Tag: BCCI

Star, Sony or Etc, BCCI will have the last laugh

MUMBAI: If you have the set-up, we have the story. If you have the money, we have got the ideas. In spite of all IPL bidders prepared to make the highest bid for the media rights, what are the chances that BCCI may favour the ones who have the infrastructure and wherewithal to give the game maximum and utmost exposure and BCCI the best mileage? A level playing field for IPL broadcast rights bidders is suspect.

The India digital rights and rest of the world rights are for five IPL seasons each, between 2018 and 2022 and the Indian sub-continent television rights being offered are for 10 IPL seasons (2018 – 2027).

It is being speculated that broadcasters may have the upper hand in the selection of the winner of IPL media rights. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said it has sold 18 tenders for the IPL rights. However, experts speculate that the tendering process may have been tilted in favour of television broadcasters.

The row is connected to the format in which bids had to be submitted. The original tenders had specified that separate bids would have to be made for the three buckets into which media rights have been divided — India digital rights, television broadcast rights for the Indian subcontinent, and a third one for international media rights.

In the new bundled versus separate format, if a single bidder were to quote higher than the sum of individual bidders globally, that bidder could walk away with all the rights. This change will significantly benefit Sony Pictures and Star India one of which may pocket all IPL rights. BCCI changed the bidding pattern and dynamics to permit consolidated bids across digital, TV, and international, the Times of India had reported.

The probable winners hence could be Sony Pictures or Star India. These two broadcasters only seem to be keen for television broadcast rights, the biggest media rights component. This modification could make it uncertain for international or digital rights bidders to compete for those rights. Crucial interest was shown by Amazon, Twitter, and Reliance Jio, and by ESPN and Sky Sports for digital rights and international rights.

Sources familiar with the tendering process said that BCCI reserved the right to pick either separate bids or consolidated bid. Bidders were earlier asked to give a separate value for each of the three packages. But, later, bidders were allowed to put in a single figure for all three rights, making it difficult for BCCI to compare consolidated bids against bids for individual rights pieces.

By permitting TV broadcasters to put in one figure for all three packages, it seems to have nullified the international or digital bidders such as GroupM, Amazon, or ESPN, from being able to bid at par with the established TV broadcasters.

This could also bring down the number of stakeholders BCCI may have to deal with. The new proposed change will also keep out deals between the BCCI and international broadcasters in key territories.

Sports broadcast giant Star India and its competitor, Sony Pictures Network, seem to be in neck-and-neck race for television broadcast rights. The latter has been arguing with BCCI that its existing contract grants it the first right of refusal. While SPN enjoyed the telecast rights to Twenty-20 tournament since inception in 2008, Star India has been making inroads into IPL system. SPN has grown the property on television with innovations around language feeds, marketing, and monetising the IPL from a distribution and advertising stand-point. The 2016 edition of the IPL reached nearly 350 million TV viewers in India, a significant boost over 2015’s 200 million viewers thanks to the addition of rural households in the reporting of television viewership.

Vinit Karnik, business head, ESP Properties, had told Business Standard, that, “It is no longer about the bouquet or distribution. The biggest change in the sports broadcast landscape is that the rights will now be awarded on the basis of production and packaging. When there are only two options, the organiser will go for the one that will present the property in the best way possible. Investments in sports production should increase now.”

ALSO READ-

Top court throws out BCCI’s review petition on Lodha recommendations

18 prospective bidders for IPL Media Rights

October 19, 2016
Star, Sony or Etc, BCCI will have the last laugh

MUMBAI: If you have the set-up, we have the story. If you have the money, we have got the ideas. In spite of all IPL bidders prepared to make the highest bid for the media rights, what are the chances that BCCI may favour the ones who have the infrastructure and wherewithal to give the game maximum and utmost exposure and BCCI the best mileage? A level playing field for IPL broadcast rights bidders is suspect.

The India digital rights and rest of the world rights are for five IPL seasons each, between 2018 and 2022 and the Indian sub-continent television rights being offered are for 10 IPL seasons (2018 – 2027).

It is being speculated that broadcasters may have the upper hand in the selection of the winner of IPL media rights. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said it has sold 18 tenders for the IPL rights. However, experts speculate that the tendering process may have been tilted in favour of television broadcasters.

