MUMBAI: The Supreme Court today directed three public sector banks to deposit within 15 days a sum of Rs 4 billion with the Prothonotary and Master of Bombay High Court, who would then remit the money to the bank account of BCCI.

The BCCI had filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) before the Supreme Court aggrieved by the Bombay High Court order that prevented it from invoking bank guarantees following the termination of contract with Nimbus Communications.

However, if the BCCI?s suit fails, the said sum would be returned along with interest. Three nationalised banks namely Punjab National Bank, Indian Bank and Union Bank of India had helped Nimbus to furnish un-conditional bank guarantee to the tune of Rs 16 billion to acquire the BCCI media rights.

The bank guarantees had been given to secure payment of dues by the Nimbus to the BCCI.

The BCCI had entered into Media Rights License Agreement (MRA) with Nimbus Communications for the period from 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2014. In November 2011, the BCCI had terminated the MRA with Nimbus for default in payment and sought to encash the bank guarantees which were in the possession of BCCI.

However, the banks refused to pay the monies to the tune of Rs 16 billion under the unconditional bank guarantees. This compelled the BCCI to file summary suits against the three in the Bombay HC.

Much to the disappointment of BCCI, the Bombay HC granted the three banks leave to defend the suits on a condition that the banks deposit a sum totaling Rs 4 billion with the Prothonotary and Master of the Bombay HC, who would then redeposit the sums with the respective banks.

Earlier, Nimbus Communications was directed by the Bombay HC to secure the dues of BCCI by the way of bank guarantee. The order has not been complied by them and the Company faces contempt proceedings, the BCCI said.

MUMBAI: The race for getting Sri Lanka Cricket?s (SLC) commercial rights is getting hotter with Nimbus Communications and Neo Prime Sports putting in separate bids to vie for the rights while Zeel-owned Taj Television wants to retain them at any cost.

Apart from Taj TV, Neo Prime and Nimbus, sports marketing agency Total Sports Asia (TSA) has also put in bids for SLC commercial rights.

The bid opening took place on 16 March in the presence of SLC officials, the representatives from the respective bidders, representation from the Ministry of Sports and the Auditor Generals Department.

While the bids have been submitted to the Technical Evaluation Committee for evaluation and recommendations, English daily The Sunday Leader reported that Taj TV had made the highest bid.

There is, however, no official confirmation on the highest bidder. The ratification process which is underway is expected to be completed within this week when the name of the winning bidder is also expected to be announced.

What is of surprise, though, is the absence of Star India and its sister concern Fox Star Sports Asia from the bidding race. The absence of Multi Screen Media?s (MSM) sports channel Sony Six from the bidding is equally astonishing.

So why have two of India?s biggest broadcasting companies opted out of the race?

Sources in the know of the things say that there are no India matches in the seven-year rights period as the SLC?s incumbent broadcast partner, Taj TV, will have the rights to broadcast the lone India series in the rights cycle irrespective of who wins the rights eventually.

India will tour Sri Lanka in July-August 2017 involving three Tests, five ODIs and two T20s unless the SLC and BCCI agree to play more than once.

With no India tour on offer, Star and Sony saw little value in the property as an India series is what brings in the moolah for broadcasters. With no bidding war, the value of the rights is expected to see a decrease.

That apart, Taj TV still needs SLC rights, more so since it has a dedicated cricket channel to run. It will help the broadcaster to maintain a regular stream of live cricket as it already holds the rights for South Africa, West Indies and Zimbabwe cricket boards.
In fact, it would be a win-win situation for Taj TV as it will get to retain SLC rights in addition to the lone India series, the rights for which it already owns irrespective of who wins the SLC rights. In 2009, the company had retained the rights for four more years after forking out $65 million.

The story is slightly different for Neo Sports, which has put in a separate bid along with its parent company Nimbus. A win here will give Neo a booster shot to rebuild its business post the loss of BCCI rights, in addition to the strategic value that it brings to the channel.

The broadcaster, which had last year renamed its cricket channel, recently acquired New Zealand Cricket (NZC) rights till 2020. It had also retained Asia Cup broadcast rights for 2014 Asia Cup.

The SLC had last month floated tender for the sale of international broadcast, internet, mobile, radio, and sponsorship rights till 2020. It had also floated tender for television production of international matches in Sri Lanka.

For television production, the SLC has received bids from Kingsdown TV, STV Productions, Sportsworkz Fine Vision Group and Nimbus Communications.

