MUMBAI: The last word on the BCCI-Nimbus dispute is still not out as the sports marketing company has moved the apex court against a Bombay High Court directing it to furnish a bank guarantee of Rs 3.05 billion.

The Bombay HC has on 27 February directed Nimbus, which owns and operates Neo Sports and Neo Cricket channels through sister concern Neo Sports Broadcast, to furnish security by way of a bank guarantee of Rs 3.05 billion within two weeks pending hearing of its dispute with BCCI.

The two member bench comprising Justices RM Lodha and HL Gokhale made the order to "list this matter before a Bench of which Justice H.L. Gokhale is not a member".

The case has now been listed for 4 April.

The HC, according to Nimbus, was not right in directing it to furnish security in the form of a bank guarantee for the entire claim amount. It also stated that the BCCI?s claim for damages at the rate of Rs 310 million per game played by the Indian team was unreasonable.

Ever since their contract was terminated for breach of agreement, Nimbus has been crying hoarse that the BCCI has also failed in its obligation to provide iconic national players for important bilateral series which led to low level of interest in the matches and the cancellation of India-Pakistan series inspite of being part of the Future Tours Programme, both of which significantly dented its monetisation of the broadcast rights.

The BCCI had in December terminated Nimbus? broadcast rights contract contending that the later has been a regular defaulter of payments following the broadcaster?s inability to pay the rights fee for the England and West Indies home series.

In October 2010, Nimbus had renewed its agreement with BCCI valued at approximately Rs 20 billion for a minimum of 64 international matches and 312 days of domestic cricket until 2014 after furnishing a bank guarantee for the agreement amount to the BCCI.

MUMBAI: Setting the process of finding a new broadcast partner in motion, the marketing committee of the BCCI will meet on 7 March to decide on floating tenders for finding a new partner.

The committee will also take up the issue of Internet rights after failing in earlier attempts to find bidders due to high base price.

"The marketing committee meeting has been fixed for March 7 and all matters, including broadcast and internet rights, will come up for discussion," PTI quotes BCCI sources as saying.

The BCCI had in December last year terminated the broadcast rights agreement with Nimbus Communications for non-payment of rights fee for the England and West Indies series.

As per the agreement, which was expected to run till 2014, Nimbus was supposed to pay approximately Rs 20 billion for a minimum of 64 international matches and 312 days of domestic cricket.

The Board has enough time on hand to find a new broadcaster as the next international engagement on the Indian soil is only in August-September when New Zealand will tour India for a three Test match series.

New Zealand will be followed by England who will be in the country for a full-fledged tour of four Tests, seven ODIs and one T20 match in November-December-January period.

MUMBAI: India?s leading event management firm Wizcraft has been appointed to conceptualise and produce the opening ceremony for the Bridgestone World Series Hockey in Chandigarh on 29 February.

Wizcraft has organised the opening ceremonies of mega sports events like the 2011 World Cup, IPL and 2010 Commonwealth Games.

The opening ceremony will feature Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan, singer Mika, performer Neha Dhupia, ?Rockstar? singer Harshdeep Kaur, and many others.

Bollywood superstar Saif Ali Khan said, "I look forward to being a part of the opening ceremony of World Series Hockey. The association of Agent Vinod with this action-packed event was more of an emotional reason as my grandfather, Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi, represented India in hockey. Our national sport has been ignored for a while and an initiative like this will ensure the sport is given its due attention and will resonate well with the youth of India.?

Nimbus Sport COO Yannick Colaco said, ?We have put together a star-studded opening ceremony to match the scale of any global sporting event. This is a first for Hockey in India and the grand opening will be a perfect cocktail of unmatched entertainment and top drawer sporting action. Wizcraft has extensive experience in putting together international acts and has worked on the ICC World Cup and IPL. We are going to dazzle the audience in the stadium and viewers across the world with a spectacular opening ceremony.?

Wizcraft International Director Sabbas Joseph said, ?This is just the boost Hockey required and I am glad Wizcraft will play an important role in launching a landmark sporting property like WSH.?

The Bridgestone World Series Hockey will be held from 29 February to 2 April.

The eight venues for the inaugural edition of the league are Bangalore, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi, Jalandhar, Mumbai and Pune. Chandigarh Comets will face-off against Bhopal Badshahs in the first tie of the tournament on their home ground.

MUMBAI: In a blow to Nimbus, the Bombay High Court today ordered that the termination of a contract for broadcast rights between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Nimbus stands. It dismissed Nimbus‘ appeal.

Two days after the BCCI scrapped the broadcast deal with Nimbus Communications, the sports marketing agency went to the court for relief.

Nimbus had said that the BCCI‘s move was a breach of contract. The company maintains that it did not intend to default on payments.

The court has also highlighted the fact that the banks associated with Nimbus and BCCI refused to play guarantees and they will now have to provide a notice period of three days should they change their minds.

MUMBAI: Nimbus, whose broadcast rights contract with the BCCI was terminated on Monday, has said that it reserves all its rights and options and could invoke the arbitration process if need be.

Nimbus has said that it is working towards the full resolution of differences that may have arisen between the parties and is hopeful of a reasoned conclusion in the coming weeks.

Nimbus maintains that it acted in compliance with the contractual obligations and variations that it agreed to with the BCCI from time to time.

Nimbus adds that it will not comment further on the issue till it concludes discussions with the BCCI in the coming weeks.