Pakistan’s national broadcaster has finally managed to get rights for the shared LIVE feed of England-Pak cricket series.
The broadcast rights for the Pakistan cricket team’s tour of England are held by Sony Pictures Sports Network for the Indian sub-continent.
It was feared that the PTV might not get deal from Sony due to its strained ties with the Indian broadcaster.
PTV has reportedly not cleared Sony’s dues from the previous deal. That appeared a big deterrent for another commercial understanding between the PTV and SPNI, which will broadcast the England-Pak in Pakistan through TenSports bouquet of channels.
TenSports and PTV Sports remain competitors in Pakistan.
However, a week before the first Test starts in Manchester on August 5, a PTV official has confirmed the national broadcaster in Pakistan will also broadcast the series. The matches will be telecast LIVE on PTV Sports.
“Recently there have been a few queries, just clarifying that PTV Sports shall be televising live Pakistan versus England Series 2020 from August 5th, 2020. The action shall be live on PTV Sports,” the official has stated.
SPNI also holds the broadcast rights for the Pakistan Cricket Board. There has been a strong resentment within the country over that too. While the deal deprives PTV from broadcasting international cricket hosted by PCB, the grudge is also about an Indian broadcaster earning money in Pakistan.
Questions were also raised about why PTV did not take a lead to acquire the rights for PTV Sports! PCB chief Ehsan Mani and senior management were then accused of favouring the SPNI.
SPNI had initially received the PCB broadcast rights with ($385 million) deal with Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited for the acquisition of the TenSports network.
Meanwhile, England has named an unchanged 14-member squad for the three-Test series against Pakistan. The Joe Root-led Three Lions have rallied to defeat West Indies 2-1 in the three-match series that concluded yesterday (Tuesday).