TV cricket coverage nets Rs 53.5m for SLC

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has agreed to a Rs 53.5-million-deal with Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation for local television and broadcasting rights for the next two home series against England and Australia.

Rupavahini will provide coverage for the England tour in November-December, comprising three Tests and three ODIs. This will be followed by similar coverage of Australia's tour in February-March 2004, which will consist of three Tests and five ODIs.

Rupavahini has also agreed to provide live coverage of the Premier Limited Over Tournament semi-finals and final, live regular score updates of other domestic cricket on radio and television and frequent airing of the SLC cricket anthem. A new weekly cricket programme will be produced commencing January 2004.

SLC secretary Mohan de Silva said that SLC will be getting Rs 15 million from the English tour, Rs 20 million from the Australian tour, Rs 18 million from domestic cricket coverage and Rs 500,000 from the weekly programs.

"As far as we are aware," said De Silva, "this is probably the biggest commitment any local television company has made with SLC."