SLC goes to market to secure new TV broadcasting rights

■ Confident of acquiring similar figure, if not more, for next cycle

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has gone to the market to secure new television broadcasting rights for the next four years and its Chief Executive Officer Ashley de Silva said that the response has been “very good”.

The current broadcasting rights which are held by Ten Sports terminates at the end of March. The new rights will commence from April 2023 till March 2027.

“We have gone to the market and there is a process which we are following,” said De Silva, “We are trying to finish everything by the end of February.”

“There are a lot of people who have shown interest for the next cycle that is up to March 2027. The response is very good. We have an MDA, an undisclosed agreement. Until it is closed none of it could be disclosed to anyone.”

De Silva expressed confidence that despite the present economic crisis in the country that SLC will be able to secure a similar figure, if not more, for the broadcasting rights for the next four years.

“We have got two Indian tours in the next four-year cycle including other tours as well, so I think we should be able to get more than what we have got in the previous cycle.”

Sri Lanka hosts India for three ODIs and three T20Is in 2024, and for two Tests in 2026. Sri Lanka also hosts England for three ODIs and three T20Is in 2026 and Australia for two Tests in 2025.

“We might go with a different model this time where it will cover up the costs for all the tours and also make profit out of it,” De Silva said.

It was because of the current economic crisis that Dialog pulled out of the national cricket team’s sponsorship which terminates at the end of the two Test matches in New Zealand on 21 March.

That decision has forced SLC’s hand to look for another team sponsor to cover the national team during the second half of the New Zealand tour which comprises three ODIs and three T20Is from 25 March to 8 April.

“After the two Test matches against New Zealand, we will find another sponsor for the ODIs and T20Is. After that, we have only two other tours against Ireland and Pakistan before the cycle ends. Actually, the cycle would have ended in March but because of the COVID pandemic we extended it up to September,” said De Silva.

“Ireland and Pakistan tours we will go for the team sponsorships separately. Ireland is due in April to play a one- off Test ( not part of the World Test Championship). We might sometimes end up playing an additional three T20Is or ODIs, we have not finalised anything yet. Pakistan will be here at the end July for two Tests and probably three ODIs. The two Tests are the start of the new cycle of the World Test Championship,” he said.