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Sony TV India retain IPL cricket rights

After all the “will they” or “won’t they’s”, Multi Screen Media (formely Sony Entertainment Television) will indeed telecast the Indian Premier League.

In a deal announced today with new rights holder World Sport Group (WSG), Multi Screen Media have signed a nine-year contract, taking their exclusive telecast in India to 2017.

According to Exchange4Media, a foreboding sense of uncertainty was omnipresent on the matter, especially because the deal was once nearly clinched in an out-of-court settlement, which later failed due to BCCI’s rejection of the non-terminable clause that MSM has included in the deal.

IndianTelevision reports that the deal is valued at Rs 82 billion.

MSM can now sign a relief, who have been in a legal wrangle with the BCCI over these rights. BCCI terminated its contract with MSM because of “quality of broadcasting” by Sony TV was “bad”.

BCCI also alleged that insertion of graphics and advertisements by Sony TV led to blocking of view of play during telecast.

In the UK, Setanta Sports will telecast the matches, which begin on Saturday 18th April. It was confirmed yesterday that South Africa will host the IPL this year after a date clash with the India elections resulted the move. The IPL will consist of 59 matches across six venues.