The contract includes cable, broadband and direct-to-home (DTH) rights in addition to Internet and radio.
Nimbus' bid was nearly $100million more than the closest rival, Zee Telefilms, which quoted a composite bid of $513million.
Other contenders submitted staggered bids. ESPN Software bid for the Indian territory ($401.89million), Nimbus Sports International Pte for international territories ($126million), Adlabs for radio rights ($14.8million) and Reliance Infocomm for broadband rights ($7.8million).
The agreement will cover 22 Tests and 55 one-day internationals (ODIs) beginning with England's test and one-day series starting on March 1, 2006. The deal will expire on March 31, 2010.
During this period India will host six Tests and 14 ODIs against England, four tests and 12 ODIs against Australia, three tests and seven ODIs against Pakistan, three tests and five ODIs against Sri Lanka and five ODIs against South Africa.
The deal also includes the terrestrial rights although the Board of Cricket
Control of India (BCCI), the governing body of Indian cricket, has made it clear that the successful bidder will have to do an independent deal with Prasar Bharati, which runs Doordarshan.
Nimbus, the marketing agency, will now resell the rights. Broadcasters which failed to win the bidding process, might end up buying some rights from Nimbus
Nimbus, which won the television production rights last week, will finalise the buyers on February 20, but it will be looking for significant bids to start getting a return on such a big investment.
UK satellite broadcaster Sky Sports will have to increase its bid to Nimbus substantially for the TV rights for England's Test and one-day series, reports the UK’s Sunday Telegraph.
Barring any late changes, it seems the live broadcast of England's tour of India will be shown in the UK on one of the cable networks Zee, Sony or ARY.
Highlights of England's three Tests in India will be shown either on Channel Four, who used to broadcast England's home Test matches until last September, or Channel Five, which will be showing the highlights of England's home Tests from next summer.
