COA overrules BCCI, sets e-auction for media rights

Bengaluru, February 23: In a surprising revamp in the bidding process, the Committee of Administrators decided the media rights of BCCI (broadcast and digital) for the upcoming international/domestic matches will be granted through e-auction -- a departure from the sealed tender documentation process used till this year's IPL.

The e-auction is expected to be held on March 27. But a section of the BCCI officials was left fuming at the decision as it was taken even without calling a general body meeting and without taking them in to confidence.

The rights have been split across three categories -- global television rights plus rest-of-the-world digital rights package, Indian-subcontinent digital rights package, and global consolidated rights package.

However, a major policy decision has been taken unilaterally by the CoA led by Vinod Rai without even calling for a general body meeting of the BCCI.

"Yes, we have been sent a note that says that BCCI's media rights for international matches will be held through e-auction process," said Rai.

But the note doesn't mention why a sudden departure after BCCI got a whopping Rs 16,347 crore deal from Star India Pvt Limited for IPL rights.

"As per convention, they didn't even bother to summon a general body meeting," an aggrieved senior BCCI official told MyKhel.

It is learnt that e-commerce major 'mjunction', who are known for conducting e-auction in various spectrums, will be in charge of the process. But the BCCI officials claimed that how 'mjunction' was roped in for this process.

BCCI's broadcast rights for India's international and domestic matches is currently with Star Sports, who pay Rs 43.2 crore per match (Tests, ODIs or T20s).

However, with Star bagging the IPL rights for a massive sum, it will be interesting to see if they are interested in entering the fray in any of the categories.