The row is connected to the format in which bids had to be submitted. The original tenders had specified that separate bids would have to be made for the three buckets into which media rights have been divided — India digital rights, television broadcast rights for the Indian subcontinent, and a third one for international media rights.

In the new bundled versus separate format, if a single bidder were to quote higher than the sum of individual bidders globally, that bidder could walk away with all the rights. This change will significantly benefit Sony Pictures and Star India one of which may pocket all IPL rights. BCCI changed the bidding pattern and dynamics to permit consolidated bids across digital, TV, and international, the Times of India had reported.

The probable winners hence could be Sony Pictures or Star India. These two broadcasters only seem to be keen for television broadcast rights, the biggest media rights component. This modification could make it uncertain for international or digital rights bidders to compete for those rights. Crucial interest was shown by Amazon, Twitter, and Reliance Jio, and by ESPN and Sky Sports for digital rights and international rights.

Sources familiar with the tendering process said that BCCI reserved the right to pick either separate bids or consolidated bid. Bidders were earlier asked to give a separate value for each of the three packages. But, later, bidders were allowed to put in a single figure for all three rights, making it difficult for BCCI to compare consolidated bids against bids for individual rights pieces.

By permitting TV broadcasters to put in one figure for all three packages, it seems to have nullified the international or digital bidders such as GroupM, Amazon, or ESPN, from being able to bid at par with the established TV broadcasters.

This could also bring down the number of stakeholders BCCI may have to deal with. The new proposed change will also keep out deals between the BCCI and international broadcasters in key territories.

Sports broadcast giant Star India and its competitor, Sony Pictures Network, seem to be in neck-and-neck race for television broadcast rights. The latter has been arguing with BCCI that its existing contract grants it the first right of refusal. While SPN enjoyed the telecast rights to Twenty-20 tournament since inception in 2008, Star India has been making inroads into IPL system. SPN has grown the property on television with innovations around language feeds, marketing, and monetising the IPL from a distribution and advertising stand-point. The 2016 edition of the IPL reached nearly 350 million TV viewers in India, a significant boost over 2015’s 200 million viewers thanks to the addition of rural households in the reporting of television viewership.

Vinit Karnik, business head, ESP Properties, had told Business Standard, that, “It is no longer about the bouquet or distribution. The biggest change in the sports broadcast landscape is that the rights will now be awarded on the basis of production and packaging. When there are only two options, the organiser will go for the one that will present the property in the best way possible. Investments in sports production should increase now.”

ALSO READ-

Top court throws out BCCI’s review petition on Lodha recommendations

18 prospective bidders for IPL Media Rights

October 19, 2016
18 prospective bidders for IPL Media Rights

MUMBAI: The Indian Premier League Media Right ITT has received a massive response from the leading media and technology companies. The ITT document was available for purchase from September 19 to October 18, 2016. The Media Rights bid submission process will happen on October 25, 2016.

BCCI President, Lt. Anurag Thakur said: “With the global trends of showcasing content on multiple platforms becoming increasingly important – TV, Internet and Mobile rights are up for grabs together this time. To have as many as 18 prospective bidders in the fray reinstates the faith of market forces in Indian Premier League.”

BCCI honorary secretary Ajay Shirke said: “This is a significant step for the Board, and we are excited to have 18 prospective bidders for IPL Media Rights. Our intention is to ensure the most comprehensive coverage of the IPL across the globe.”

The complete list of entities that have purchased the ITT is as under:

Rights on offer – Different packages for Television & Digital

1. Indian Sub-continent Television Rights: 2018 – 2027 (10 IPL SEASONS)

2. Indian Sub-continent Digital Rights: 2018 – 2022 (5 IPL SEASONS)

3. Rest of the world (ROW) Media Rights: 2018 – 2022 (5 IPL SEASONS)

October 18, 2016
18 prospective bidders for IPL Media Rights

MUMBAI: The Indian Premier League Media Right ITT has received a massive response from the leading media and technology companies. The ITT document was available for purchase from September 19 to October 18, 2016. The Media Rights bid submission process will happen on October 25, 2016.

BCCI President, Lt. Anurag Thakur said: “With the global trends of showcasing content on multiple platforms becoming increasingly important – TV, Internet and Mobile rights are up for grabs together this time. To have as many as 18 prospective bidders in the fray reinstates the faith of market forces in Indian Premier League.”

