BCCI awards title sponsorship to Star, ESPN

The BCCI today awarded the title sponsorship for all international series and the domestic tournaments in India for the year 2013-14 to Star Private Ltd and ESPN at the base price of Rs2 crore per fixture, considerably lower as against the previous deal with Airtel.

''The Marketing Committee has awarded the Title Sponsorship Rights for all series to be played in India in the 2013-14 season to Star India Pvt. Ltd and ESPN Software India Pvt. Ltd, at a fee of Rs 2 crore per international match,'' BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel said in a statement, according to the report.

According to Patel, the bidders had the option of ''bidding for either the series between India and Australia, or the series between India and the West Indies, or both.''

Two international series are set to be played during the period under the current schedule - the seven-match ODI series and a T20 game between India and Australia, followed by two Tests and three ODIs against the West Indies.

Sponsorship rights would cover domestic events such as Irani Cup, Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy, Vijay Hazare, Deodhar Trophy and Raj Singh Dungarpur Trophy.

The new deal comes with Airtel's partnership with the BCCI ending this year.

Sponsorship rights in 2010 for all international and domestic matches scheduled in India, had been won by the telecom giant.

The three-year contract, for the period between 1 September, 2010 to 31 March 2013, was worth Rs3.33 crore for each international fixture.

The telco had also been allowed branding on stumps and fixed slots for in-stadium advertising as part of the deal.

The contract, was stamped at the meeting of BCCI's Marketing Committee earlier today, following which the board sent out a press release accepting Star-ESPN's bid for title sponsorship of all international series and domestic tournaments to be played in India in the 2013-14 season.