MUMBAI: Balaji Telefilms has roped in Sanjay Dwivedi as the Chief Financial Officer of the company effective 25 January.

Dwivedi joins Balaji from Harish Thawani-promoted Nimbus Communications where he served as senior vice-president Finance and Accounts.

The position was lying vacant since September last year after Srinivasa Shenoy had tendered his resignation as CFO.

MUMBAI: The Hockey India League, promoted by Hockey India (HI) with the backing of International Hockey Federation (FIH), is slowly gaining momentum as the organisers look to kick-off the first edition in January next year.

HI, the governing body of Hockey in India, has roped in ESPN Star Sports as the broadcast partner for HIL in a five-year deal. Besides, the broadcast rights for the league, ESS has also bagged the rights for international hockey matches played in India for a period of five years.

Earlier, business conglomerate Sahara Indian Pariwar had announced that it has taken the franchise rights for the Lucknow team. Sahara is also the shirt sponsor of the Indian men?s and women?s hockey team forking out Rs 400 million for a five-year deal that runs till 2017.

ESS has, thus, renewed its association with Hockey, a sport which it tried to reinvigorate as far back as 2005 with Premier League Hockey, which died a premature death since it could not get the right business model.

While refusing to divulge any details, HI secretary general Narinder Batra said the association along with its marketing partner Twenty First Century Media approached all major broadcasters.

It is believed that Ten Sports was also in the fray for the rights.

"We approached all key players in sports broadcasting. However, ESPN Star Sports gave us the best deal. Therefore, we decided to work with them," Batra told Indiantelevision.com.

Neo Sports, the sports broadcasting arm of Nimbus Communications, was not in fray as its parent company Nimbus is the co-promoter of World Series Hockey, a franchise-based league that has often been termed as a rebel league.

The world hockey governing body has approved the league and has given a window so that international players will be available. The league will comprise six franchise hockey teams and will feature 33 hockey matches to be played in prime time in state-of-the-art stadia across the country.

All teams will play each other on a home and away basis (30 league matches) followed by two semifinals and the final. ESS also has the global broadcast rights to telecast at least five international hockey test matches every year under Hockey India to be played in India for the next five years. The number of matches that India will play against international opposition could go up depending on the finalisation of the series schedule.

"The proposed league (HIL) will be the biggest initiative that hockey has ever seen in India. We have been working out the details for months now and I am glad to announce that things are quickly falling into place. I am confident that our partners ESPN Star Sports will help us deliver a flawless world class product," added Batra.

ESS MD Peter Hutton is believed to be instrumental in getting the deal through since he has been key follower of the game and sees huge potential in the sport.

Hutton was part of the FIH?s marketing committee, which advised the world body on ways to promote Hockey and generate revenues. Incidentally, Hutton is also believed to have been a key force in doing the deal with FIH when he was in Taj Television, which runs Ten Sports.

Ten Sports, which began its partnership with FIH in 2005, holds the broadcast rights for all FIH events in Indian subcontinent till 2014.

"Hockey is close to our heart and we will drive all our efforts to make this league a success. We are also delighted to have all international hockey test matches under Hockey India to be played in India on our networks for a five year period. I look forward to some memorable occasions and a new era for Indian hockey," said Hutton.

The developments at HIL will have implications for Indian Hockey Federation?s World Series Hockey, which held its first edition earlier this year. The eight team tournament got off to a decent start despite mounting pressure from FIH and HI, who did not want the league to take off.

IHF president RK Shetty, meanwhile, brushed aside suggestions that HIL will kill WSH. "We have nothing to worry about their (Hockey India) league, if they are doing this, it?s good for the game. It will open more opportunities for players. As far as we are concerned, we are looking forward to the second edition of World Series Hockey," Shetty asserted.

Can two leagues co-exist?

Wizcraft, the owner of WSH?s Delhi franchise, is optimistic about the league format. Says director Sabbas Joseph, "Not enough is done for hockey. If more promotions are done, it will grow the sport?s visibility and more sponsorship revenue will come in. If we see an opportunity, then we would like to take part in this league as well. More people and companies getting active in hockey will increase the excitement around the sport. I think that hockey is big enough to support two leagues."

He adds that a certain amount of rivalry between the two leagues would be healthy as long as the sport grows. The key is that the conflict between hockey India and IHF should be resolved.

