SLRC, SLBC to cover Aussie tour

Sri Lanka Cricket has announced that the Local TV Broadcasting rights for the Australian Tour of Sri Lanka has been awarded to Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation for a record figure of Rs. 22 Million.. This is the highest bid ever for Local TV broadcasting rights received by Sri Lanka Cricket.

Originally, the offer made by Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation was for Rs. 17 Million and the offer received from  Carlton Sports Network  Rs. 20.1 Million.

At this stage, President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Minister of Sports intervened and wanted Sri Lanka Cricket to award this to Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation.

Sri Lanka Cricket also wishes to state that the local Radio Broadcasting rights  have been offered to Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation for a sum of Rs. 750,000 for the tour,  which too  is the highest  ever amount received for broadcasting rights  from Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation.  Previously it was Rs. 150,000.

Whilst the T/20 and ODI matches will be called the LG Abans Sri Lanka Vs Australia Series, the Test Series will be called the ‘LG Abans Test Series for Warne-Muralidaran Trophy’

Previously amounts offered by Rupavahini have been:

1  India tour of Sri Lanka – Jan/Feb 2009: 5 ODIs and 1 T/20 – Rs. 9.0 Million (SLC lost USD 1.1 Million on account of the Rupavahini signal spilling over to India.)

2 Pakistan tour of Sri Lanka – July/August 2009: 3 Tests, 5 ODIs and 1 T/20– Rs. 13.0 Million.

3  New Zealand Tour of Sri Lanka & Triangular Series (SL/NZ/India) -August/September 2009: 2 Tests vs. New Zealand, 4 ODIs and 2 T/20s –      Rs. 12.0 Million.

4  India Tests & Triangular Series (India/NZ/SL) July/Aug 2010: 3 Tests, 7 ODIs – Rs. 17.0 Million.

5  West Indies tour of Sri Lanka – Nov/Dec 2010: 3 Tests, 5 ODIs and 1 T/20 –     Rs. 17.0 Mil (not paid due to series being interrupted by rain).