taj Television CEO Atul Pande said, "We are extremely happy to acquire the rights for one of the most fascinating T20 Leagues in the world. Top cricket clubs from around the world, comprising top rated T20 players, will compete in this month-long tournament. Ten Sports will be telecasting all the 29 matches live and exclusive for viewers in Pakistan."

ESS senior VP, corporate development/cricket rights Anurag Dahiya said, "We are delighted to partner Ten Sports to showcase the Nokia Champions League Twenty20 in a passionate cricketing nation and major powerhouse in the sport. Cricket fans in Pakistan can look forward to our world-class production and presentation package, having lined-up many innovative production initiatives and our specialist commentary team of international cricketing legends and experts from top cricket-playing nations for all the matches."

ESS? coverage of the Nokia Champions League Twenty20 includes a line-up of cricket experts consisting of Harsha Bhogle, Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri, Kepler Wessels, HD Ackerman, Ian Chappell, Tom Moody, Ian Bishop and Alan Wilkins.

The start of the main tournament will be preceded by a qualifier for the first time from which three teams will progress to the main round to compete with seven others. The qualifiers will be held in Hyderabad between September 19 and 21, while the main tournament will be spread across three cities - Chennai, Bangalore and Kolkata.

MUMBAI: Zee-controlled Taj Television Limited has renewed the Cricket South Africa (CSA) television rights for a period of eight years.

The agreement with Taj Television covers the South African Cricket seasons from 2012/13 through to 2019/20.

The exclusive media rights partnership with Taj Television covers Asia and the Middle East.

With acquisition of these cricket rights, Taj Television continues to hold broadcast rights of five cricket boards - South Africa, Pakistan, West Indies, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.

 
Taj Television India CEO Atul Pande said, "We‘re extremely pleased to have won the commercial rights of Cricket South Africa. Through our television channels ? Ten Cricket and Ten Sports, our website www.tencricket.com and our various wireless platform initiatives, we are confident of taking the rights of Cricket South Africa to new heights by working along with the various partners and are committed to set new benchmarks in broadcasting and distribution."