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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has increased the base price for home international games in the new broadcast rights that are to be bid for, despite Team India's dismal performance Down Under.
The BCCI's Marketing Committee, which met here on Wednesday, has kept the base price at Rs 31.25 crore plus Rs 1 crore (that is, Rs 32.25 crore) for an international game for A category and Rs 33 crore plus Rs 1 crore (Rs 34 crore) a game for B category.
The base price of games will be declared in the tender, for which advertisements are to be given on March 10, said the Committee Chairman, Mr Farooq Abdullah.
The panel chief, however, did not elaborate what these categories were and what the Rs 1 crore fixed separately was for.
The BCCI expects to rake in far higher amounts than the previously price of Rs 31.50 crore.
“Everything was discussed, how the shape of the next tender should be, etc. The contract with Nimbus has ended. The difficulties and deficiencies in the previous tender were looked into and rectified, and care has been taken not to repeat them in the new tender. It will be a global tender for six years,” said Mr Abdullah.
“The new tender will give a chance for new people to come in. They can bid either for the whole thing (broadcast rights plus others like Internet rights) or in parts. It will enable people to come in larger numbers. We expect to generate more interest,” he added.
According to Mr Abdullah, the tender process will take two weeks and the bids would be opened on April 2 in Chennai.
Explaining the difficulties in the contract with Nimbus, which was terminated, Mr Abdullah said the company did not fulfil the promises made in the contract signed with the Board.
“First and foremost difficulty was Nimbus not coming up to the expectations. The payments that were supposed to come were not coming. Bank guarantees were given. The banks now say that since the contract has been terminated, the guarantees are not valid. We have gone to the court for that also. Nimbus did not fulfil the promises they made in the contract. They owe us over Rs 300 crore,” claimed Mr Abdullah.
“One of the good things is we are on a strong wicket and Nimbus are not on a strong wicket,” he added.
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