BCCI honorary secretary Ajay Shirke said: “This is a significant step for the Board, and we are excited to have 18 prospective bidders for IPL Media Rights. Our intention is to ensure the most comprehensive coverage of the IPL across the globe.”

The complete list of entities that have purchased the ITT is as under:

Rights on offer – Different packages for Television & Digital

1. Indian Sub-continent Television Rights: 2018 – 2027 (10 IPL SEASONS)

2. Indian Sub-continent Digital Rights: 2018 – 2022 (5 IPL SEASONS)

3. Rest of the world (ROW) Media Rights: 2018 – 2022 (5 IPL SEASONS)

October 18, 2016
Top court throws out BCCI’s review petition on Lodha recommendations

MUMBAI: The Supreme Court today dismissed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) petition that sought a review of the court’s validation of the Lodha panel recommendations. The battle for IPL’s digital rights, meanwhile, is heating up, with heavyweights such as Star India, Sony Pictures, Facebook, Jio, Twitter, and Amazon in the contention. Facebook lately has been focusing more on live-streaming content. Twitter, which has been live streaming NFL games on its platform, is also looking for more sports tie-ups. Amazon recently launched its prime video service. Reliance Jio, meanwhile, has been providing free content to its users on its Jio TV app and is the top contender given its scale. Bidding for IPL digital rights closes on 25 October and the results of the process will be announced the same day.

In a landmark judgement in July this year, the top court had accepted a majority of the reforms recommendations made by the three-member panel appointed by the court and ordered the BCCI to respect it. The dismissal comes a day after the Supreme Court reserved its order and gave BCCI more time to implement the Lodha recommendations.

It was after interacting with 74 people involved with the sport that the Lodha Committee came up with its recommended reforms. The panel spoke to former India captains, first class and international players, coaches, managers & administrators, authors, lawyers journalists, and club owners, and Justice Mukul Mudgal.

The committee also spoke to Ajay Shirke (present BCCI secretary), Shashank Manohar (former BCCI president), Amitabh Chaudhary (present joint secretary), Anurag Thakur (present president), Anirudh Chaudhry (present treasurer), Gautam Roy (present vice-president, BCCI), Rajeev Shukla (present IPL chairman), Ratnakar Shetty (former joint secretary), Sanjay Jagdale (former secretary and selector), Shivlal Yadav (former interim president, BCCI) and the late BCCI president, Jagmohan Dalmiya. It has now become clear that a number of recommendations were actually proposed by a former state representative in the BCCI, and who is now a senior BCCI functionary.

BCCI had called the judgement ‘unconstitutional’ and the three-member Supreme Court bench, headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur which accepted the reforms put forward, had a ‘prejudiced approach’ against the board. BCCI had also formed a team of lawyers, headed by the retired justice Markandeya Katju, to present the case on behalf of the board.

Katju stated that the apex court’s verdict wasn’t binding on BCCI as the former was legislative in its identity. He further said: “The matter ought to have been forwarded by the Supreme Court with the Lodha recommendations to the Parliament with its own recommendation. So that Parliament could enact a law if required.

While addressing the press, Katju claimed, “What the Supreme Court has done is unconstitutional and illegal. There has been a violation of principles of the Constitution. Under our Constitution, we have legislature, executive and judiciary. There is a broad separation of functions. It’s the legislature’s prerogative to make laws. If judiciary starts making laws, one is setting a dangerous precedent.”

The dismissal of the review petition comes a day after the Supreme Court decided to reserve their order in the case after Kapil Sibal, BCCI’s legal counsel, requested for more time to ensure the complete implementation of the recommendations. Then Thakur, the CJI, asked for a written undertaking from the board on the dates by which it will implement the Lodha reforms in toto.

The Lodha committee was established in January 2015 to decide the degree of punishment for those found guilty by the Mudgal report, which looked into the Indian Premier League spot-fixing scandal of 2013. The three-member panel was also given the responsibility of recommending structural and administrative changes to the BCCI.

Meantime, online social networking service Facebook reportedly attempted to be in the race for the media rights of BCCI’s Indian Premier League. Facebook is likely to bid for digital rights of IPL. Twitter too had shown interest over the digital rights of the league. Facebook sought digital rights to live-stream India’s biggest sporting tournament. The social networking giant had purchased the tender documents for the bidding process.

Facebook had curated a excellent experience for the preceding 2016 IPL season, with scoreboards, pages, videos and more. Nearly 360 million posts, comments and likes were posted on the social network during the tournament.

