Star and Sony to give IPL TV rights bidding process a miss

In what has become a shocking revelation in connection with the IPL, the Star TV Network and the Sony Pictures Network (SPN) have decided against participating in the upcoming bidding process for the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). A report released from the Mumbai Mirror read that the two major TV networks in the country ‘refused’ to take part in the bidding process.

The controversy has been lingering on for a few months now with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) being hamstrung by many recommendations made by the Lodha Panel. One of the recommendations made by the Lodha Panel was to have a bidding process for the IPL rights as opposed to the BCCI awarding the rights based on the payments made to the board.

A few other reports go on to suggest that the broadcast deal for the IPL is worth almost $2 billion. Earlier the official broadcaster since 2008 Sony Pictures had released a statement reading;  “Further to the order of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India dated 21st October 2016, the BCCI has submitted all the documentation pertaining to the IPL ITT process for the Media Rights to the Hon’ble Supreme Court appointed Justice Lodha Committee and are awaiting directions from them. We will keep you informed of the further course of action as may be advised by the Justice Lodha Committee.”

A prominent member of the network also went on to say, “We’re waiting to hear from the panel,” said a top BCCI official. But the Lodha panel has steadfastly been silent on the matter. A battle of brinkmanship is going on between the two parties.

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“All this is the theater of the absurd. It is not just about vegetable shopping, it is going to be a multi-billion dollar deal and we don’t have clarity on the whole thing just 36 hours prior to the date of bidding,” said a top honcho of a company that is a potential bidder.