Cricket lovers in the United States and Caribbean will be able to watch the World Cup live on television and computer.

EchoStar and its Dish Network announced that besides live matches, their customers will be able to watch replays, highlights and news of the March 13 - April 28 tournament in the West Indies.

Simultaneously, it will provide background information on players and teams.

Michael Kelly, executive vice-president of EchoStar, which has exclusive distribution rights of the World Cup in North America and the Caribbean, said viewers in America, which has a strong South Asian community, would be able to watch the matches live during the day.

Those who miss the live action can watch the replays on their computers though a broadband connection, he added.

The full package costs US $199.95.

Kelly said because of licensing and technological problems, the company is unable to provide subscription on match by match basis.

Those who do not want to see the matches on television can subscribe to watch them on computer.

The network is considering broadcasting commentary in languages other than English.

Kelly said when the network first started telecasting matches, it had only 66 customers who paid a total of US $360 and the network's investment was around US $50,000.

But things have changed since then.

Till EchoStar started telecasting cricket matches, theatres and restaurants serving the South Asian community used to take a satellite feed to give their customers the opportunity to watch the matches live after making a payment. The restaurants generally included dinner in the ticket as it was generally night in the United States when the matches were played.

EchoStar has an agreement with private broadcaster Nimbus Sports to carry live feed of all matches organised by the Board of Cricket Control in India till 2010 in North America and the Caribbean.

It also plans to telecast live Australia and Pakistan's tours of India this year, the Australian tour next year, tours of England, Sri Lanka and Australia in 2009 and the tour of South Africa in 2010.

Photographs: Paresh Gandhi