The Hindu : Sport : Zee launches sports channel

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 10, 2005

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Sport - Sports : General

Zee launches sports channel

Sports Reporter

NEW DELHI: Zee Telefilms Limited launched itself into the arena of exclusive sports broadcasting. Zee Sports, which was on air for the last five weeks to test its signals, said it aimed to provide as much Indian flavour as international. Zee Sports will be a 24-hour encrypted channel and distributed as part of the Zee Turner bouquet. With Zee's entry, the Indian viewers now have five channels including ESPN, Star Sports, Ten Sports and DD Sports, doing exclusive sports telecast.

Zee Sports said it would play a patient game and wait till the rights of cricket in other countries are put for bidding.

``In the next 18 months, cricket rights in England, Australia, South Africa, Sri Lanka and West Indies would be up for bidding and we intend to be contenders with reasonable means,'' said Gary Lovejoy, CEO, Zee Sports. "We will bid aggressively but sensibly,'' added Mr. Mody, obviously referring to the experience it had with the BCCI.

So for the time being, Zee Sports is focusing on to secure rights of a few domestic events. It has placed its bid for Indian football at the Executive Committee meeting of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) here on Wednesday.

"We have plans to cover lifestyle sports such as golf, motor sport and adventure sports, and also looking at the creation of events,'' said Mr. Lovejoy.

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