Sony wins overseas TV rights for series

With the first Test only three days away, the BCCI has finally concluded its immediate television-rights deals by awarding the overseas rights for the India-Pakistan series to Sony Entertainment Television. The company put up a winning bid of US$11.5million for the three Tests and six one-dayers.

"I was authorised by the BCCI's Working Committee earlier this week to take the decision on satellite rights," said Ranbir Singh Mahendra, the president of the Indian board. "Since Sony was the highest bidder, it was given the rights."

While the procedure was seemingly a straightforward one, the head of Nimbus, a rival bidder, said that his offer had been higher. But Kunal Dasgupta, Sony's chief executive, said that when the bids were opened, his company's was the highest. Indiantelevision.com quoted him as saying, "There is no cause for any dispute in this matter."