03-17-2009, 11:19 AM
MUMBAI: Hear the new twist in the IPL drama. On the evening of 14 March, the BCCI terminated the contract with Sony and sealed a new one with World Sports Group the next morning, hours ahead of the injunction its broadcast partner obtained to restrain the cricket board from entering into fresh contracts.
When the petition came up for hearing in the Bombay High Court today before Justice S J Kathawala, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) lawyer sought time to take instructions and produce the relevant documents.
The court said till the matter is heard, the cricket board can't grant any approval to WSG under the newly entered contract.
Sony has alleged that BCCI terminated the original contract and signed a new one with WSG without giving any notice to them.
The IPL telecast rights had gone to Sony with Singapore-based sports marketing and management agency WSG for ten years for $1.026 billion. While Sony took the India rights, WSG held the overseas rights.
The row with the IPL management began when Sony awarded the on-air sponsorship rights to Airtel Digital TV and on-ground sponsor Big TV refuted claims that it was given the first right of refusal.
When the petition came up for hearing in the Bombay High Court today before Justice S J Kathawala, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) lawyer sought time to take instructions and produce the relevant documents.
The court said till the matter is heard, the cricket board can't grant any approval to WSG under the newly entered contract.
Sony has alleged that BCCI terminated the original contract and signed a new one with WSG without giving any notice to them.
The IPL telecast rights had gone to Sony with Singapore-based sports marketing and management agency WSG for ten years for $1.026 billion. While Sony took the India rights, WSG held the overseas rights.
The row with the IPL management began when Sony awarded the on-air sponsorship rights to Airtel Digital TV and on-ground sponsor Big TV refuted claims that it was given the first right of refusal.