ZEE Network ditches BCCI offshore cricket deal

ZEE Network’s five-year deal with the Indian cricket board (BCCI) for matches played outside India has been scrapped.

The ZEE Group has claimed that the Indian cricket board has not adhered to the revenue sharing clauses properly.

“We have scrapped the deal as BCCI has not acknowledged our requests for a meeting to rework the $220 million deal, similar to what has been done for Nimbus,” an Essel Group spokesperson told The Financial Express. BCCI officials were not available for comment.

ZEE Sports mentioned that the government�۪s new legislation of sharing feed would cost them more money. ZEE Group also stated that it is not a charitable organisation and it too had to earn some revenue.

ZEE Group claimed that Nimbus has got concessions for telecast rights in India and ZEE Sports is still waiting for a similar contract. ZEE Group had earlier approached BCCI for a dialogue on the deal but BCCI did not respond to any of ZEE Group requests.

ZEE Sports had the overseas rights of the forthcoming India-South Africa series in Ireland. ZEE Group�۪s decision of calling off the deal will hamper the telecast of India-South Africa series.

ZEE Network Vice President Ashish Kaul mentioned that despite of their regular requests BCCI is not ready for any discussions with ZEE Group. Kaul said that this problem should be acknowledged, as crores of fans will be deprived of some good cricket matches.