Published: Sep 18, 2016, 11:00 AM (IST)
Edited: Sep 18, 2016, 11:17 AM (IST)
The BCCI has decided to have an open tender process to secure the Indian Premier League (IPL) broadcasting, for the period beginning from 2018. BCCI President Anurag Thakur is expected to make the announcement on Sunday in Delhi. Sony Pictures Network India (SPNI) own the rights till 2017 and we may see new stakeholders from the 2018 season of the IPL. BCCI has informed SPNI about this. A clause in the contract also made it clear that a new deal has to be agreed within 60 days of the IPL 2016 final. The window opened on May 30, 2016, a day after the IPL final was played. SPNI are said to have made an offer during this period and the BCCI was supposed to respond in 10 days within the 60-day period. READ: BCCI looks to involve franchises in IPL financial affairs
“We had to make a final offer to them,” the BCCI official told ESPNcricinfo on Saturday. “That is in the text of the contract. We met several times and our line to them was, in today’s day and age, this is the biggest sports deal [IPL broadcasting rights], and it has to happen through an open tender. There is no other way.”
According to this official, having a tender process to pick the next broadcaster was also in compliance of the Lodha Committee report. “The only transparent process is through an open tender and that is also the right way to discover the right price for this property. The Supreme Court judgment of July 18 clearly mentions that all future negotiations need to happen through a tender. So if we do anything else it would be an infringement of the order.” READ: BCCI set to earn big money from IPL broadcasting rights
But it is also believed that SPNI is not too happy with the BCCI. “SPNI has not accepted it. There are still a lot of things pending including legal options and all. SPNI’s view is BCCI is not honouring its contract,” an SPNI source said. READ: BCCI aims for transparency while awarding IPL media rights
According to the current contract, SPNI has the right to refuse the contract or also right to match the offer, made by other broadcasters. “When the BCCI conceived of the IPL, we identified it as a potential game-changing property,” SPNI CEO NP Singh told televisionpost.com. “Since then, we have worked productively with the BCCI to grow the league. Our agreement is now close to 10 years old, and both the parties have always followed it in letter and spirit. While I wouldn’t comment on any particular clause, I would say that we feel comfortable in the knowledge that there will be fair negotiations.”
