World Cup rights sold for US$230 million

A guaranteed deal of US$230 million has been struck for the broadcast, Internet and sponsorship rights to the 2007 World Cup to be held in the West Indies.

This contract was the largest slice of a US$550 million agreement signed between the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the World Sports Group (WSG) last Sunday in Paris, France. The agreement also covers the 2003 World Cup in South Africa, four ICC knockout tournaments, the Under-19 World Cup and the ICC Associate Members Trophy.

WSG's bid was backed by The News Corporation - in which media magnate Rupert Murdoch is the main shareholder - and was deemed the superior offer when the final round of bid presentations were made over the weekend. President of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Pat Rousseau and the WICB's Chief Marketing Executive Chris Dehring, who were part of the ICC's negotiating team for the past six months, attended these closing negotiations in Belgium and then France.

"The US$230 million is the minimum we are guaranteed for the World Cup but we anticipate that revenues will be even higher given the current growth trend and the ability of World Sports and News Corp. to secure the most lucrative contracts.

"This is clearly a huge deal and there is a lot of incentive for all West Indians to rally behind the WICB as we prepare for this mammoth but definitely attainable goal of hosting the 2007 World Cup. The entire Caribbean will be under scrutiny and we really need to unite to ensure this is a success," said Dehring.

Rousseau noted that in previous World Cups, the host country has received 45 per cent of the revenues and ICC resolutions have been passed affirming that this share structure should remain intact until after the West Indies hosts cricket's biggest competition.

Dehring welcomed the World Cup partnership with News Corp., saying it would facilitate a strengthening of ties between that media entity and the WICB. In May, Sky Sports - a News Corp. affiliate - signed a deal valued at US$40 million for broadcast and Internet rights related to West Indies cricket (2004-2008).