Star wins rights to broadcast Indian cricket for 2012-18

The Rupert Murdoch owned-Star Group, has won the rights to broadcast Indian cricket for 2012-2018. The deal, which also includes internet and mobile rights, was valued at Rs3851 crores for 96 matches. The other bidder Sony, is the current owner of the rights to the IPL.

The matches include all international cricket in India, as also domestic competitions like the Ranji Trophy and Irani Trophy.

Star Group offered approximately Rs40 crore for each match, substantially higher than the Rs32.5 crores, the previous broadcaster, Nimbus, had to pay for each match.

The board was forced to issue a new tender following termination of its  contract with Nimbus in December 2011, claiming the latter had defaulted on its payments. The matter was referred for arbitration to the Bombay High Court, which ruled that Nimbus should deposit Rs305 crore with the court as security, for the amount the BCCI claimed it was owed by the company. Nimbus, in a counter-claim has asked the board to pay  Rs600 crore.

The production rights, which Nimbus owned so far, stand cancelled by the BCCI. According to ESPNcricinfo, the BCCI might be thinking of owning the production rights itself instead of giving them to a private party. However, a board official also made it clear that the Star Group would have a far greater say in editorial matters as compared to Nimbus.

 "They (Star) will not be taking things lying down like Nimbus. They have far greater experience in broadcasting and will want to have a bigger say in editorial matters," the board official told ESPNcricinfo.