Date:05/08/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/08/05/stories/2005080502530800.htm

Back Zee bags rights to Davis Cup, Federation Cup matches

Our Bureau

New Delhi , Aug. 4

ZEE Sports has acquired three-year telecast rights of the Davis Cup and Federation Cup from the International Tennis Federation (ITF).

The rights will also cover the away ties (matches played away from home) featuring the Indian team. As part of the deal, Zee Sports will show the World Group 2005 semi-final starting with Slovak Republic vs Argentina and Croatia vs Russia from September 23-25.

These games will feature tennis stars like Russia's Marat Safin, Argentina's Guillermo Coria, Slovak Republic's Dominik Hrbaty and Croatian Mario Ancic.

Speaking to Business Line, Mr Gary Lovejoy, Chief Operating Officer, Zee Sports, said, "Fans in India will be able to watch Davis Cup and Federation Cup matches played outside India. The agreement will allow the network to take full advantage of packaging and producing programming in its own style, providing context to viewers so that they can relate to it, with a comprehensive match coverage, including daily news, highlights and analysis."

He added that tennis is a very valid sport for a sports broadcaster to have. "There is a lot of passion in these matches with players being a lot more involved," said Mr Loverjoy. He, however, did not divulge the cost of acquisition of these rights.

Mr Lovejoy said that the channel is expanding its distribution and marketing activities. Currently, it is widely available in the Southern markets as well as on the direct-to-home (DTH) platform. It is also in the process of acquiring rights to other sporting events.