MUMBAI: The international news agencies have suspended coverage of the on-going India-England Test series following the BCCI?s decision to bar photo agencies like Getty Images and Action Images from covering the bi-lateral series.

Leading news agencies Agence-France Presse, Reuters and the Associated Press along with English media organisations like Daily Telegraph and the Press Association have protested the BCCI?s decision to bar photo agencies fearing that the move will set dangerous precedent.

At the heart of the dispute is the BCCI?s decision to make a limited number of its own images available during the series.

"AFP deeply regrets the suspension of coverage of this important Test series as cricket fans will be deprived of stories and photos of the game they love," AFP?s
global news director Philippe Massonnet said in a statement.

"Unfortunately, the BCCI has chosen to substitute objective editorial coverage with in-house photography, a dangerous principle that AFP, like other international news agencies, simply cannot accept."

The decision will hamper the international coverage of the four-match Test series with most of the news agencies boycotting it.

Britain?s Society of Editors executive director Bob Satchwell said the BCCI?s decision will damage the ability of the press to cover the series. "Editors will be angered by this decision of the BCCI and confused by the motives. They just want to do the best job they can for their cricket-loving readers by choosing from the best news material. By damaging the ability of the press to cover cricket, the good name of the game also risks damage."

The BCCI has defended its decision by saying that it has a policy of not allowing photo syndication agencies.

"The BCCI has a policy not to accredit photo syndication services like Getty Images and other similar foreign and domestic agencies," BCCI media manager Devendra Prabhudesai has been quoted as saying by AFP. "We have no such problems with AFP, AP or Reuters since their text and photo service is for editorial use only. We have already explained our stand to the News Media Coalition."

Meanwhile, the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) and the World Editors Forum have also joined the protest against the BCCI.

"It is simply unacceptable for the Board of Cricket Control for India (BCCI) to take it upon themselves to refuse accreditation to legitimate news agencies, and to tear down the traditional role that independent news media plays in bringing sport news to the public," said WAN-IFRA President and Executive Editor and Publisher of the Malayala Manorama Group of Publications (Kerala) Jacob Mathew.

"Photos are an integral part of news coverage. Because of this unfortunate decision, photographic coverage will be disrupted and cricket fans are being deprived of their right to choose their news sources. These restrictions are a serious challenge to media freedom."

Earlier, the BCCI was embroiled in a dispute with British satellite broadcaster Sky Sports for demanding an additional fees of $800,000 for setting up their commentary team at the grounds.

Similarly, the BCCI had demanded an extra 50,000 pound to cover radio production costs at the four Tests in Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Nagpur and Kolkata. After initially resisting the BCCI?s demand, BBC Radio settled the dispute by deciding to cover the Test match.

MUMBAI: Star India?s acquisition of BCCI media rights for a whopping price has resulted in US media conglomerate News Corp?s international cable channels earnings contributions decline by 7 per cent in the first quarter ended 30 September from a year earlier.

Expenses at News Corp?s cable network programming grew by 11 per cent in part due to the BCCI rights. Star India earlier this year acquired BCCI media rights for Rs 38.51 billion for six years till 2018.

News Corp has reported total revenue for the first quarter of $8.14 billion, a $177 million, or two per cent, increase over the $7.96 billion a year earlier.

The revenue increase was led by 16 per cent growth at the company?s cable network programming segment, which was partially offset by declines at the company?s direct broadcast satellite television and publishing segments. The international affiliate?s revenue increase was boosted by Star India.

Cable network programming reported quarterly segment operating income of $953 million, a $178 million, or 23 per cent, increase over the prior year quarter, driven by a 16 per cent increase in revenue. Operating income contributions from the domestic channels increased by 33 per cent, led by growth at the Regional Sports Networks (RSNs), FX Network and Fox News Channel.

Strong local currency operating profit growth at the Fox International Channels was more than offset by the adverse impact of the strengthened US dollar and the impact of the inaugural broadcasts of the new BCCI cricket rights at Star.

About two-thirds of the international affiliate revenue increase reflects strong local currency organic growth at FIC and Star in India. The balance of the growth was from the inclusion of Fox Pan American Sports partially offset by the impact of strengthened US dollar.

Ad revenue at the domestic cable channels grew by eight per cent in the quarter over the prior year period, led by growth at the RSNs and Fox News Channel. The international cable channels? advertising revenue improved on a local currency basis but reported a one per cent decline from the prior year quarter, as the impact of the strengthened US dollar more than offset local currency growth at both the Fox International Channels, which benefitted from the consolidation of the Fox Pan American Sports network, and Star in India.

Expenses at cable network programming grew by 11 per cent in the quarter over the corresponding period in the prior year, due to increased programming costs including rights fees for the BCCI cricket in India, expanded Big 12 and PAC 12 college football coverage, the launch of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, as well as increased expenses associated with the consolidation of the Fox Pan American Sports network and the launch of new sports networks in Brazil and San Diego.

Film reported quarterly segment operating income of $400 million, $53 million higher than the $347 million reported in the same period a year ago. Quarterly results reflect the successful worldwide theatrical performance of ?Ice Age: Continental Drift?, which has grossed over $850 million in worldwide box office to date and is now the biggest animated film of all-time at the international box office.

Prior year first quarter film results included the successful worldwide theatrical performance of ?Rise of the Planet of the Apes? and the worldwide home entertainment performances of ?Rio? and ?X-Men: First Class?. The quarter also included increased contributions from the television production studios, including increased digital distribution revenue related to the timing of delivery of content to Netflix.

