ICC extend submission date for bidding, Indian broadcasters still unhappy due to lack of clarity

The International Cricket Council (ICC) agreed to the demand of angry Indian broadcasters, moving the submission date for finance bids from August 22 to August 26. However, the warring broadcasters have not exactly seen this as a positive move, even though, an extended deadline was something they asked for.

An industry executive said that they were unsure if the move was positive or otherwise since there was still no certainty, transparency or direction for the bidding procedure. He insisted the recent development does not change the situation since it would still not disclose the bid figures of the other parties.

‘How does it change the situation?’

“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,” the industry executive was quoted as saying in Cricbuzz. “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,” they added. Initially, the broadcasters contended that it is strange of the ICC to ask the bidders to give out the bid to a third party for four days, which was a questionable decision.

The broadcasters believe that the lack of transparency from the ICC is because there is an assurance from non-Indian parties to partake in the bid. They said, although ICC might not come under Indian jurisdiction, broadcasting of ICC events in the country could be subject to Indian laws. 

“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,” another representative was quoted as saying. Meanwhile, some of the notable television companies such as Star, Sony, Zee and Viacom did not participate in the mock auction, questioning its significance when it is not clear if the bidding would go to that stage at all.