News Channels will boycott IPL Matches

Chennai, 18 February, (Asiantribune.com): The News Broadcasters Association of India (NBAI), the body of top news channels, has announced that its members would boycott the IPL Cricket Matches.

The decision came after the talks over differences between the IPL and official broadcaster Set Max, on the one hand, and the news channels, on the other, broke down when IPL/Set Max refused to consider any of the issues raised by NBAI and insisted that the new terms set down by them for coverage were non-negotiable.

This means that there will be no surround sound about IPL matches on TV channels. This is bound to reduce the buzz around the IPL tournament as news channels not only report the matches, but also analyses the games.

While IPL chairman Lalit Modi did not respond to calls or messages, his reaction on Twitter was clear. "News channels never had rights to broadcast IPL matches. Those are exclusively Set Mas. U will see all matches on Set live...You can get regular news of all IPL related stories as they happen on IPL T20.com", Modi tweeted.

Channels Objections

The News Broadcasters Association of India, which represents 34 news channels, is opposed to the new terms that are more stringent than those set down by the IPL in 2008, the last time the tournament was played in India.

The new terms have slashed the amount of time footage can be shown to just seven minutes in a day, stipulated that nothing can be shown until 30 minutes after the post-match prize distribution ceremony, and set down certain owner ship restrictions for channels.

The NBAI has found these clauses restrictive and an unwarranted interference with the working to the media.

The NBAI statement said, "in view of this position unilaterally taken by IPL/Set Max, members of the NBAI are unable to offer to their viewers any coverage in relation to IPL or its proposed matches".

NBAI also regretted the "inconvenience" to viewers by put the blame squarely on IPL/Set Max for its "unreasonable commercial approach".

For the 2010 edition, Sony has sold advertising spots for an estimated Rs 2 lakh for 10 seconds while regular and presenting sponsors have shelled out 25%-30%. Media sources said that Set Max had expressed concern that the 2008 guidelines had not been adhered to by some broadcasters, who screened footage indiscriminately causing a "major loss" to the host broadcaster. Set Max had arrived at a negotiated settlement of about Rs 8,700 crore with IPL for broadcast rights sfor 10 years.

But NBAI sources added that news channels had offered to put in place a set of norms to prevent "overutilization of footage"

The source also added, there had been a breach of trust since the 2008 norms were expected to the upheld till perpetuity. Instead of IPL authorities have just brought in a new set of norms without any discussion, the source said.

- Asian Tribune -