ICC World Twenty20 to be broadcast throughout Europe

The ICC World Twenty20 2009 about to get underway in England will be broadcast in a total of 218 countries across six continents, it was confirmed today.

In the United Kingdom, national broadcaster the BBC will show an extensive highlights package daily during the tournament, ensuring that the event will receive an audience on terrestrial television as well on ICC's global broadcaster partner ESPN STAR Sports's (ESS) UK broadcast partner Sky Sports.

With teams representing European territories outside the UK, including Ireland and the Netherlands, Eurosport will also be showing 12 matches live on its normal feed with the remainder available on a pay-per-view basis. That will ensure cricket reaches the homes of millions of Europeans with multi-lingual commentaries being presented in 10 languages including, including Russian, French, German, Polish and Turkish. Other languages covered off by commentary in Europe are Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Romanian and Serbian.

The 17-day tournament will feature 12 teams with all the top international players in the world taking part in nation-versus-nation action, and with tickets for the big event fast disappearing, fans who are unable to support their teams at the grounds will be afforded the best possible coverage courtesy of ESPN STAR Sports.

All 27 matches in the men's event will be covered live by ESS while both women's semi-finals and the final will also be beamed around the globe giving unprecedented exposure to women's Twenty20 cricket.

In addition, 10 of the warm-up matches will also be televised live including the eagerly awaited India v Pakistan game, which will take place at The Oval on 3 June.

The commentary team includes some of the most insightful voices in the game including Nasser Hussain, David Lloyd, Sanjay Manjrekar, Harsha Bhogle, Alan Wilkins, Ian Bishop, Wasim Akram, Ranil Abeynaiyke, Athar Ali Khan, Ian Bishop, Simon Doull, Jeremy Coney and Kepler Wessels.

Also, following her highly successful stint commentating during the ICC Women's World Cup earlier this year, former Australia batter Melanie Jones, twice a Women's World Cup winner in 1997 and 2005, will join the team for the women's matches.

ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said: "We expect the ICC World Twenty20 to be the most viewed cricket event in the history of the game, which is a huge achievement considering it is just the second-ever staging of the ICC World Twenty20.

"Apart from providing entertainment and an economic boost to the global game, the ICC World Twenty20 is one of the ways we are reaching out and spreading the message of cricket across the world.

"ESS's unrivaled coverage of the event brings the game alive in millions of homes and helps to create an interest where there was none while reinforcing the passion where it already exists," said Mr Lorgat.

ESS Managing Director Manu Sawhney said: "We are very pleased to bring top-class international cricket action to more than 100 million fans in more than 218 countries across the globe as the second edition of the ICC World Twenty20 kicks off in England next month.

"We remain committed to bring alive the game for fans and have lined up one of the most comprehensive and entertaining presentations possible that includes including high-definition coverage, innovative camera angles and some of the best experts from the world of cricket.

"We are confident of setting new benchmarks in the distribution of the game along with our partners across the globe."

Former India batsman and ESS commentator Sanjay Manjrekar added: "The ICC World Twenty20 is where only the very best play against each other in a form of cricket that is redefining the entire sport."

Former England captain Nasser Hussain said: "The first edition of the ICC World Twenty20 in South Africa was a brilliant tournament. It proved that Twenty20 was not just a slog-fest but had plenty of top-quality cricket played in highly-pressurised situations which tested the skill and temperaments of the best players."

In total there will be 28 cameras used as standard during each match of the event in three venues at Lord's, the Oval and Trent Bridge. That is not including six Hawk Eye cameras that will give viewers an intimate perspective on all the key moments in the tournament.

There will also be live ball-by-ball coverage of the event on radio and the internet while SNTV and Reuters TV will be providing regular news access to ensure anyone in the world who wishes to keep up to date with goings on in England can do so at the turn of a dial, a flick of the switch or click of a mouse.

Note: Prominent broadcasters include ART Prime Sports, who will beam the telecast in the Middle East and North Africa (Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia and Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates and Yemen). ATN will show it in Canada, BSKYB will showcase the event in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. Caribbean Media Corporation will take the beam forward across the West Indies. Eurosport will telecast in Austria, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, Greenland, Sweden, Austria, Belgium, France, Monaco and the Commonwealth of Independent States including Russia. DirecTV (Willow TV) will bring the action to millions of fans in the USA. BTV (terrestrial station) will show it in Bangladesh, Hum Tum TV will cater for fans in Japan while ESPN STAR Sports will broadcast in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Bhutan.