Cricket lovers in the United States and the Caribbean will be able to watch the World Cup live on televisions and computers.
NEW YORK: Cricket lovers in the United States and the Caribbean will be able to watch the World Cup live on televisions and computers.
EchoStar and its Dish Network said besides live matches, their customers would be able to watch replays, highlights and news. Simultaneously, it would provide background information on players and teams.
Michael Kelly, Executive Vice President of EchoStar, which has exclusive distribution rights in North America and the Caribbean, said viewers in America, having a strong South Asian community, would be able to watch matches live during the day.
But those who would miss the live action can watch the matches and replays on their computers though a broadband connection, he added.
It also provides its customers with digital video recorder on which they can record and see them later.
The full package costs $199.95 and Kelly said because of licensing and technological problems they could not provide subscription on match by match basis.
But those who do not want to see the matches on television can subscribe to watch these on their computers.
The network is considering of broadcasting commentary in languages other than English.
Kelly said when the network first started telecasting matches, it had only 66 customers who paid a total of $360 and the network's investment was around $50,000.
But things have changed since then. Till EchoStar started telecasting cricket matches, theatres and restaurants serving South Asian community used to take satellite feed to give their customers the opportunity to see the matches live on payment. The restaurants generally included dinner in the ticket as it was generally night time here when the matches were played.
EchoStar has an agreement with private broadcaster Nimbus Sports to carry live feeds of all matches organised by the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) till 2010 in North America and the Caribbean.
EchoStar plans to carry live Australian and Pakistan tours of India this year, the Australian tour next year, tours of England, Sri Lanka and Australia in 2009 and of South African in 2010.
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