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IPL faces channel blackout
The stand-off between the IPL management and the media on the guidelines issue is threatening to rip apart the cash-rich cricket event.
New Delhi:
After sorting out almost all the issues with the print media, the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Tuesday night faced a boycott of its coverage by major television channels from midnight.
The News Broadcasters Association (NBA), whose members control the major national news channels, have decided to put its coverage of the IPL on hold until all problems related to coverage are resolved.
The decision of the channels coming under the umbrella organisation of News Broadcasters Association was conveyed by Secretary General Annie Joseph to IPL Chairman Lalit Modi.
The television channels are protesting against exclusive use rights given to Sony Network and IPL's refusal to discuss the issue with them.
The association has written a letter conveying its views to Modi.
Here's a copy of the letter:
From: News Broadcasters Association
Sent: Tue Apr 15 21:58:38 2008
Subject: Relationship of DLF Indian Premier League with Television News Channels
Mr Lalit Modi,
Commissioner, IPL
Cricket Centre
Wankhede Stadium, 'D' Road
Churchgate
Mumbai-400020
Dear Mr Modi,
In our letter of 14th April 2008 we stated our position in respect of the key issues pertaining to coverage of the Indian Premier League, and asked for your response by close of business today.
Our detailed and reasoned communication has not met with a direct response from you. We received a call from Mr Rohit Gupta of the Sony Network, followed by an email regarding access to footage.(It may be appropriate to mention that even this was without any communication from you to the effect that Sony would represent IPL in any manner.)
In response to specific queries, Mr. Gupta said he was not in a position to discuss matters other than access to footage, and that any offer Sony could make in that regard was limited within the framework of its contract with IPL. As Sony was by its own admission neither authorized nor competent to deal with the subject comprehensively, and moreover may reasonably be assumed to have a direct conflict of interest in extending use rights to television news channels, it is unacceptable to us to deal with them in this matter.
At the end of this day therefore our members are left with a partial and unsatisfactory response to our attempts to ensure a balanced approach between their rights to fair use and the rights and interests of IPL, and establish a relationship based on mutuality of interest and equity in law.
In the circumstances the members of the News Broadcasters Association have decided to put all coverage of IPL on hold until and unless an agreement is reached.
Yours sincerely,
Annie Joseph
Secretary General
CC: Mr Sharad Pawar, MP
President BCCI, Mumbai
The News Broadcasters Association (NBA), whose members control the major national news channels, have decided to put its coverage of the IPL on hold until all problems related to coverage are resolved.
The decision of the channels coming under the umbrella organisation of News Broadcasters Association was conveyed by Secretary General Annie Joseph to IPL Chairman Lalit Modi.
The television channels are protesting against exclusive use rights given to Sony Network and IPL's refusal to discuss the issue with them.
The association has written a letter conveying its views to Modi.
Here's a copy of the letter:
From: News Broadcasters Association
Sent: Tue Apr 15 21:58:38 2008
Subject: Relationship of DLF Indian Premier League with Television News Channels
Mr Lalit Modi,
Commissioner, IPL
Cricket Centre
Wankhede Stadium, 'D' Road
Churchgate
Mumbai-400020
Dear Mr Modi,
In our letter of 14th April 2008 we stated our position in respect of the key issues pertaining to coverage of the Indian Premier League, and asked for your response by close of business today.
Our detailed and reasoned communication has not met with a direct response from you. We received a call from Mr Rohit Gupta of the Sony Network, followed by an email regarding access to footage.(It may be appropriate to mention that even this was without any communication from you to the effect that Sony would represent IPL in any manner.)
In response to specific queries, Mr. Gupta said he was not in a position to discuss matters other than access to footage, and that any offer Sony could make in that regard was limited within the framework of its contract with IPL. As Sony was by its own admission neither authorized nor competent to deal with the subject comprehensively, and moreover may reasonably be assumed to have a direct conflict of interest in extending use rights to television news channels, it is unacceptable to us to deal with them in this matter.
At the end of this day therefore our members are left with a partial and unsatisfactory response to our attempts to ensure a balanced approach between their rights to fair use and the rights and interests of IPL, and establish a relationship based on mutuality of interest and equity in law.
In the circumstances the members of the News Broadcasters Association have decided to put all coverage of IPL on hold until and unless an agreement is reached.
Yours sincerely,
Annie Joseph
Secretary General
CC: Mr Sharad Pawar, MP
President BCCI, Mumbai
Topics mentioned in this article
Cricket
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