World T20 set to break broadcast records: ICC

Dubai, March 14 (IANS) Television coverage of the 2014 World Twenty20 in Bangladesh is set to break all previous International Cricket Council (ICC) events’ broadcast records, the sport’s world governing body claimed on Friday.

That coverage, produced and distributed by the ICC’s global media rights partner and host broadcaster, Star Sports, will have a potential reach of more than 1.8 billion viewers with live pictures shown by 29 broadcasters – both figures the highest ever for an ICC event, the world body said in a statement.

And it will be shown in more than 20 languages with pictures going across Europe via Eurosport and as far as Norway, Nepal, Afghanistan and the Pacific Islands.

The production will be among the most sophisticated ever, too, with 28 cameras, including seven ultra-motion cameras, ‘Spidercam’ as well as graphics with key analytics, all of which will take the viewer right to the heart of the action.

All 35 matches in the men’s tournament, plus all four of the warm-up matches in Mirpur, will be covered, as well as both semi-finals and the final of the women’s event.

A host of legends of the game and experienced broadcasters will be on hand with Ravi Shastri, Sanjay Manjrekar, Shaun Pollock, Ian Bishop, Sourav Ganguly, Shane Warne, Rameez Raja, Wasim Akram, Russel Arnold, Nick Knight, Nasser Hussain, Harsha Bhogle, Jonty Rhodes, Pommie Mbangwa, Athar Ali Khan, Danny Morrison, Alan Wilkins, Brian Murgatroyd, Isa Guha, Alison Mitchell and Melanie Jones analysing every moment.

ICC Chief Executive David Richardson said: “We are delighted that more than a quarter of the world’s population will have access to live coverage from the World Twenty20 2014, thanks to ICC’s broadcast partners.”

The tournament begins on March 16.