rahul1117kumar
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At a time when the Supreme Court has been trying to get in more transparency in BCCI's dealings, there's a big question looming in front of the cricket board as the Indian Premier League (IPL) broadcast rights come up for renewal next year.
It is reliably learnt that Multi Screen Media (MSM) - which recently got rechristened as Sony-ESPN, owing to a JV that was signed two months ago - has the first rights of refusal over the IPL broadcast rights that will come up for renewal post the 2017 edition of the tournament. More importantly, Sony-ESPN will also have the right to make an offer to the BCCI and hear out a counter offer from them before a tender can be brought out for other interested parties to bid.
This means other broadcasters in the country and worldwide, who may wish to compete with Sony-ESPN in bidding for the marquee league's pricey rights, will first have to wait and watch if BCCI and Sony-ESPN agree in principle to continue with their association or start afresh.
Firstly, few broadcasters across the world associated with several TOI leagues and tournaments have managed to cut such sweetheart deals with a sports body the way MSM managed back in 2009 when Lalit Modi was helming the IPL affairs. "The English Premier League, the Fifa World Cup, ICC World Cup or even the Indian cricket rights don't have such a clause. There have been instances in the past by way of courtesy offers but none stretching this far (counter offer)," a source in the know of developments told TOI.
In January 2008, Singapore-based World Sports Group (WSG) had secured the rights of the IPL for ten years at a cost of more than US$1.03 billion. WSG had, in turn, sold the broadcast rights for the Indian subcontinent to MSM for $300 million for the first five years.
However, with all the three parties landing in court the next year Sony received a notice of termination and following a two-week-long legal battle, the BCCI ended up signing a new deal with MSM and WSG for Rs 8,200 crore - with 80% of the amount expected to come from MSM. "It was in the backdrop of this deal that the clause -to have the first rights of refusal over the broadcast rights -was inserted," a source in the know of developments said.
Now, with other broadcast giants such as Star and Eurosport possibly looking to pump in big money for the IPL rights, market analysts say a healthy bidding process could potentially fetch anywhere close to $4b. While Star is already a big player in Indian cricket, Eurosport is contemplating a pitch in the Indian sports market. "If transparency is indeed the keyword for BCCI in today's times, then will all of this become a tender process?" says a top marketing professional involved with Indian cricket.
When asked if the BCCI would indeed do something about it, a top BCCI official refused to comment, saying he did not know what exactly the contract mentions.An email sent to Sony-ESPN did not elicit a response.
http://m.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/79368/will-bcci-showcase-transparency-in-ipl-tv-deal
It is reliably learnt that Multi Screen Media (MSM) - which recently got rechristened as Sony-ESPN, owing to a JV that was signed two months ago - has the first rights of refusal over the IPL broadcast rights that will come up for renewal post the 2017 edition of the tournament. More importantly, Sony-ESPN will also have the right to make an offer to the BCCI and hear out a counter offer from them before a tender can be brought out for other interested parties to bid.
This means other broadcasters in the country and worldwide, who may wish to compete with Sony-ESPN in bidding for the marquee league's pricey rights, will first have to wait and watch if BCCI and Sony-ESPN agree in principle to continue with their association or start afresh.
Firstly, few broadcasters across the world associated with several TOI leagues and tournaments have managed to cut such sweetheart deals with a sports body the way MSM managed back in 2009 when Lalit Modi was helming the IPL affairs. "The English Premier League, the Fifa World Cup, ICC World Cup or even the Indian cricket rights don't have such a clause. There have been instances in the past by way of courtesy offers but none stretching this far (counter offer)," a source in the know of developments told TOI.
In January 2008, Singapore-based World Sports Group (WSG) had secured the rights of the IPL for ten years at a cost of more than US$1.03 billion. WSG had, in turn, sold the broadcast rights for the Indian subcontinent to MSM for $300 million for the first five years.
However, with all the three parties landing in court the next year Sony received a notice of termination and following a two-week-long legal battle, the BCCI ended up signing a new deal with MSM and WSG for Rs 8,200 crore - with 80% of the amount expected to come from MSM. "It was in the backdrop of this deal that the clause -to have the first rights of refusal over the broadcast rights -was inserted," a source in the know of developments said.
Now, with other broadcast giants such as Star and Eurosport possibly looking to pump in big money for the IPL rights, market analysts say a healthy bidding process could potentially fetch anywhere close to $4b. While Star is already a big player in Indian cricket, Eurosport is contemplating a pitch in the Indian sports market. "If transparency is indeed the keyword for BCCI in today's times, then will all of this become a tender process?" says a top marketing professional involved with Indian cricket.
When asked if the BCCI would indeed do something about it, a top BCCI official refused to comment, saying he did not know what exactly the contract mentions.An email sent to Sony-ESPN did not elicit a response.
http://m.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/79368/will-bcci-showcase-transparency-in-ipl-tv-deal
hya..but why not Ten sports can bid :huh
