| MUMBAI:
The Indian Premier League (IPL) has set the base price for the bidding of two
new franchisees at $225 million.
The
auction takes place on 19 January 2010. The IPL will have
two new franchisees from 2011.
IPL
chairman and commissioner Lalit Modi said that from the third season the IPL will
use HD production. All venues will have CCTVs and turnstiles. There will be permanent
cabling for TV production. The
final of IPL 3.0 will take place at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. The two
semi-finals will be played in Bangalore. Once
IPL 3.0 is over, existing franchisees will be allowed to retain a few core members
of their current teams, the modalities for which are to be announced shortly. Modi
said a licensing deal has been done with a watch company, but declined to give
further details. Modi
has apparently buried the hatchet with his baiters in the BCCI. Clarified BCCI
president Shashank Manohar, “Lalit Modi has done an excellent job and he
will complete his full term till 2012." Meanwhile,
James Rego has joined the IPL as head of production. He was earlier with Nimbus
where he worked as vice president for TV. | 
