Kingfisher Airlines : Official Umpire Partner of Indian Premier League

he DLF Indian Premier League on Thursday announced that Kingfisher Airlines, the country's only 5 star airline, has bagged the rights to being the Official Umpire Partner for the league and will also sponsor all third umpire decisions during the 59 action packed games in the Twenty20 tournament beginning next month.

The umpire partnership deal is worth Rs 106 crores for a five-year period. As per the agreement, Kingfisher Airlines will receive branding on the umpires' uniform including their shirts and hats during the IPL, along with several other activation opportunities around the property.

"The DLF Indian Premier League is a highly innovative concept and the Twenty20 format will undoubtedly take cricket's popularity to a new high. Kingfisher Airlines will present the DLF IPL umpires in a completely new and modern style while retaining their critical role in the sport," said Dr Vijay Mallya [Images], Chairman and CEO, Kingfisher Airlines.

Earlier, leading sports broadcaster Sony Max and World Sport Group had bagged IPL's global media and production rights for US $ 1.026 billion.

The exclusive Franchise rights for the eight city league were won by Shah Rukh Khan's [Images] Kolkata Knight Riders, Preity Zinta's [Images] Mohali, the Mumbai Indians, GMR's Delhi Daredevils, UB Group's The Royal Challengers of Bangalore, Indian Cements owned Chennai Super Kings, Deccan Chronicle's Hyderabad Chargers and Emerging Media's Jaipur Royals.

The Twenty20 tournament will kick off on April 18 in Bangalore with a high voltage opening encounter between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore.