From rxpgnews.com
Nimbus threatens to withdraw from cricket telecast deal
By IANS,
Mar 6, 2007 - 11:07:43 PM
New Delhi/Mumbai, March 6 - Private TV sports broadcaster Nimbus Tuesday threatened to pull out of its Rs.27 billion telecast deal with the Indian cricket board protesting an ordinance that makes it share its feed with the public broadcaster Prasar Bharati, affecting its revenues.
Nimbus had entered into a deal with the Board of Control for Cricket in India - in February 2006 for the telecast rights to all matches featuring the Indian team till March 2010.
Many Indian fans, however, were not able to watch India's series against the West Indies and Sri Lanka earlier this year and following their demands, the government brought out the ordinance asking the sports channel to share its telecast with the Prasar Bharati, which controls Doordarshan - and All India Radio -, albeit with a seven-minute delay.
The channel has pointed out that the arrangement is eating into its revenues as the Doordarshan's footprint also includes places outside India.
A BCCI official here confirming the receipt of the Nimbus' 'letter' said that an emergency meeting was held at the official residence of board president Sharad Pawar in New Delhi to 'sort out the matter'.
After the late night meeting with officials, Pawar told reporters that he was discussing the issue with the government.
'I support the provision that Doordarshan should be fed live signal to facilitate viewers in the country,' he said.
'However, the problem lies in the fact that Doordarshan is making available these feed free of cost to countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh, which earlier used to pay for it and the money used to go into development of fields or payment of players.
'I am discussing all these issues with the government,' said Pawar.
A BCCI official in Mumbai earlier said: 'It seems that Nimbus has asked the board to sort the 'encryption' issue with the Prasar Bharati. We expect things will be sorted out, keeping the World Cup in view,' the official added.
Encryption of live match feed has been the bone of contention between the private broadcaster and the Prasar Bharati.
Nimbus had asked DD to encrypt the signals and the matter had been dragged to court.
The long-drawn legal battle was 'sorted' out after the Delhi High Court had ordered the private broadcaster Jan 23 to allow a seven-minute delay broadcast by DD.
Nimbus launched its own sports channel Neo Sports last year and has been telecasting major domestic and international tournaments featuring India since clinching the deal.
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