PCB on the verge of rare broadcasting deal

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is likely to sign a rare broadcasting deal, which could result in all domestic and international matches being televised on a single channel in Pakistan.

According to details, the PCB believes that a new media rights contract won’t fetch them a lot of money, due to novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, while also bearing in mind its ongoing conflict with the Pakistan Super League (PSL)’s broadcaster.

Whether the PCB will run the channel itself or will it be based on a revenue-sharing formula is not confirmed, yet.

It must be noted that the PCB had, recently, only advertised about the sale of international media rights which is also an indication that the aforementioned deal is likely to come to fruition.  

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If the deal is finalised, the channel will also show highlights of old matches, during the off-season, and interviews of cricketers.

Chairman Ehsan Mani and Chief Executive Wasim Khan are currently in Islamabad to brief the Prime Minister, also PCB’s Patron-in-Chief, Imran Khan about this deal and other important issues, including PSL and future planning.

Mani and Wasim were also bound to brief the Senate Standing Committee on Sports, regarding cricketing affairs, but the meeting was postponed.

Sources have also stated that Mani’s extension, as chairman, is also in the works despite reports that he will leave this post after his current tenure is over.