Sanga’s swansong Test series fetches dismal bid

Sri Lanka Cricket is said to be re-negotiating with Ten Sports – the country’s holder of broadcast right for international cricket, after the latter had forwarded a below-par sum to cover the forthcoming three-match Test series against India (which will include Kumar Sangakkara’s swansong Test), informed sources said.
The bid believed to be around $ 1.4 million has been spurned by the SLC Interim Committee, with Ten Sports being the only international sports network that had forwarded a bid before the tender period ended last week.
SLC sources said as a normal Test series against neighbours India is reported to be around $ 2 million in broadcast rights, the Interim Committee headed by Sidath Wettimuny had found the Ten Sports bid to be way below than what they had expected.
Hence, a decision had been taken to re-negotiate with the Dubai-based 24-hour sports network, failing which they would be looking elsewhere.
SLC had hoped other reputed broadcasters in the region such as Sony and Star would bid for the series, but although both had originally expressed interest neither had entered a bid for the series.
Ten Sports currently holds the broadcast rights for international cricket in Sri Lanka, but as the upcoming series is redundant to what had been scheduled in the Future Tours Programme (FTP), SLC could also sell these rights separately.
The series was originally scheduled to be played in India, but the venues were switched as repayment for Sri Lanka’s impromptu five-match ODI tour of India last October and November. (JK)