Viacom 18 Obligated To Telecast Indian Domestic Cricket Each Year - Reports

The Indian Television network, Viacom 18 have secured the rights for telecasting the Men in Blues’ matches outside India, and have been obligated to air between 70-140 days of domestic cricket.

However, the rights to broadcast domestic matches appear to be a continuation of the existing policy, The Indian cricket apex body, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), has come up with new rules to the conditions.

The broadcaster is now requested to broadcast between 70-160 days of domestic games on the digital platform.

According to a report by Cricbuzz, the Invitation to Tender (ITT) for the media rights, the telecast feed must meet the standards necessary for television delivery, ensuring compatibility for television broadcasting.

The same goes for the online platforms, Invitation to Tender states that the matches should have basic quality for the internet to make sure the platform is perfect for streaming and the viewers won’t face any problems while viewing it.

According to ITT, BCCI will “decide, at its sole and absolute discretion, whether a particular domestic match will be classified as a Domestic Televised Match, a Domestic Digitized Match, or neither.”

“The feed may be produced by or on behalf of BCCI for each cricket match forming part of each Other Series. For some such cricket forming part of ‘Other Series’, the feed produced by or on behalf of the BCCI, will be of a standard that is fit for exploitation through Television Delivery (Domestic Televised Matches).

The minimum number of match-playing days for Domestic Televised matches will be 70 and the maximum number of match playing days will be 140 in each contract year. Subject to this minimum and maximum the number of match playing days for Domestic Televised Matches as well as the particular matches to be included therein shall be at the sole and absolute discretion of BCCI,” said ITT.

We are elated about winning the exclusive media rights to BCCI International and Domestic Matches: Viacom 18 Sports CEO

Anil Jayaraj, the CEO of the telecasting brand said that they are happy about winning the bid to broadcast BCCI’s international and domestic games.

He added that they are excited to give the opportunity to serve the Indian cricket fans.

“We are elated about winning the exclusive media rights to BCCI International and Domestic Matches, and excited at the opportunity to serve fans the best of India cricket across both digital and TV,” said Viacom18 Sports CEO Anil Jayaraj.

Viacom 18’s will start showing India’s matches from the next series the Indian men’s team plays at home.

India will play a three-match 50-over ODI series against Australia which will start from September 22nd.