TV and online rights for India-Pakistan series announced

Doordarshan have the rights to broadcast Pakistan's tour of India to Indian audiences, while Ten Sports will show the series in Pakistan. Coverage in the UK and Europe will be provided by Sony Entertainment Television Asia (SET Asia). Willow TV have the rights to stream the series live on the internet to all regions except the USA, Canada and the Caribbean.

Doordarshan were successful with their bid after the Madras High Court permitted Prasar Bharti, the national broadcaster, to engage any producer except Zee Telefilms and ESPN-Star. Ten Sports and Sony, two rival channels, had expressed their interest to produce the series, but Doordarshan won the contract. Doordarshan had also telecast the home series against Australia and South Africa earlier in the season on the advice of the Supreme Court.

Pakistan will play three Tests and six one-day internationals on their first full tour of India since 1999, and will be keen to avenge their series defeat when India visited last year. "The rivalry between India and Pakistan is without doubt the most intense in the history of sport and will attract over a billion passionate fans around the world," said Raval Singh, an executive vice-president of SET Asia.

The first Test begins at Mohali on Tuesday (March 8).