MUMBAI: Asian sports marketing, media and event management company World Sport Group (WSG) has appointed Ten Sports to air the 2011 South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship on Ten Action+.

All 15 matches of this seventh edition of the SAFF Championship which will be played at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium New Delhi from 2 - 11 December will be telecast live on Ten Action+.

Eight countries from the region: India, Bangladesh, Maldives, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Afghanistan will participate in this tournament.

Ten Sports CEO Atul Pande said, "We are delighted to broadcast the 2011 SAFF Championship. The championship will not only help in the development of football in the region but also in fostering goodwill among neighboring nations. The telecast of this prestigious tournament reaffirms our commitment to grow our football and sports broadcasting business, and consolidate our position as the leading sports broadcaster."

WSG senior VP, country head, India Harish Krishnamachar added, "World Sport Group has worked on seven editions of the Saff Championship and we are happy to be producing this event in India. Together, our capability and the football pedigree of Ten Sports will help us deliver a world class event".

Drawn in Group A alongside Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Bhutan, five-time winners and defending champions India will kick-off their campaign in the Saff Championship with a match against Afghanistan on 3 December. Pakistan is in Group B along with runners-up Maldives, Bangladesh and Nepal.

The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals, which will be held on 9 December, two days before the summit clash.

MUMBAI: ESPN Star Sports will broadcast the upcoming Lanco International Super Series live from 20- 23 October.

The newly created hockey tournament has a "revolutionary new format" and new rules to make the game faster and more exciting ? it is like the T20 of hockey, known as Hockey 9?s!

ESPN Software India MD Aloke Malik said, "9-a-side hockey over a smaller time period is a revolutionary new concept and should make the game faster and more exciting for hockey lovers worldwide. In addition, the quality of hockey in the Lanco International Super Series will be of the highest quality with some of the top teams participating in both the men?s as well as women?s event. We are very pleased to work along with Hockey Australia and Commune to bring key matches of this event live on our networks in the Indian subcontinent."

The broadcast of the Lanco International Super Series will allow fans an opportunity to see the new format of the game.

Hockey Australia CEO Mark Anderson said he is pleased the Indian fans will have an opportunity to experience the excitement of the tournament.

"With newly created rules including nine players per side with one permanent forward and larger goals, this tournament is planned to provide excellent viewing for both traditional hockey fans and those who just love fast paced sport played at an elite level. The fact that all matches will be shown live back into India will allow all of those passionate Indian fans to enjoy a format that should suit the Indian teams," said Anderson.

Hockey Australia has engaged Indian sports marketing agency Commune for the tournament, and ESPN Star Sports will telecast it to various locations across South Asia including India, Pakistan (who are also competing in the tournament), Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives and Nepal.

Fresh off their Asia Champions trophy victory, India will be sending full-strength men?s and women?s squads to participate in the tournament. The Indian men?s team will take on Australia, New Zealand and old rivals Pakistan, while the women?s team will play Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia.

All round matches from the tournament, including those involving India?s men?s and women?s teams, will be shown live on ESPN Star Sports.