Within 24 hours of bagging the four year telecast contract of the Board of Control for Cricket in India matches, the Subhash Chandra-promoted Zee Telefilims has started talks with leading cricket commentators in its bid to put together a crack team for the proposed sports channel.

According to sources, talks have been initiated with leading professional management agencies. It was pointed out that the channel's strategy includes bringing in some of the established names in the business to its platform as well as to identify new faces.

Zee's profits to swell by Rs 750-1,100 cr
Now, cricketers will take home a lot more

Meanwhile, ESPN-Star Sports, which has one of the best teams of commentators including Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri and Harsha Bhogle amongst others, said that it did not expect to lose any of the big names.

According to a company executive, it has long-term contracts with its commentators and none of the contracts is nearing completion.

However, Zee executives were confident of getting some of the big names on to its platform. It will be targeting a mix of Indian as well as foreign commentators for the channel.

Zee will be utilising its bouquet of local language channels under the umbrella of Alpha channels to cater to the local language markets.

"There will be local language coverage in our network for key matches and series. We will use the Alpha channels for this purpose," said a Zee executive.

Besides, it will also be working with BCCI to develop domestic cricket matches to international levels. It plans to cover 72 days of domestic cricket coverage, with a possibility of extending it to over 90 days.

Zee also expects to add value to its domestic cricket coverage in the long-term partnership with advertisers and sponsors. Besides, it plans to develop programming around core content and branded cricket based offerings to its viewers.

It will also take domestic cricket tournaments and coverage to international markets on Zee's international footprint. Besides, it will use the entire network of its 23 channels to promote and cover cricket from India.

Zee also plans to develop a licensing and merchandising plan for BCCI and use Zee's tele shopping network to promote it. It will also help BCCI and the state cricket association by helping them set up permanent TV production and cricket coverage facilities.