NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has given its nod for temporary live uplinking of the IPL tournament’s 11th edition, whose inaugural ceremony will be held on Friday.
The development came after the Board of Control for Cricket in Indian (BCCI) wrote to Union minister Smriti Irani seeking her intervention in getting the nod for live uplinking of the IPL.
“Permission for temporary live uplinking of IPL tournament has been granted,” a ministry official told PTI.
“Given that we’re close to the event, we request your kind intervention in ensuring that the permission is granted urgently to ensure that our Indian audiences are able to view and enjoy the event and to prevent significant commercial losses to the parties involved. The Event is scheduled to commence on April 17, 2018 and we understand Star India Private Limited has made a compliant application to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for permission for temporary live uplinking of the Event from 06 April, 2018,” the BCCI had earlier written in its letter.
The BCCI’s letter to the minister was a follow-up of a compliant application that was filed earlier by Star India Pvt Ltd, which holds the broadcast rights of the IPL.
Meanwhile, Star Sports has agreed to share with Prasar Bharati select matches on a one-hour deferred live basis with 50-50 revenue sharing, Uday Shankar, chairman and CEO – Star India & president 21st Century Fox, Asia, confirmed Thursday on the sidelines of a media briefing on his network having retained BCCI media rights for another five years.
Pubcaster Prasar Bharati also sent out a tweet around the development. “This brings #IPL2018 content to Doordarshan for the first time. Thanks to HMIB @smritiirani and Secy @MIB_India for the initiative and support,” Prasar Bharati CEO SS Vempati tweeted.
The first IPL match is between defending champions Mumbai Indians and three-time winners Chennai Super Kings.
Star India had bought the consolidated rights for the property in September last year for Rs 163.475 billion.
