The World Cup has grown as a media event with each tournament. The International Cricket Council has sold the rights for broadcasting of the 2011 Cricket World Cup for around US $2 billion to ESPN STAR Sports and Star Cricket. The tournament would be broadcast all around the world in about 220 countries.
ESPN & STAR Cricket will telecast all the 49 matches of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 starting on February 19, 2011. STAR Sports will simultaneously broadcast 37 matches in Hindi for the benefit of the Indian audience.
For the first time, the Cricket World Cup will be broadcasted in High Definition (HD) format. Live matches will also be available in 3G mobile streaming for the first time. Every match will be covered by 27 cameras including techniques like movable slips cameras and the new low 45 degree field cameras. ESS have also introduced revolutionary on-air presentation features allowing fans to witness the action through multiple and dramatic camera angles, including track cameras on the boundary ropes and innovative cable cameras to present the bird’s eye view to the audience. The broadcast production will also have a mid-wicket camera for capturing running between the wickets.
The pre and post match shows will be hosted by ESPN STAR Sports’ panel of 30 experts which includes iconic ex-players from various countries.
The Cricket World Cup 2011 will also be the first ICC Tournament where the Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS) will be used. The UDRS, or simply DRS, is a new technology based system for reviewing controversial decisions made by the on-field umpire. The host nations also agreed that the Hotspot technology would also be used in the semi-finals and final. It was first used in ODIs in January 2011, in England’s series against Australia.
To emphasize, the International Cricket Council is leaving no stone unturned in giving the cricket fans worldwide an unforgettable experience of the 2011 Cricket World Cup.
Tags: Cricket, ESPN STAR Sports, ICC, International Cricket Council, Live Coverage, Live Score, Star Cricket, UDRS, World Cup