Broadcasters have once again raised serious concerns over the overall mechanism and urged the ICC to opt for e-auction as the “only process” to sell the rights.
BCCI Secretary jay shah has also repeatedly asked the ICC to adopt e-auction as a process of selling rights. In fact, the Shah – who successfully oversaw the sale of Indian Premier League (IPL) media rights in June this year – has specifically said that for sports federations disposing of the functions of a public body, benefits should be as important as transparency.
“This is why the BCCI ensured that the IPL rights would be sold in such a way that no question would be raised about the process. Ask a broadcaster and they will tell you how the IPL was sold at the optimum price. But even if If it wasn’t sold at the optimum price, there’s no way you’re going to debate the processes that were in place,” say ‘rights’ industry watchers.
What has the ICC chosen instead? A cumbersome process, which lacked transparency, where they asked broadcasters to first submit a closed bid and then, if not ‘satisfied’, would be called for an e-auction process.
“Now, let’s dissect it. When it’s a closed bid, why don’t you put your best number in the envelope? And if you’ve already put your best, what’s in your kitty to participate in the e- Left – up for auction? Makes either sense or both?” Those are called tracking growth.
There are also other member boards, which, like the BCCI, are questioning the procedures put in place by the ICC and further asking, “How exactly has this process been adopted? Who is responsible for the drafting of this tender document, Because it is proving to be a global embarrassment for the ICC? For a body that has lawyers, top corporate leaders and cricketers as member representatives, such an embarrassment would not be a good thing.”
The industry is calling the ICC’s drafting of this tender a ‘joke’. And this is at a time when the stink is already rising before the exit of PWC.
Broadcasters say they are “shocked by the way the ICC has handled” this development (PwC’s exit), but have not communicated with bidders about their exit or provided a formal explanation. decided to.
“The least that can be expected is that the process of auctioning a global event that attracts the attention of the many sports lovers is done in a fair and transparent manner. We would request the ICC to confirm immediately that Will PwC be involved or not. The process is progressing and if not, the firm that will replace PwC. We also request the ICC to explain the reasons that led to this development,” a broadcaster wrote to ICC .
That said, almost every single broadcaster is urging the governing body to “protect the sanctity of the entire process” and top industry executives say the only way forward is to cancel several processes – which is called the ICC’s ’round. Forest’ and ‘Saying. Round two’ – and settle for e-auction instead.
“The above development has disappointed us so much that in the absence of such transparency as requested, we may be forced to reconsider our participation in the process,” a broadcaster wrote to the ICC.