Twitter India Head of Sports Partnerships Aneesh Madani told ET that they were constantly evaluating opportunities to transform live sports experiences in partnership with their most valued global sports partners and IPL 2016 tender purchase was representative.

BCCI alleged in the Supreme Court that the Justice RM Lodha committee was trying to “run cricket” in the country by giving directions regarding match schedule, including the cash-rich IPL, which was beyond its jurisdiction. Senior advocate Sibal also questioned the purpose of recommendation to have three or five selectors for selecting the team and asked “does it serve the purpose of transparency?”

“BCCI has floated global tenders for IPL and the terms and conditions are based on standards followed globally,” he said. To this, the bench said if Lodha committee does something beyond its jurisdiction, BCCI is at liberty to approach the apex court.

October 18, 2016
Top court throws out BCCI’s review petition on Lodha recommendations

MUMBAI: The Supreme Court today dismissed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) petition that sought a review of the court’s validation of the Lodha panel recommendations. The battle for IPL’s digital rights, meanwhile, is heating up, with heavyweights such as Star India, Sony Pictures, Facebook, Jio, Twitter, and Amazon in the contention. Facebook lately has been focusing more on live-streaming content. Twitter, which has been live streaming NFL games on its platform, is also looking for more sports tie-ups. Amazon recently launched its prime video service. Reliance Jio, meanwhile, has been providing free content to its users on its Jio TV app and is the top contender given its scale. Bidding for IPL digital rights closes on 25 October and the results of the process will be announced the same day.

In a landmark judgement in July this year, the top court had accepted a majority of the reforms recommendations made by the three-member panel appointed by the court and ordered the BCCI to respect it. The dismissal comes a day after the Supreme Court reserved its order and gave BCCI more time to implement the Lodha recommendations.

It was after interacting with 74 people involved with the sport that the Lodha Committee came up with its recommended reforms. The panel spoke to former India captains, first class and international players, coaches, managers & administrators, authors, lawyers journalists, and club owners, and Justice Mukul Mudgal.

The committee also spoke to Ajay Shirke (present BCCI secretary), Shashank Manohar (former BCCI president), Amitabh Chaudhary (present joint secretary), Anurag Thakur (present president), Anirudh Chaudhry (present treasurer), Gautam Roy (present vice-president, BCCI), Rajeev Shukla (present IPL chairman), Ratnakar Shetty (former joint secretary), Sanjay Jagdale (former secretary and selector), Shivlal Yadav (former interim president, BCCI) and the late BCCI president, Jagmohan Dalmiya. It has now become clear that a number of recommendations were actually proposed by a former state representative in the BCCI, and who is now a senior BCCI functionary.

BCCI had called the judgement ‘unconstitutional’ and the three-member Supreme Court bench, headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur which accepted the reforms put forward, had a ‘prejudiced approach’ against the board. BCCI had also formed a team of lawyers, headed by the retired justice Markandeya Katju, to present the case on behalf of the board.

Katju stated that the apex court’s verdict wasn’t binding on BCCI as the former was legislative in its identity. He further said: “The matter ought to have been forwarded by the Supreme Court with the Lodha recommendations to the Parliament with its own recommendation. So that Parliament could enact a law if required.

While addressing the press, Katju claimed, “What the Supreme Court has done is unconstitutional and illegal. There has been a violation of principles of the Constitution. Under our Constitution, we have legislature, executive and judiciary. There is a broad separation of functions. It’s the legislature’s prerogative to make laws. If judiciary starts making laws, one is setting a dangerous precedent.”

The dismissal of the review petition comes a day after the Supreme Court decided to reserve their order in the case after Kapil Sibal, BCCI’s legal counsel, requested for more time to ensure the complete implementation of the recommendations. Then Thakur, the CJI, asked for a written undertaking from the board on the dates by which it will implement the Lodha reforms in toto.

The Lodha committee was established in January 2015 to decide the degree of punishment for those found guilty by the Mudgal report, which looked into the Indian Premier League spot-fixing scandal of 2013. The three-member panel was also given the responsibility of recommending structural and administrative changes to the BCCI.

Meantime, online social networking service Facebook reportedly attempted to be in the race for the media rights of BCCI’s Indian Premier League. Facebook is likely to bid for digital rights of IPL. Twitter too had shown interest over the digital rights of the league. Facebook sought digital rights to live-stream India’s biggest sporting tournament. The social networking giant had purchased the tender documents for the bidding process.

