Sources in the know revealed that it was deliberately taken to the last minute to put pressure on Star, who were left with no time as the IPL opening ceremony is slated on Saturday.
On a day when Star Sports acquired the broadcast rights for India's international and domestic matches at home for the next five-year period for a whopping amount, it received a major blow.
The broadcaster, who had bought the Indian Premier League (IPL) broadcast and digital rights for Rs 16,347.50 crore last September, are now being forced to share the upcoming IPL feed with state-run broadcaster Doordarshan.
And this pressure has come from none other than the Information and Broadcasting Ministry. The global broadcaster is now has left with no other choice but to agree to share feed on 50:50 revenue sharing basis.
As per the information with DNA, Star had been pushing for 75:25 revenue sharing model until Thursday, but with I&B ministry not giving the broadcaster the necessary permission for live uplinking of the IPL, there was no other way but to agree to the proposal tabled by the later.
Sources in the know revealed that it was deliberately taken to the last minute to put pressure on Star, who were left with no time as the IPL opening ceremony is slated on Saturday.
Ion Wednesday, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary wrote a letter to I&B Ministry as well as the Sports Ministry seeking immediate clearance to the uplinking proposal like they used to in the past.
As Star was aggressively bidding for BCCI's media rights on Thursday, the negotiations were on the IPL was on in Delhi.
And finally what came out from negotiating table has left Star a bit angry. Doordarshan will get to broadcast select matches of the IPL, but with an hour delay. Though such a long delay is unheard anywhere in the sports history, the experts believe that this has been done to benefit Doordarshan as it has a wider reach especially in rural parts of the country.
"It is a very successful deal for the Prasar Bharti as Doordarshan will be able to telecast high-profile IPL to the nook and corners of the country. IPL over the years has gathered nation-wide interest and it will benefit the rural audience," said an insider involved in the talks.
Sources in the Ministry said talks between the Public broadcaster and Star India had been going on for last few months and at one point had even come close to being called off.
"There was lot of big money involved as Star had procured the rights with a record bid. Though Prasar Bharti wanted to telecast all the matches, that won't be feasible for Star because at the end of the day, it is not a tournament featuring the national team," added the source.
As part of the agreement, Star will share the opening match, last four league matches, the play-offs and the final in a delayed feed.
Earlier in September, Star India won the television, digital, Indian and global media rights to IPL for the next five seasons, paying Rs 16,347.50 crore. Until 2017, Sony Pictures Networks held the television broadcasting rights of IPL.
Officials in the I&B ministry said according to the Sports Broadcasting Signals (mandatory sharing with Prasar Bharti) Act, 2007, all private broadcasters are required to share live broadcasting signals of sporting events of national importance with Prasar Bharti to enable the public broadcaster to re-transmit them.
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