The Board of Control for Cricket in India on Sunday "announced a tender process" for allocating Indian Premier League global media rights (TV and digital) in New Delhi for the season starting from '18, according to Anshul Jain of TNN. Sony Pictures Network currently owns the TV rights "since the inception of the lucrative league," which is going to expire after the '17 season. BCCI President Anurag Thakur said, "It gives me immense joy to announce the tender process for IPL Global Media Rights (TV and Digital)." Sony Network had the first right "to make an offer to the Board but the BCCI has decided to go for an open tender." The move is "likely to find favour with the Supreme Court-appointed Lodha panel, which has advocated transparency in the BCCI's business deals." Terming the bid as "historic" in the world of cricket, Thakur also "emphasized that the board wants to be transparent and we have made it clear from the beginning that anyone who participates, will have to go through the bidding process." Therefore, Sony Network "has been invited to participate in the bidding process." The board will "not entertain any bid from the ones involved in the litigation with BCCI." Thakur also "heaped praise on the current IPL TV rights holder," saying Sony has been "very good as far as IPL is concerned" and played a "huge role in making the tournament a huge success in the world" (TNN, 9/18). In New Delhi, N. Ananthanarayanan reported in '08, the year IPL was launched, Singapore-based World Sports Group had "bagged the IPL rights for 10 years" for $918M. In '09, Sony "signed a fresh contract" worth $1.63B for nine years. BCCI CEO Rahul Johri said, "The process will begin on Monday, when the tender will be available for purchase. October 4 will be the last date for bidders to seek clarifications, and the BCCI will give its reply on October 12. October 18 is the last date to buy tenders." The tender fee will be $10,000. However, Thakur said that the BCCI "need not necessarily accept the highest bid and that the true value of the bid will be evaluated by financial consultants" (HINDUSTAN TIMES, 9/18). ESPN.com's Nagraj Gollapudi reported according to a top BCCI official, a clause in the original contract with Sony "dictated that both parties would discuss the new deal in a 60-day window immediately after the 2016 IPL." The window opened on May 30, the day after the IPL final. During this period Sony "was meant to make an offer for the BCCI to consider." The BCCI official said, "We had to make a final offer to them. That is in the text of the contract. We met several times and our line to them was, in today's day and age, this is the biggest sports deal (IPL broadcasting rights), and it has to happen through an open tender. There is no other way." The official pointed out that the BCCI, "despite being opposed to various recommendations of the Lodha Committee, had accepted the point that striking new contracts through tenders was the best method." The official said, "The only transparent process is through an open tender and that is also the right way to discover the right price for this property" (ESPN.com, 9/17).
