Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI), for the second year, is the broadcast partner for the second edition of Lanka Premier League (LPL), the broadcaster announced.

The network has signed an agreement with the official franchise and broadcast holder of LPL – the IPG Group. The agreement between Sony Pictures Networks India and the IPG Group includes the television and digital transmission of the LPL, which is to be played December 5-23, 2021.

All LPL matches will be telecast live between SONY SIX and SONY TEN 2 channels and will be live streamed on its on-demand OTT platform SonyLIV, a press release said.

Rajesh Kaul, Chief Revenue Officer, Distribution and Head of Sports Business, SPNI, said, ‘The appetite for cricket in India is huge and our aim is to bring the best of international cricketing action to our fans in India. With the onboarding of Lanka Premier League, we want to provide our viewers with some high-energy T20 cricket throughout December.

“Sri Lankan Cricket has always produced many world-class players and the inclusion of top international cricketers like Chris Gayle, Andre Russell and Faf du Plessis among others is contributing to the growth and popularity of Lanka Premier League in the subcontinent. As the league gathers more fans, we want to make sure that no one misses the best of T20 cricket in India on our sports channels.”

The Lanka Premier League will witness a host of cricketing stars such as West Indies legend Chris Gayle, former India fast bowler Irfan Pathan, former Pakistan Captain Shahid Afridi and former South Africa Captain Faf du Plessis in action. The competition will also see Sri Lanka T20 stars such as Charith Asalanka and Wanindu Hasaranga showing their mettle.

Anil Mohan, Founder and CEO of Dubai-based production company IPG, the official promoter of LPL, said, “We are ecstatic to welcome Sony Pictures Network as a broadcast partner to the Lanka Premier League once again. Sony Pictures Networks has always been at the forefront of sports broadcasting in India and takes sports to every corner of India. We are confident that Sony will achieve an even higher reach in terms of audience in the upcoming season and we look forward to a long and fruitful association.”

The inaugural edition of the Lanka Premier League (LPL), which was played in a bio-secure bubble at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in Hambantota from November 26 till December 16, 2020, reached a cumulative audience of 557 million people through TV, digital-social space, and traditional media outlets.

The LPL matches, which were telecast live by Sky Sports, Sony Sports Network, Geo, PTV, and Willow TV in Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, UK, US, Canada, Ireland, and New Zealand, saw 155 million people tuning in to catch live action.