ESPN-Star awarded ICC's global media rights

MUMBAI, India, Dec 10 (Reuters) ESPN-Star Sports have successfully bid to become the International Cricket Council's global media and production partner from late 2007 to 2015.

''The decision was a unanimous one and the ICC will now seek to reach final agreement with ESPN-Star Sports,'' an ICC statement said yesterday after the decision on the audio-visual rights was taken at a board meeting in Dubai.

The final figure on the agreement was not disclosed, although the sport's governing body said ''it was significantly in excess of the previous commercial deal.'' That deal with Global Cricket Corporation (GCC), for the period of 2000 to 2007, was worth 0 million.

Two World Cups, a minimum of three Champions Trophy tournaments and the first two Twenty20 world championships fall within the eight-year period agreed.

ESPN-Star Sports is jointly owned by News Corporation and the Walt Disney Company.

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