BCCI invites bid for IPL mobile, radio and internet rights

"The Indian Premier League, a sub-committee of the BCCI, invites bids in respect of global Internet and mobile rights along with certain television rights," the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said in a public announcement.

The board is selling radio rights, excluding for the Middle East, besides worldwide internet and mobile rights.

It is also inviting bids for worldwide television broadcast excluding territories of the Indian sub-continent, Australia, South Africa, Middle East, the Caribbean, Hong Kong and Singapore.

At present, Multi Screen Media (MSM), owners of Set Max, holds the broadcasting rights of the domestic T20 league until 2017. The firm, along with World Sports Group, had signed a deal with BCCI in 2007 for Rs 8,200 crore.

However, in June last, a new deal was renegotiated between the BCCI and MSM which kept WSG (World Sport Group) out of the broadcast deal after the cricket control body.

This was after it uncovered alleged financial irregularities in the award of contract by ex-IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi in the form of payment of a facilitation fee of Rs 425 crore.

As per BCCI's latest announcement, interested broadcasters, internet operators, mobile network operators are required to submit bids on or before March 20, 2011 at its Chennai office.

"The winning bids will be announced in the manner set out in the invitation of tender," it added.

Tenders forms can be obtained from March 8 to March 15 at the IPL office in Mumbai on payment of a Rs 2 lakh non- refundable demand draft, it said.

While specifying the eligibility criteria for bidding, the BCCI has clarified any agency or company which has intention to resell the rights later on will not be eligible to bid.