TORONTO, Aug. 10, 2012 /CNW/ - Asian Television Network
International Limited (ATN) (TSX-SAT), Canada's Largest South Asian broadcaster and
Canada's pioneer distributor of
World Class Cricket, announces it has secured the exclusive
Canadian broadcast rights for the Sri
Lanka Premier League which starts August 11, 2012. ATN has secured the Canadian
rights for a period of seven years for all forms of broadcast from
Somerset Entertainment Ventures,
Marketing Rights Partners of the SLPL Cricket League.
The inaugural edition of the Sri Lankan premier league will be
played from August 11 - August 31,
2012 in Sri Lanka. The
tournament features seven provincial teams at two venues: R
Premadasa Stadium in Colombo and
the Pallekele International Stadium in Kandy.
Each team will be allowed a maximum of six overseas players in
their squad and four in their playing XI. The new league
features some of the best national and international players,
including Tilakaratane Dilshan, Kumar Sangakara, Sanath Jayasuria,
Muttiah Muralitharan, &
Mahela Jayawardene from Sri Lanka; Chris
Gayle & Shivnaraine Chanderpaul from West Indies;
Shahid Afridi & Misbah Ul Haq from Pakistan; Tim
Southee & Nathan McCullum
from New Zealand; Albie Morkal from South Africa; and Dirk
Nannes from Australia.
There will be a total of 24 matches including two semifinals and
a final. The seven teams participating in the league are Nagenahira
Nagas, Ruhuna Rhinos, Basnahira Bears, Kandurata Kites, Uthura
Oryxes, Wayamba Wolves & Uva Unicorns.
"This is an exciting new opportunity to see top talent in
premier league play. We are delighted to be able to bring this new
league to Canadian fans," said Dr. Shan
Chandrasekar, ATN's President and CEO.
Recently the Sri Lanka Cricket board auctioned the seven teams
for over $30 million and all seven
franchises were bought by Indian Business Enterprises. Some of the
franchise owners include Wadhawan Holdings Private Limited, Number
One Sports Consulting Private Limited, Pearl Overseas Limited,
Success Sports Private Limited and Indian Cricket Dundee
Limited
About Asian Television Network International Limited.
ATN (TSX-SAT) serves Canada's
Asian community with 34 premium specialty television channels. ATN
offers its flagship general interest service, several Bollywood
movie channels with 800 movies a month, sports channels, news
channels, music channels, a lifestyle channel, spiritual channel
and several Regional Language channels. ATN is Canada's pioneer distributor of World Class
Cricket. ATN operates the only South Asian Radio Service 24 hours a
day on XM across The United States
and Canada. ATN is also the first
and only broadcaster in Canada to
deliver South Asian Content on Bell Mobility. ATN along with CTV is
a Broadcast Partner for the London
2012 Summer Olympic Games and will telecast more than 100 hours of
LIVE coverage in five languages on six channels across Canada. ATN has programming alliances with
leading international broadcasters. To subscribe to ATN and for
more details about our services and programming schedules please
visit www.asiantelevision.com
SOURCE Asian Television Network International Limited
