Murdoch beats Zee-TWI combine for World Cup TV rights
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

JUNE 26: Media Mogul Rupert Murdoch won the battle for the television rights for the next two Cricket World Cups, beating a a joint bid made by Zee TV and Trans World International (TWI) though his company, World Sports Group quoted a lesser amount than the rivals.

The issue of granting TV rights for the World Cups in South Africa in 2003 and the West Indies in 2007, plus the ICC One-Day knock-out tournaments was decided by International Cricket Council's Executive Board in Paris over the weekend.

ICC sold TV, sponsorship, licensing, merchandise and internel rights to the next two World Cups for 370 million pounds (about Rs 2.6 billion), to World Sports Group last night in Paris.

The London and Hong Kong-based Murdoch flagship's bid was, in fact, 74 million pound less the Zee-TWI.

The revised bidding was done after allegations and counter-allegations over the way ICC handled the TV rights issue.

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