However, Maxus business head Jigar Rambhia is quite certain that only one league will eventually survive. "The sport is not that big in India as this stage. To further divide it by having two leagues is not good for anybody. Next year will give us an idea as to which is the stronger of the two leagues. Two leagues also gives rise to confusion as to which league is official."

Nambiar also thinks that the success of hockey leagues in India will depend upon how India fares at the Olympic Games. "If the team does well, then advertiser interest will pick up.People do follow hockey, although this is not always reflected in the numbers," he says.

MUMBAI: The Bangladesh Cricket Board has appointed a three-member committee to finalise the tendering process for global media rights following its deal with Nimbus Communications ended 30 April this year.

BCB Vice President Ahmed Sajjadul Alam is the convener of the committee which includes BCB Directors Mirza Salman Ispahani and Aziz Al Kaiser.

"A three-member committee has been formed to oversee the tender process for BCB?s worldwide media rights," BCB said in a statement.

The BCB, according to local press reports, has had a rocky relationship with Nimbus due to payment disputes. In fact, BCB chairman Mustafa Kamal had blasted his predecessors for signing a deal, which had many loopholes.

However, a Nimbus official told Indiantelevision.com that it chose not to use the first right to refusal as the BCB failed to keep up its commitment.

The BCB, according to the official, had promised three India tours, two South Africa tours, two England tours and one Australia tour as part of the contract but failed to deliver on them.

"Instead, they gave us four Zimbabwe and three Sri Lanka tours," the official added.

Efforts to reach out to BCB acting Nizamuddin Chowdhury proved futile till the time of filing this report.

Pertinently, Nimbus had last year lost the lucrative India cricket rights after the BCCI terminated its contract for default of payment. The company is currently engaged in arbitration process with the BCCI.

In November 2006, BCB had entered into a six-year contract with Nimbus for television and marketing rights of BCB events until 2012. Under the agreement Nimbus had committed to give a minimum guarantee of $56.88 million.

Before Nimbus, the television rights for Bangladesh were held by ESPN Star Sports, which has recently bagged the broadcast rights of the Bangladesh Premier League for three years for India.

As per the ICC FTP till 2020, Bangladesh is expected to host several top teams including India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and New Zealand among others. India will tour Bangladesh twice, first in June 2014 for three ODIs and in May-June 2015 for two Test?s and three ODIs.

MUMBAI: Harish Thawani?s Nimbus Communications suffered another setback as the apex court upheld the Bombay High Court?s order asking it to furnish Rs 3.05 billion bank guarantee in its dispute with the Indian cricket board.

The Bombay HC had in January asked Nimbus Communications to either deposit an amount of Rs 3.05 billion in the court or give a bank guarantee pending hearing of the dispute with BCCI in order to offset losses arising out of termination of contract.

The court order came in response to BCCI‘s petition that it wanted to secure advertising revenue earned by Nimbus from the England and West Indies series as broadcast fee. Nimbus, which held the BCCI broadcast rights, had sub-licensed the rights to its sister concern Neo Sports Broadcast which operates Neo Cricket and Neo Sports.

The order was further upheld by a two-member bench of the HC directing Nimbus to furnish the bank guarantee within two weeks pending hearing of its dispute with BCCI.

Nimbus then filed a special leave petition with the Supreme Court which refused to entertain its plea. The three member bench comprising Justice Altamas Kabir, Justice Surinder Singh, and Justice F.M. Ibrahim Kalifulla, while upholding the HC order, directed the court to dispose of the case within four weeks starting from the date of its order.

?Having heard learned counsel for the petitioner, we are not inclined to entertain the special leave petition, which is directed against an ad-interim order passed in a proceeding under Section 9 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, and the Notice of Motion, is still pending disposal,? the SC order read.

?Accordingly, while dismissing the special leave petition, we request the learned Single Judge of the High Court, before whom the matter is pending, to dispose of the Notice of Motion at the earliest and preferably within four weeks from the date of communication of this order."

The matter will now come up for hearing before the single bench judge who will come out with final decision in the case. ?Needless to say, the matter is to be decided by the learned Single Judge, without being influenced by the observations made while passing the ad-interim order,? the order added.

The BCCI had in December last year terminated broadcast rights contract with Nimbus Communications over default in payment and had planned to encash bank guarantee that Nimbus had furnished to secure the rights.

However, a clause in the contract which stated that the bank guarantee can be encashed only if the contract is in effect prevented the BCCI from encashing the guarantee amount.