Confusion around IPL media rights bidding

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is forced to postpone the biddings for the media rights of the Indian Premier League (IPL) after the Supreme Court of India’s order yesterday. As per the pre-scheduled programme the bids were to open from October 25, Tuesday but reports suggest that the top board officials are thinking of postponing the same given the current scenario and the SC’s stance against any such activities being carried out by the board.

Earlier some of the top bidders had asked the BCCI if the bids would take place as per the slated plan but the board was yet to answer them until Friday. There is a sense of uncertainty among the parties involved as the Supreme Court has ordered the BCCI to channel all the commercial deal through the Lodha panel. While the panel on its part hasn’t come up with any stance for the media rights which has given rise to this state of confusion at both ends.

Justice RM Lodha was yesterday quoted by Mirror saying, “It (IPL bid process) has been reported to us. But the fine print has to be carefully read and then we will be able to decide what we are required to do. I can’t tell you off hand, which contract is in the purview of the committee,”

A BCCI official also talked on the same lines. “We’ve to read the judgement and understand it properly. We cannot go ahead and hold it and later meet with objections from the panel. It will be improper,” an official, conversant with the whole process, said.

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At the same time, the broadcasters are getting uncomfortable getting involved as the situation has been uncertain. “We will participate and then we will realise that the Lodha Committee or Supreme Court stayed the whole process. It would be unfair on us because we will have disclosed the amount and strategy,” said a potential bidder.

All the bidders were expected to sign an agreement before entering the process but the fact that the BCCI is yet to send the bidders the revised agreement has grown the confusion even further. A total of 18 companies/agents have purchased the Invitation to Tender document but the BCCI is yet to send them the agreement.