Star and ESPN score BCCI title rights

The Board of Control for Cricket in India has awarded the title sponsorship rights for all international series and domestic tournaments to be played in India during the 2013-14 season to media groups Star India and ESPN Software India.

Star India and ESPN Software India's sponsorship contract runs from October 2013 to March 2014 – a period that includes India’s series against Australia and the West Indies.

The BCCI said that the contract had been awarded at the base price of Rs20m (€238,000/$318,000) per international game.

The board had issued a tender for the rights after telecommunications operator Airtel last month opted against renewing its title sponsorship agreement.

In September 2010, Airtel took up the role of series sponsor for all international and domestic matches played in India through to the end of March 2013 at a cost of Rs33.3m per match.

Today’s agreement furthers the presence of News Corp’s Indian subsidiary Star in Indian cricket.

Star holds the worldwide media rights for all India national team Test, one-day international and Twenty20 matches held in the country, as well as some domestic tournaments, under a six-year deal running from 2012-13 to 2017-18.