Ten Sports inks 5-year broadcast rights deal with EFLI

MUMBAI: Zee Entertainment Enterprise Limited?s sports broadcasting network Ten Sports has inked a five-year broadcast rights agreement with Elite Football League of India (EFLI) till 2016 that will see the sportscaster televising approximately 370 matches.

Ten has acquired broadcast rights across cable & satellite, terrestrial, IPTV, HITS, DTH, Mobile, Internet and other distribution platforms.

The broadcaster has acquired rights for India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Maldives, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Europe, US, Caribbean, Australia & New Zealand, South Africa, Middle East, Asia including South East Asia and will try and distribute the EFLI games in all of these Markets.

Zee Sports Business CEO Atul Pande said, "We are delighted to partner with Elite Football League of India, the first professional American football league in India. We are looking forward for high decibel games with loads of excitement and passion."

Ten will televise four matches per week on Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday through its broadcast channels Ten Sports and Ten Action.

In late 2012, there will be ten teams located in various cities across India, one in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and one in an unannounced city in Bangladesh, the EFLI said.

The first season of EFLI will kick start in September with eight teams including five from India, two from Sri Lanka and one from Pakistan. They will compete in American-style football.