DIRECTV Gets Exclusive Broadcast Rights for ICC and IPL Cricket Tournaments

The nation’s leading satellite television provider, DIRECTV, has secured the exclusive right to broadcast all International Cricket Council (ICC) and Indian Premier League Cricket (PLC) tournaments. With the support of Willow TV, the Internet’s biggest portal for cricket streaming video, DIRECTV will broadcast all major cricket events, including England’s 2009 ICC World Twenty20, the 2009/2010 IPL tournaments, the 2009 India tour of New Zealand and the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011. DIRECTV and Willow TV have entered into a multi-year agreement.

"DIRECTV is proud to partner with Willow TV and the world's top cricket tournaments to offer U.S. cricket fans this exclusive lineup of exciting cricket events and the new Twenty 20 format, which is revolutionizing the sport," said Vice President of WorldDirect, Inc. John de Armas. "Now cricket fans in the U.S. can turn to DIRECTV exclusively to satisfy their hunger for this exciting international sport and watch the thrill of the game in 100% digital image and sound."

February 11, 2009 will mark the beginning of ICC and IPL cricket tours. Coverage will be available to U.S. subscribers exclusively on DIRECTV’s CricketTicket 2009 package, offered as part of the WorldDirect programming platform. For $199.99, DIRECTV subscribers can purchase the IPL and ICC World T20 package, and for $299.99 DIRECTV subscribers can purchase the entire season.