MUMBAI: Zee Network-owned Ten Network, South Asia?s leading sports content provider, has secured live and exclusive rights to broadcast The Football League and The League Cup from 2012-15 for the South Asian market.

As part of the agreement with MP & Silva, a leading international sports rights agency, Ten Network will be showcasing approximately 145 matches live and exclusive throughout the year through Ten Action and Ten HD.

ZEEL CEO Sports Business Atul Pande said, "Acquisition of The Football League and The League Cup till 2015 underlines Ten Network?s commitment to football fans in the region to bring best of football action. This latest acquisition gives us an excellent promotional platform for our advertisers and partners. We have established a strong tradition in building and strengthening top-class football properties on our channels with the reach of our networks, multiple media platforms and world-class match presentation."

The Football League is the world?s oldest league football competition, consisting of the npower Football League Championship, League One and League Two. Each league consists of 24 teams, including Cardiff City, Bolton, Blackburn and Sheffield Wednesday.

The Championship itself is the fourth most-watched league in Europe and the Championship final is the world?s most lucrative football match - with the winner standing to earn an estimated ?90 million from promotion to the Premier League.

The League Cup (known as Capital One Cup for sponsorship reasons) is part of the English football treble and one of the most prestigious titles in England. A knockout competition that features all 20 clubs of the Premier League and 72 clubs of The Football League, the match calendar runs from August to February and it is the first major football title to be crowned during the season.

Ten?s football roster includes Uefa Champions League, Europa League, and French Football League.

MUMBAI: Lachlan Murdoch is Ten Network chairman of the board. He had joined the commercial broadcaster?s board in late 2010 after becoming its largest shareholder.

Murdoch will replace Brian Long.

Murdoch said, "I look forward to working with the board and our new CEO to re-shape Ten and to improve its performance for the benefit of all shareholders".

Long said: ?The board is pleased that Lachlan has agreed to accept the role of non-executive chairman. His extensive media experience will provide Ten with invaluable strategic leadership. As Interim CEO he reset Ten?s strategic vision and cost base and was instrumental in recruiting Ten?s new chief executive officer, James Warburton.?

The Board believes that the combined media capability of James Warburton as Ten?s CEO and Lachlan Murdoch as non-executive chairman provides the best opportunity for value creation for all shareholders.