<p>ESS has signed a five-year contract with CA to broadcast the international cricket action from Australia -- including 27 test matches, 44 one-day internationals and 12 Twenty20 games -- starting 2012, on television, the internet, mobile and radio.<br /><br />According to industry sources, the deal is valued at Rs 1,100 crore, an increase of around 25 per cent in comparison to an earlier agreement signed in 2006.<br /><br />"This is the first time ever that a broadcast deal with Cricket Australia will give ESPN STAR Sports the rights to showcase two India series," ESS said in a statement.<br />India is slated to play four test matches and a tri-series with England and Australia in the 2014-2015 season, right before the ICC World Cup in 2015.<br /><br />India will again visit Australia for seven ODIs and two Twenty20 matches in 2015-2016.<br />"Over the next five years, all of the leading teams will be visiting Australia," the statement said.<br /><br />In addition to the Ashes tournament between arch-rivals England and Australia in the year 2013-2014, other cricket teams -- including South Africa, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the West Indies and New Zealand -- will tour Australia for various matches.<br /><br />Commenting on the development, ESS Managing Director Manu Sawhney said: "With so many premium international series, including two India tours and the Ashes, along with a robust mix of increasingly popular domestic tournaments, fans in the Indian sub-continent can look forward to top quality action."</p>
<p>ESS has signed a five-year contract with CA to broadcast the international cricket action from Australia -- including 27 test matches, 44 one-day internationals and 12 Twenty20 games -- starting 2012, on television, the internet, mobile and radio.<br /><br />According to industry sources, the deal is valued at Rs 1,100 crore, an increase of around 25 per cent in comparison to an earlier agreement signed in 2006.<br /><br />"This is the first time ever that a broadcast deal with Cricket Australia will give ESPN STAR Sports the rights to showcase two India series," ESS said in a statement.<br />India is slated to play four test matches and a tri-series with England and Australia in the 2014-2015 season, right before the ICC World Cup in 2015.<br /><br />India will again visit Australia for seven ODIs and two Twenty20 matches in 2015-2016.<br />"Over the next five years, all of the leading teams will be visiting Australia," the statement said.<br /><br />In addition to the Ashes tournament between arch-rivals England and Australia in the year 2013-2014, other cricket teams -- including South Africa, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the West Indies and New Zealand -- will tour Australia for various matches.<br /><br />Commenting on the development, ESS Managing Director Manu Sawhney said: "With so many premium international series, including two India tours and the Ashes, along with a robust mix of increasingly popular domestic tournaments, fans in the Indian sub-continent can look forward to top quality action."</p>