By Channaka de Silva
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has informed international television broadcasters that they expect around US $ 6 million for the planned five ODI’s between Sri Lanka and Pakistan to be played in mid September.
A spokesman for one of the interested broadcasters told the “Daily Mirror” that SLC will have to settle for a figure in the range of US $ 3 to 4 million due to the difficulty in finding sponsors at short notice for a hastily arranged tour.
He pointed out that Cricket South Africa (CSA) were unable to sign a broadcasting deal for a triangular tournament which was also planned for September and had to scrap the idea.
Dubai-based Ten Sports and ESPN are the two international TV companies that have shown interest to secure rights for the proposed five ODIs.
However the broadcasters are not happy with Dambulla as a venue as the under-prepared pitches there tend to give an early finish thus reducing their advertising revenue. Broadcasters have also demanded all five matches to be played day-night after market surveys have revealed more viewers during that time.
SLC have not yet confirmed the venues, but sources said that Dambulla will host three games due to the threat of rain.
The two day-night games are likely to be played at Premadasa Stadium in Colombo and SLC officials have tentatively informed their Pakistani counterparts of their plans.
SLC has already dispatched their National Curator to Dambulla to improve the state of the wicket.
Meanwhile, according to media reports, international television broadcasters are complaining of difficulty in selling the Test and one-day cricket to viewers after the huge success of Twenty20 format.
"We really have no problem as broadcasters because if Twenty20 cricket is the order of the day we will adapt to it but this makes it very difficult for us to sell Test and one-day games scheduled in the future tours programme," a TV official was quoted as saying.
The executive, an old hand in the field of broadcasting and marketing cricket on television, said the International Cricket Council and its member boards need to think about the influx of Twenty20 matches and particularly private leagues.
"I think we will only know after two or three years which direction cricket is going. But there is no doubt the success of the IPL and even ICL has already hit the business we did from Test and one-day international matches," he said.
The broadcasters who had the rights for the recent India and Sri Lanka series didn't make the profits they expected.
Usually, whenever India are involved in a Test or one-day series there is a lot of sponsor and advertiser interest with many companies clamouring to splash out money.
"This time, however, when India played in Sri Lanka the television ratings were very low and the sponsors also had to be convinced to come in," a producer involved in the series revealed
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has informed international television broadcasters that they expect around US $ 6 million for the planned five ODI’s between Sri Lanka and Pakistan to be played in mid September.
A spokesman for one of the interested broadcasters told the “Daily Mirror” that SLC will have to settle for a figure in the range of US $ 3 to 4 million due to the difficulty in finding sponsors at short notice for a hastily arranged tour.
He pointed out that Cricket South Africa (CSA) were unable to sign a broadcasting deal for a triangular tournament which was also planned for September and had to scrap the idea.
Dubai-based Ten Sports and ESPN are the two international TV companies that have shown interest to secure rights for the proposed five ODIs.
However the broadcasters are not happy with Dambulla as a venue as the under-prepared pitches there tend to give an early finish thus reducing their advertising revenue. Broadcasters have also demanded all five matches to be played day-night after market surveys have revealed more viewers during that time.
SLC have not yet confirmed the venues, but sources said that Dambulla will host three games due to the threat of rain.
The two day-night games are likely to be played at Premadasa Stadium in Colombo and SLC officials have tentatively informed their Pakistani counterparts of their plans.
SLC has already dispatched their National Curator to Dambulla to improve the state of the wicket.
Meanwhile, according to media reports, international television broadcasters are complaining of difficulty in selling the Test and one-day cricket to viewers after the huge success of Twenty20 format.
"We really have no problem as broadcasters because if Twenty20 cricket is the order of the day we will adapt to it but this makes it very difficult for us to sell Test and one-day games scheduled in the future tours programme," a TV official was quoted as saying.
The executive, an old hand in the field of broadcasting and marketing cricket on television, said the International Cricket Council and its member boards need to think about the influx of Twenty20 matches and particularly private leagues.
"I think we will only know after two or three years which direction cricket is going. But there is no doubt the success of the IPL and even ICL has already hit the business we did from Test and one-day international matches," he said.
The broadcasters who had the rights for the recent India and Sri Lanka series didn't make the profits they expected.
Usually, whenever India are involved in a Test or one-day series there is a lot of sponsor and advertiser interest with many companies clamouring to splash out money.
"This time, however, when India played in Sri Lanka the television ratings were very low and the sponsors also had to be convinced to come in," a producer involved in the series revealed
