IPL backs down on media restrictions

NEW DELHI: Indian Premier League organisers have agreed to drop a contentious clause in the media guidelines relating to the uploading of photographs on the IPL website within 24 hours and that should end the threatened media boycott of the Twenty20 tournament starting April 18.
 
Though there was no official word on the understanding reached between the IPL and the news agencies, it is learnt that IPL chief Lalit Modi is believed to have informed the news agencies that all restrictions on the newspapers subscribing to their photo service and also their websites using the pictures have been lifted.
 
The standoff between the IPL and the media arose after it sold its portal rights to an American company for over $50 million and the portal will have sole rights to the distribution and use of pictures.
 
Modi, who is also a vice-president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), also had a meeting with officials of the Indian Newspapers Society (INS) and agreed to drop the clauses that they were opposing. He has, however, stated that the number of pictures should be reasonable and that should be acceptable to all.
 
The IPL has also made it clear that there would not be any restrictions on off-field photographs.
 
As for the standalone websites subscribing to the news agency pictures, the IPL has agreed to the self-restriction of six pictures a day.