Facebook had curated a excellent experience for the preceding 2016 IPL season, with scoreboards, pages, videos and more. Nearly 360 million posts, comments and likes were posted on the social network during the tournament.

Twitter India Head of Sports Partnerships Aneesh Madani told ET that they were constantly evaluating opportunities to transform live sports experiences in partnership with their most valued global sports partners and IPL 2016 tender purchase was representative.

BCCI alleged in the Supreme Court that the Justice RM Lodha committee was trying to “run cricket” in the country by giving directions regarding match schedule, including the cash-rich IPL, which was beyond its jurisdiction. Senior advocate Sibal also questioned the purpose of recommendation to have three or five selectors for selecting the team and asked “does it serve the purpose of transparency?”

“BCCI has floated global tenders for IPL and the terms and conditions are based on standards followed globally,” he said. To this, the bench said if Lodha committee does something beyond its jurisdiction, BCCI is at liberty to approach the apex court.

October 18, 2016
Star Plus salutes Moms through Dhoni, Kohli and Ajinkya in promos

MUMBAI: Moms are what make each one of us who we are. That’s something we all acknowledge in private, and sometimes in public. The Twenty First Century Corop subsidiary Star India has roped in India’s cricket superstars MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane for a TV campaign for Star Plus in which the trio has dropped their surnames or their own names from their jerseys, replacing it with their respective mom’s names.

The campaign (part of the Nayi Soch initiative) – sure to warm the cockles of many an Indian heart and possibly bring a lump to our throats – rolled out on TV screens just as the one day series between India and the Kiwis commenced.

The intent: Star India says is to push forward the agenda for Indian women, something which it has been doing through its entertainment TV shows and promos. A press release issued by Star India says that the three promos are supported by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and that it (as the Indian cricket team’s sponsor) along with the cricket board is seeking to break the stereotypical societal notions around lineage and identity and the role of women in all our lives.

In the promos, Dhoni, Virat and Ajinkya proudly acknowledge that they derive their identity as much from their mothers as their fathers.

“We at Star India are very happy to partner with the BCCI for an iconic brand initiative of Nayi Soch. Star Plus has been a lighthouse brand for women,” says Star India managing director Sanjay Gupta. “We have always put women first, told their stories and are now set to take it to the next level by challenging orthodoxy and stereotypes that come in the way of progress for women.”

In the MS Dhoni short film, a journalist questions him about the fact that he has put the name of Devki on his jersey. Dhoni responds with the usual calmness and smile on his face:
“Main itne saal se, apne pita aka naam pahen raha tha, tab to aap ne kabhi nahin poocha, ki koi khaas vajaah.”
(“For so many years, I wore my father’s name on my jersey, you never asked me if there is a special occasion.”)

Ajinkya Rahane, in his film, says
“Log kahante hain, baap ka naam roshan karo, lekin mere liye ma (Sujata) ka naam roshan karna itna hi important hain.”
(People say make your father proud and renowned, but for me making my mother proud and well known is as important)

The Virat Kohli film has him saying:
“Aaj mein jo bhi hoon, Mummy ke vajaah se bhi hoon. To zaher si baat hain meri pehachaan bhi, sirf papa ke naam se kyon? Mein jitna Kohli hoon, utna Saroj bhi hoon.”
(Whatever I am today is because of my Mummy. Then the question is why I am known only by my father. I am as much a Saroj as I am a Kohli)

October 16, 2016
Star Plus salutes Moms through Dhoni, Kohli and Ajinkya in promos

MUMBAI: Moms are what make each one of us who we are. That’s something we all acknowledge in private, and sometimes in public. The Twenty First Century Corop subsidiary Star India has roped in India’s cricket superstars MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane for a TV campaign for Star Plus in which the trio has dropped their surnames or their own names from their jerseys, replacing it with their respective mom’s names.

The campaign (part of the Nayi Soch initiative) – sure to warm the cockles of many an Indian heart and possibly bring a lump to our throats – rolled out on TV screens just as the one day series between India and the Kiwis commenced.

The intent: Star India says is to push forward the agenda for Indian women, something which it has been doing through its entertainment TV shows and promos. A press release issued by Star India says that the three promos are supported by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and that it (as the Indian cricket team’s sponsor) along with the cricket board is seeking to break the stereotypical societal notions around lineage and identity and the role of women in all our lives.

