| MUMBAI:
Entertainment and Sports Direct, promoted by investment advisory and private equity
firm Dar Capital Group, has emerged as the highest bidder with Rs 3.30 billion
for the Indian Premier League's (IPL) theatrical rights.
The deal, from 2010 through to 2019, will give ESD the exclusive exhibition rights
for audiences in cinema halls, stadia, water borne vessels, buses, trains, armed
service establishments, hospitals, bars, hotels, restaurants, airports, railway
stations, shopping malls, offices, construction sites, oil rigs, clubs, auditoriums,
spas, salons and other similar public venues. ESD
is a company focussed on sports and entertainment related content acquisition
for which it has signed up with UFO Moviez and Valuable Media for theatrical and
public exhibition in India and key-global markets. Two
bids were received for the theatrical rights tender from Triplecom Media and ESD.
IPL chairman
and commissioner Lalit Modi said, "We are absolutely delighted that after
a fair and transparent process, we have what we believe to be the best theatrical
telecast deal for the Indian Premier League and its fans across India. Both the
bids received were of very high standard and we would like to thank both the organizations
for their submissions. The ESD bid is subject to final approval from the IPL Governing
Council, and we believe that this agreement will help us take the IPL action direct
to the fans on the large screen.” ESD
director Arun Rangachari said, "We firmly believe that the IPL is a superior
sporting event that has transformed the very landscape of cricket globally. Together
with our partners UFO Moviez and Valuable Media, we are confident of bringing
about a radical transformation in the way the sport of cricket is viewed and enjoyed
by fans across the world. We believe that there are significant untapped business
opportunities that are being addressed by this association that will create a
global benchmark. ” UFO
Moviez. and Valuable Media Ltd, promoted by Valuable Group, are pioneers of the
digital media platform in India and around the world. UFO Moviez claims to be
the largest satellite-based digital cinema network in the country with over 1700
screens.
Valuable
Group acquired moviebeam, a digital media technology platform founded by Disney
with over $ 250 million in investment, and has repurposed it for use in the hospitality
and public venue markets around the world. Valuable
Group of Companies MD Sanjay Gaikwadn says, “We are very excited with this
new initiative kicked off by IPL. With UFO’s 1700 digital cinemas and our
proprietary Hollywood studio approved moviebeam digital platform, this is a unique
opportunity for theater owners and public venues to get exciting High Definition
cricket content at their properties. Theaters normally starve for content during
the IPL season and with IPL releasing content to theaters and public venues, every
town across the country will be able to experience the stadium like electrifying
atmosphere created by IPL.” | 
