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What is at stake here is the live television and radio broadcast
rights for international matches to be played in India for the next
four years from October 2004 to September 2008.
Speaking to indiantelevision.com over phone from Kolkata after
today's crucial working committee meeting, Indian cricket board
supremo Jagmohan Dalmiya said some more clarifications were being
sought from the rights contenders.
"We have decided to defer an immediate decision and would
seek clarifications from all parties concerned," Dalmiya said,
pointing out that this was part of an effort to be "as transparent
as possible."
Queried as to why further clarifications were needed, Dalmiya said
it was to make sure that the board was clear off any legal case
once the rights are
awarded. "We would not like to get involved in legal problems
at a later stage," he explained, but refused to detail the
type of clarifications that may be sought from the rights claimants.
Once the clarifications have been received, BCCI's marketing committee
would meet again and then make its announcement, Dalmiya said.
While ESPN-Star Sports termed this development as a "positive
one," highest bidder Zee Telefilms was confidence personified.
"What is a delay of a few days?" Essel Group vice president,
corporate brand development group, Ashish Kaul quipped in the evening,
adding, "satyamave jayate (truth shall prevail)."
ESPN India MD RC Venkateish, who has been camping in Kolkata, where
Dalmiya is based,
said over phone, "We appreciate BCCI's decision to review the
whole process. We also hope that various aspects like technical
and other capabilities would also be clarified (from other bidders,
notably Zee) and financial capability would not be the sole criterion."
Interestingly, a directive on the tendering process from the Central
Vigilance Commission (CVC) is doing the rounds of the media. Though
the CVC order does not directly have a bearing on the BCCI telecast
rights, the
directive says that there should be no-post tendering negotiations
and if at all such a thing has to happen, it should be with the
lowest bidder (if applied in this case then it would be the highest
bidder).
The CVC directive, which was even sent to chiefs of autonomous
organisations, societies and trusts, however, makes it clear that
the directive on tendering process is applicable where a government
agency is involved.
Meanwhile, an agency report from Kolkata said that notable absentees
in today's BCCI meeting were organisation vice-presidents Kamal
Morarka and
Gautam Roy and former president AC Muthiah. Those present included
three vice-presidents of the Board, secretary SK Nair, joint secretary
Prof Ratnakar Shetty, treasurer Jyoti Bajpai and chairman of the
finance committee N Srinivasan.
Zee Network is the highest bidder at $ 260 million for the telecast
rights. ESPN-Star are the second highest bidders at approximately
$ 230 million followed by Prasar Bharti at $ 150 million. Bringing
up the rear are Sony Entertainment Television India at $ 132 million
and Ten Sports with a $ 115 million punt.
Both Zee and ESS claim to offer Indian cricket the best possible
deal but Zee has backed its assertion by committing an additional
Rs 945 million for development of domestic cricket and 52-72 days
of live coverage. ESPN-Star on the other hand says it will provide
100 days of live domestic coverage besides daily packages on all
domestic events.
Also Read:
Telecast
rights issue before BCCI marketing panel
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