Television reported quarterly segment operating income of $156 million, an increase of $23 million versus the same period a year ago. This increase reflects a more than doubling of retransmission consent revenues and increased local advertising, driven by record first quarter political advertising revenues. These improvements were partially offset by lower national advertising revenues primarily reflecting lower primetime ratings and the market impact from the Olympics in August.

News Corp chairman, CEO Rupert Murdoch said, "Our operational discipline and focus on innovation continued to drive the company?s momentum in our fiscal first quarter, led by double-digit growth in our channels business and the global success of our film and television content. Even against considerable currency headwinds due to a stronger dollar, we were able to increase News Corp?s revenue and adjusted segment operating profit over the prior year quarter while continuing to make key investments to position us for future growth."

"We are committed to leading the change that the marketplace and our customers demand as the company builds on its success at leveraging multi-platform opportunities for our content. We believe that our ability to do so will be enhanced by the flexibility and management focus that will result from the proposed separation of our entertainment and publishing businesses. We have made considerable progress in this process and look forward to providing more details by the end of the calendar year."

Sky Italia generated quarterly segment operating income of $23 million, compared to $119 million of operating income reported in the same period a year ago. The decline was driven by higher programming expenses, including nearly $70 million of rights costs associated with the broadcast of the Olympics. This year?s quarterly results were also adversely impacted by the strengthened U.S. dollar. While reported U.S. dollar revenues declined, quarterly local currency revenue increased 1% from the corresponding period of the prior year led by higher subscription revenues. SKY Italia experienced a net reduction of approximately 40,000 subscribers during the quarter, bringing total subscribers to 4.86 million.

PUBLISHING

Publishing reported quarterly segment operating income of $57 million, a $53 million decrease compared to the $110 million reported in the same period a year ago, due to lower advertising revenues across all divisions, led by declines at the Australian and U.S. publishing businesses. The declines were partially offset by increased contributions at the U.K. newspapers, which benefitted from the launch of the Sunday edition of The Sun in February 2012, and at HarperCollins, which benefitted from the acquisition of Thomas Nelson, a Christian book publisher.

MUMBAI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India?s (BCCI) tryst with Court?s continue with the Guwahati High Court directing the cricket board to formulate guidelines for selecting cities for holding IPL matches within three months.

According to newswire PTI, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel and Justice A K Goswami also directed the BCCI to upload the guidelines on its website.

Senior advocates Dr Ashok Saraf and Amit Goyal argued for the petitioner while the BCCI was represented by senior counsel Niloy Dutta.

The Court had on 25 October restrained the BCCI till 7 November from taking a final decision on its 14 October tender for the selection of a new franchise. The Court was acting on a PIL filed by G L Agrawall, the editor of a local newspaper.

It had taken a serious view of the BCCI`s decision of not allotting any match or to the North Eastern region. The petitioner had alleged that the BCCI was discriminating against the NE region by not including Guwahati among the 12 cities that were eligible for bidding as an IPL franchise.

MUMBAI: It?s official. The Home Ministry has finally given clearance to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to invite Pakistan for a series, thereby setting the stage for cricket?s biggest rivalry to unfold in December.

For Star India, this could be a bonanza it had been waiting for as a rivalry between the two countries has high revenue value. The Rupert Murdoch company, which has secured the media rights for international cricket played in India, needs to shell out Rs 322.5 million per match for the five match series which includes three ODIs and two T20s. As per contract with BCCI, Star will pay Rs 322.5 million per match for the first two years till 2014 while for the next four years it will pay a whopping Rs 432 million till 2018.

With government clearance in hand, the BCCI will now be assured of increased earnings from broadcast rights as the series was not part of the Future Tours Programme finalised by the International Cricket Council.

The event will be broadcast on ESPN Star Sports which is a sister concern of Star India after parent company decided to take control of sports broadcasting joint-venture by acquiring Disney-owned ESPN?s 50 per cent stake.

For ESS, it will be three back-to-back blockbuster cricket properties which includes India-England, India-Pakistan and India-Australia next year.

The series is likely to be played between 25 December-7 January at Ahmedabad, Chennai, Bangalore, New Delhi and Kolkata. The series will be scheduled between the split tour of India and England involving four Tests, five ODIs and two T20 internationals.

The English team will play the Tests and T20s from 15 November-22 December before going on a Christmas break only to return for a five match ODI series beginning 11 January.

The clearance from Home Ministry will mark the resumption of cricketing ties which have been on a standstill ever since the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai. The two countries last played a series in 2007-08 when Pakistan toured India for three match Test matches and five ODIs.

The two teams have faced each other only in multi-team tournmanents which includes the 2011 ICC World Cup and the recently concluded ICC T20 World Cup.

MUMBAI: UK broadcaster?s the BBC and Sky are in a dispute with the BCCI over the telecast of the upcoming India versus England series.

Reports indicate that Sky Sports might provide commentary from London rather than from India due to a dispute in the fee that cricket?s richest board is asking for. Negotiations have been going on a week.

The BBC might also not have radio commentary from India but do it from the UK. The BCCI is asking for ?500,000 from Sky and ?50,000 from the BBC for using facilities. Reports also indicate that if the deadlock is not broken then it will be the first time in two decades that an England overseas tour will not have commentary from the venue.