Stay tuned for ball-by-ball coverage of World Cup cricket!

After weeks of uncertainty, Bermuda's cricket fans can breathe a sigh of relief and get ready for some early mornings as the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) yesterday announced an agreement with EchoStar Communications - the exclusive television, radio and Internet rights holders for the World Cup in the Americas and the Caribbean - to re-broadcast live action from the six-week tournament.

Negotiating on behalf of its member stations, CMC reached a deal for all 54 matches to be carried either live or delayed on television and for 42 matches to be aired on radio. Live coverage will start at 3.30 a.m. Bermuda time. The Bermuda Broadcasting Company (BBC) is yet to determine how many matches it will show live and if there will be any delayed coverage.

The news was a positive end to a stalemate that threatened to deny regional fans the pleasure of watching the game's showpiece - and some of its leading stars - as it unfolds in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya, starting with the February 8 Opening Ceremony.

"This is good news for Caribbean fans who have been anxious about seeing the West Indies team in action during the World Cup," said CMC's Chief Operating Officer Gary Allen yesterday.

"With the West Indies coming off two good tours in the last few months, including a victory over (International Cricket Council) ICC Champions Trophy winners India, all eyes and ears will be on the Caribbean team from the first ball."

Though declining to divulge further details of the arrangement with EchoStar, he confirmed the final price tag was less than the initial US$1-million which had proven prohibitive and led to the breakdown of earlier talks.

The BBC's Programme Director Darlene Ming happily confirmed that her company signed on for the deal on Tuesday.

"We have signed to offer exclusive rights here in Bermuda. Obviously the approach that was taken last week by CMC to represent all the region fared well for all countries, Bermuda included," she said, alluding to the mandate given to CMC to return to the bargaining table with EchoStar and secure a collective agreement for its members.

Now that coverage is a done deal, Ming noted that BBC faces another countdown to secure enough local sponsorship to offset costs for getting the coverage; costs which she refused to quantify.

"That will be an ongoing task in the next week or so - to get the sponsorship we need because the costs have been significant."

Though all 54 matches will be available live, she termed it "quite a challenge in figuring out how we will air them" given that each cricket match could last "up to seven or eight hours a day".

"Programming-wise that's a considerable task.

"There are some things we won't be able to offer but we will do everything possible to bring as full a complement of the cricket competition to Bermuda as we can."