BJP leader wants this big change ahead of next IPL season

Rajya Sabha member and BJP functionary Subramanian Swamy has moved to the Supreme Court seeking e-auctioning of media rights for the Indian Premier League. At the moment, the media rights are auctioned behind closed doors and Swamy pleaded the court that it should be done in a transparent manner as the rights are sold for a huge sum of up to Rs 30,000 crores.

The BJP leader suggested that e-auctioning is the best way forward to avoid any misdoings. He has filed a PIL for the same. The 77-year old also gave reference to the coal scam, the auction of which happened opaquely. The court, for the moment, said there is no such urgency in listing this petition but hinted that it may be heard at a later date.

Earlier, Swamy had written a letter to Justice Lodha and the Supreme Court-appointed CoA suggesting for the media rights to be e-auctioned.

The IPL broadcasting rights were awarded for a period of 10 years whereas the digital rights were valid for 5 years. The BCCI brought down the broadcasting rights from 10 to 5 years. The tender process is set to begin from July 17.

Currently, Sony Pictures Network India holds the broadcasting rights. They have held it since the inception of the IPL in 2008. Star India possesses the digital rights of the cash-rich league which is held in April and May every year. As things stand at the moment, the auctioning will yet again take place without much transparency.

The BCCI had opened the tender process last year in September but due to the ongoing feud between the BCCI and Lodha Committee, the process was hindered. The new ‘Invitation To Tender’ was floated immediately after a day of the IPL finals in May. The contract for the media rights will commence in 2018 for a period of five years till 2022.