There is no assurance that the International Cricket Council‘s (ICC) acceptance of the warring Indian broadcasters’ main demand will result in a meaningful truce. The ICC informed the Indian broadcasters on Wednesday (August 17) that the finance bid submission deadline had been moved from August 22 to August 26 as requested by the broadcasters.
However, the modification has not quite placated the irate Indian television officials, who claim it is insufficient. The assessment paperwork must still be submitted by August 22 in Dubai.
The Indian broadcasters believe the ICC is being difficult with them, perhaps because they have received commitments to participate from a few non-Indian partners. Another official made a suggestion that the entire process might end up in an Indian court: “The ICC may not come under the jurisdiction of the Indian courts but as for broadcasting of the ICC events in India, they can always be subject to the Indian law”
They had previously contended that the ICC’s request for the bidders to leave the bid with a third party for four days was unusual and an absurd request.
An industry (Broadcast) executive confirming the ICC mail said, “I don’t know if it is a positive move or not, but there is still no guarantee of transparency, clarity, and direction for the bidding procedure, something we have been asking for. Instead of August 22, they have informed us that it will be on August 26. How does it change the situation? They still won’t disclose the bid figures of other parties and what they will do with our bids.”
Zee, Star, Viacom, and Sony, four Indian television giants, have not entered the mock auction, raising concerns about its usefulness given that it is unclear whether the bidding would advance to that point at all. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has the broadcast parties angry as well for ignoring their complaint.
Based on the share of revenues and eyeballs that Indian markets cater to, the value of 50 over the World cup could be 550m USD, the value of T20 World Cup could be 350m USD, the value of the Champions Trophy could be 250m USD.
