ESS enters deal with Dish TV for Star Cricket

ESPN Software India Pvt. Ltd has reached an agreement with Dish TV to introduce its third channel Sports Cricket on the DTH platform. The channel will kick off with the India-England series on 19 July.

While ESPN Star Sports (ESS), which is already on DishTV, will only telecast the ODI's, Star Cricket will air the entire series inclusive of test matches. ESS will carry an English feed and Star Cricket will carry the Hindi feed.

When contacted about Tata Sky's discussions with ESS for the telecast of the series, Tata Sky MD and CEO Vikram Kaushik declined to comment.


India will complete all three test matches and two of its seven one-day matches on its England tour by 25 August, wherein India plays its last one-dayer in England on 7 September.

ESPN Software India Pvt. Ltd, DishTV CEO Arun Kumar Kapoor said, "With Star cricket now available on Dish TV, we fulfill our promise of wholesome entertainment to our discerning subscribers. Just before the India-England series, we ensure that our subscribers get to watch the matches.”


“Star Cricket is a great venture by the ESPN Star Sports and we are proud to be associated with the channel in bringing the series on the DTH platform. Cricket is like a religion in India. We have extended our service portfolio for those cricket lovers whose interest, passion and emotions are synonymous with the game.”

According to ESPN MD R C Venkateish, “We have a very long and fruitful association with Dish TV. The growth of the platform in this time frame has been extremely impressive and we believe that the popularity of our channels has contributed in accelerating the growth of DishTV. We are happy to partner with dishtv for the newly launched Star Cricket.”

“Our understanding with dishtv will ensure that subscribers of the Dish TV platform will enjoy un-interrupted cricket on three channels – ESPN, Star Sports and Star Cricket,” added Venkateish.

ESPN, Star Sports and Star Cricket will telecast India’s tour of England where India will play three Test matches and seven one day internationals (July – September 2007). This will be followed by the telecast of the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa (September 2007).

India’s tour of Australia involving four test matches and a Tri series with Australia, Sri Lanka and India involving 15 ODIs will also be telecast on the network (December 2007 –March 2008). The channels will also be showcasing live from Pakistan in the Asia Cup, involving 13 One-day Internationals in the month of May 2008.

In addition, the sports broadcaster will also present the ICC Champions Trophy, bringing it live from the battlegrounds of Pakistan which will see different teams fight out in 15 intense ODI matches in September 2008.