In the promos, Dhoni, Virat and Ajinkya proudly acknowledge that they derive their identity as much from their mothers as their fathers.

“We at Star India are very happy to partner with the BCCI for an iconic brand initiative of Nayi Soch. Star Plus has been a lighthouse brand for women,” says Star India managing director Sanjay Gupta. “We have always put women first, told their stories and are now set to take it to the next level by challenging orthodoxy and stereotypes that come in the way of progress for women.”

In the MS Dhoni short film, a journalist questions him about the fact that he has put the name of Devki on his jersey. Dhoni responds with the usual calmness and smile on his face:
“Main itne saal se, apne pita aka naam pahen raha tha, tab to aap ne kabhi nahin poocha, ki koi khaas vajaah.”
(“For so many years, I wore my father’s name on my jersey, you never asked me if there is a special occasion.”)

Ajinkya Rahane, in his film, says
“Log kahante hain, baap ka naam roshan karo, lekin mere liye ma (Sujata) ka naam roshan karna itna hi important hain.”
(People say make your father proud and renowned, but for me making my mother proud and well known is as important)

The Virat Kohli film has him saying:
“Aaj mein jo bhi hoon, Mummy ke vajaah se bhi hoon. To zaher si baat hain meri pehachaan bhi, sirf papa ke naam se kyon? Mein jitna Kohli hoon, utna Saroj bhi hoon.”
(Whatever I am today is because of my Mummy. Then the question is why I am known only by my father. I am as much a Saroj as I am a Kohli)

October 16, 2016
Star India, Sony Pictures Network India pick up IPL tender document

MUMBAI: The race to pocket the broadcast rights to India’s top cricket franchise, the IPL, has commenced. According to reports appearing in the media, Sony Pictures Network India (SPN-India) has picked up the IPL tender document. A Times of India news item reports that SPN-India took this decision “without prejudice.”

What that means is that SPN-India can still take the BCCI to court for allegedly reneging on its earlier broadcast rights contract with the cricket body, which gave the broadcaster the first right of refusal.

The BCCI, on its part, says it is under public scrutiny and the Supreme Court has ordered it to maintain transparency in all its financial dealings. Any deal would be questionable unless done openly through a transparent auctioning process, it says.

Amogst other bidders who picked up the tender document are Star India which has been pretty gung-ho on sports; it made an announcement in 2013 that it was plonking down Rs 20,000 crore towards developing sports and sports television in India over the next five years. Rs 1,500 crore of this would be towards developing hockey.

Amazon Prime Video has been reported by the media to be interested in throwing its hat in the ring as well, media reports stated. Who else will enter the fray will become clearer over the next few days.

The IPL tender envisages the television rights to be assigned for 10 years, whereas the digital rights will be for five years. Punters are betting as to what extent the bidders will open their wallets to acquire the rights. $2 billion to $4 billion is the range that is being talked about.

October 7, 2016
Star India, Sony Pictures Network India pick up IPL tender document

MUMBAI: The race to pocket the broadcast rights to India’s top cricket franchise, the IPL, has commenced. According to reports appearing in the media, Sony Pictures Network India (SPN-India) has picked up the IPL tender document. A Times of India news item reports that SPN-India took this decision “without prejudice.”

What that means is that SPN-India can still take the BCCI to court for allegedly reneging on its earlier broadcast rights contract with the cricket body, which gave the broadcaster the first right of refusal.

The BCCI, on its part, says it is under public scrutiny and the Supreme Court has ordered it to maintain transparency in all its financial dealings. Any deal would be questionable unless done openly through a transparent auctioning process, it says.

Amogst other bidders who picked up the tender document are Star India which has been pretty gung-ho on sports; it made an announcement in 2013 that it was plonking down Rs 20,000 crore towards developing sports and sports television in India over the next five years. Rs 1,500 crore of this would be towards developing hockey.

Amazon Prime Video has been reported by the media to be interested in throwing its hat in the ring as well, media reports stated. Who else will enter the fray will become clearer over the next few days.

The IPL tender envisages the television rights to be assigned for 10 years, whereas the digital rights will be for five years. Punters are betting as to what extent the bidders will open their wallets to acquire the rights. $2 billion to $4 billion is the range that is being talked about.

October 7, 2016