Ten Sports launches live streaming cricket portal with NBC Universal

The site will debut with live Webcast coverage of the much anticipated Compaq Cup, the tri-angular cricket series between India, New Zealand and Sri Lanka starting on September 8, 2009.

The portal will feature live Webcast of full cricket matches that encompass exclusive content from half of the world's cricket boards including Pakistan, Sri Lanka, West Indies, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi. As a result, cricket fans from across the Indian sub-continent, and throughout the Middle East, will be able to enjoy live coverage of some of the most exciting cricket in the world. The video experience will be complimented by commentary and statistics, and will allow viewers to simultaneously chat with friends & family and other passionate fans during live Webcasts.

In addition to providing live Webcasts of cricket matches, www.tensports.com will also offer on-demand highlights during live matches, so that fans who have tuned-in late can catch up on crucial moments of action. These highlights will be hosted permanently on the site so that fans that have missed live Webcasts can still experience, on-demand, the best moments of the game with the click of a mouse.

As another first, www.tensports.com will open up access to Ten Sports' deep video archive globally, so that hundreds of hours of great cricket matches and memorable moments of the game will be available for free on-demand, anywhere, anytime to cricket lovers worldwide. Finally, fans from around the world can watch some of the best moments in the sport. This amazing archive would eventually be available to mobile users as well.

Mark Denton, Ten Sport's Senior Vice President, Revenue and Digital Media, commented:

"Having built up a substantial brand leadership position in the sub-continent, we are now very excited to be able to partner with a company of the pedigree and with the digital expertise of NBC Universal. We will be working hard to leverage the Ten Sports brand and our exclusive rights to deliver content in new and dynamic ways to our growing audience both in the sub-continent and around the World."

Ten Sports will promote the new portal to its worldwide audience of over 70 million homes. The strategic partnership will provide multi-platform, 360 degree advertising solutions for advertisers who will be able to reach highly engaged audiences who will enjoy innovations such as Facebook social networking integration and real-time highlights during live Webcast of cricket matches.

"This initiative demonstrates our commitment to India, one of the most exciting emerging media markets in the world," said Sab Kanaujia, Vice President, Digital Product Strategy & Development, NBC Universal, who will be managing this new business. "We're delighted to work with Ten Sports to launch India's premier, video-rich, sports portal. By combining great content with our digital expertise and proven technology products and platforms, we fully intend to establish a new standard for excellence in the marketplace."

The portal will be owned and operated by NBC Universal Digital Solutions and will expand its content offerings to include other sports in the future. NBCUDS will also syndicate live cricket Webcast to its selected syndication partners for wider distribution.

NBCUDS has selected Vdopia, India's leading online video advertising network, as its exclusive third party digital ad sales partner for the portal. Vdopia will represent the Ten Sports content on tensports.com as well as on syndication partner Web sites.

"As India's premier video advertising platform, Vdopia is excited to work with NBC Universal and Ten Sports, two of worlds leading media companies, and participate in enabling an unprecedented experience for users in India," said Rohit Sharma, President & CEO of Vdopia Inc. "Our platform offers a unique capability to integrate live streaming and on-demand videos with relevant advertising, enabling new media business models including delivery of premium content for free to users he added."