Published: Jan 25, 2016, 08:39 PM (IST)
Edited: Jan 25, 2016, 08:44 PM (IST)
Dubai: Oxigen Masters Champions League today announced the global broadcast deals inked for the first year. The deal has been closed with Ten Sports, PTV, Geo Super, SuperSport and Sportsmax for the first edition of Oxigen Masters Champions League (MCL) in the territories of Middle East, Pakistan, Sub-Saharan Africa and Caribbean respectively. With an aim to make a new space within the cricketing fraternity for the Xtraordinary players who have retired from international cricket, Oxigen MCL has bagged the best airtime partners for the inaugural season. Pakistan Television (PTV) is Pakistan’s national broadcaster, while Geo Super is the country’s first sports network. Ten Sports has a vast reach in Asia. MCL 2016: T20 cricket instant gratification, says Sushmita Sen
SuperSport is a network which provides sports content in South Africa and many other African countries, whereas Sportsmax is one of the biggest names in the Caribbean. Mr Zafar Shah, MCL Chairman commented, “To have such noted brands on board as our broadcasters in the territories of Middle East, Pakistan, Sub-Saharan Africa and Caribbean is a huge fillip for Oxigen MCL. This will ensure that a wider base of fans will get to see some of cricket’s Xtraordinary legends in action.” MCL 2016: Rana Naved, Humayun Farhat, Mohammad Khalil, Yasir Hameed announce retirement to get NOC
The rights have been awarded with active support of Sporty Solutionz, who hold exclusive rights to market the Oxigen MCL media rights worldwide following a multi-year, multi-million dollar deal with MCL’s Dubai-based promoters, GM Sports. Rajesh Sethi, Global CEO of Ten Sports network said, “We are very happy to be associated with Oxigen Masters Champions League (MCL) in its inaugural year. The concept and format of the tournament is very interesting and we are confident the legends will turn up and entertain the packed crowds in the UAE. We believe that being the broadcaster in the host nation will attract a lot of viewer interest and a lot of traction towards our network channels.”
The first match of Oxigen MCL, between Libra Legends and Gemini Arabians, will be played on 28 January in Dubai and will see former India ODI opening partners Sourav Ganguly and Virender Sehwag facing as rival captains. Ganguly would be captaining Libra Legends which also has legendary players as Jacques Kallis and Graeme Swann. The Gemini Arabians, led by Sehwag, also features Kumar Sanagakkara, Saqlain Mushtaq and Muttiah Muralitharan, among others. The tournament will take place at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium and Sharjah Cricket Stadium, which has previously hosted major cricket tournaments.
