<p>The official word was that it was a ‘technical glitch’ which was responsible for the black-out when, actually, the imbroglio resulted from the non-payment of dues by Neo Sports Broadcast Private Limited to Doordarshan, following which the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting refused to grant the Board of Control for Cricket in India permission for temporary uplink of the match.<br /><br />As is the norm, the BCCI had written to the ministry on October 3, seeking permission for uplink, and on Thursday, Atya Nand, Under secretary to the Government of India, wrote back to Professor Ratnakar Shetty, the chief administrative officer of the BCCI. “Comments of Doordarshan were invited regarding arrangement for sharing of signals with Prasar Bharati,” wrote Nand, referring to the fact that Doordarshan also telecasts live all one-day matches played in India. “Doordarshan informed us that Neo Sports has been asked to furnish the bank guarantee equal to 25 percent of the bid amount being the share of Prasar Bharati before the event, but the guarantee has not yet been provided till date.<br /><br />“You are advised to immediately take up the matter with Neo Sports and ensure compliance with the provisions of the Sports Broadcasting Signals (mandatory sharing with Prasar Bharati) Act 2007 and Rules framed there under and submit the documents to the Ministry through Prasar Bharati immediately.”<br /><br />Nand added, “In view of the above, Neo Sports cannot do the live uplink of the India-England series in India.”<br /><br />The denial of permission for uplink triggered a dramatic sequence of events resulting in Neo Sports handing over two bank drafts to the tune of Rs 4,00,50,000 on Friday to Doordarshan. Nand then dashed off another letter, which said among other things, “It has now been confirmed by DG DD that Neo Sports has handed over two bank drafts with an undertaking that they will submit a bank guarantee equal to this amount by 21.10.2011.<br /><br />“In view of the above, I am directed to convey no objection of this Ministry to the Board of Control for Cricket in India for live uplink.”<br /><br />Interestingly, permission has been granted only for live uplink of the first three matches – the third match in Mohali is on October 20, one day before the deadline for Neo Sports to submit the bank guarantee, with a rider that the ‘permission is subject to the applicants’ continued compliance of the terms and conditions of this permission’. <br /><br />Neo Sports, meanwhile, accused Prasar Bharati for “unreasonable behaviour.” <br />“Neo Cricket is deeply disappointed by what it believes could be construed to be unreasonable behaviour by Prasar Bharati,” Neo Sports said in a statement. <br /></p>
<p>The official word was that it was a ‘technical glitch’ which was responsible for the black-out when, actually, the imbroglio resulted from the non-payment of dues by Neo Sports Broadcast Private Limited to Doordarshan, following which the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting refused to grant the Board of Control for Cricket in India permission for temporary uplink of the match.<br /><br />As is the norm, the BCCI had written to the ministry on October 3, seeking permission for uplink, and on Thursday, Atya Nand, Under secretary to the Government of India, wrote back to Professor Ratnakar Shetty, the chief administrative officer of the BCCI. “Comments of Doordarshan were invited regarding arrangement for sharing of signals with Prasar Bharati,” wrote Nand, referring to the fact that Doordarshan also telecasts live all one-day matches played in India. “Doordarshan informed us that Neo Sports has been asked to furnish the bank guarantee equal to 25 percent of the bid amount being the share of Prasar Bharati before the event, but the guarantee has not yet been provided till date.<br /><br />“You are advised to immediately take up the matter with Neo Sports and ensure compliance with the provisions of the Sports Broadcasting Signals (mandatory sharing with Prasar Bharati) Act 2007 and Rules framed there under and submit the documents to the Ministry through Prasar Bharati immediately.”<br /><br />Nand added, “In view of the above, Neo Sports cannot do the live uplink of the India-England series in India.”<br /><br />The denial of permission for uplink triggered a dramatic sequence of events resulting in Neo Sports handing over two bank drafts to the tune of Rs 4,00,50,000 on Friday to Doordarshan. Nand then dashed off another letter, which said among other things, “It has now been confirmed by DG DD that Neo Sports has handed over two bank drafts with an undertaking that they will submit a bank guarantee equal to this amount by 21.10.2011.<br /><br />“In view of the above, I am directed to convey no objection of this Ministry to the Board of Control for Cricket in India for live uplink.”<br /><br />Interestingly, permission has been granted only for live uplink of the first three matches – the third match in Mohali is on October 20, one day before the deadline for Neo Sports to submit the bank guarantee, with a rider that the ‘permission is subject to the applicants’ continued compliance of the terms and conditions of this permission’. <br /><br />Neo Sports, meanwhile, accused Prasar Bharati for “unreasonable behaviour.” <br />“Neo Cricket is deeply disappointed by what it believes could be construed to be unreasonable behaviour by Prasar Bharati,” Neo Sports said in a statement. <br /></p>
