On a day when Lalit Modi was to reply to the second show-cause notice from the BCCI, the Board issued another notice, based on financial irregularities while awarding theatrical rights and commercials shown mid-over through the IPL.
“The notice is based on the Board’s findings about the deals. It was shocking that both deals were under-priced and the BCCI-IPL has not yet received a single penny for any of these deals,” a BCCI official told HT.
“What’s even more shocking is that there is no documentation about the 150-second mid-over advertisements’ deal.”
The theatrical rights for telecasting matches in multiplexes and other public places were awarded to Entertainment and Sports Direct (ESD), a firm promoted by DAR Capital Group, for 10 years ahead of IPL’s third edition in November 2009.
The mid-over advertisements’ issue is a bit more complex. It was learnt that according to the broadcast agreement between BCCI-IPL and Multi Screen Media (MSM), the latter had commercial rights for 2600 seconds per match. But, on the insistence of Modi, a revised agreement included 150 seconds per match during the over when the ball was idle.
For this additional revenue option, BCCI president, Shashank Manohar, had advised Modi to float a tender during the governing council meeting on March 7. Though a cocktail company offered Rs 7.5 lakh per 10 seconds for these slots, the rights were eventually awarded to Pioneer Digadys, an advertising sales company.
{{/usCountry}}For this additional revenue option, BCCI president, Shashank Manohar, had advised Modi to float a tender during the governing council meeting on March 7. Though a cocktail company offered Rs 7.5 lakh per 10 seconds for these slots, the rights were eventually awarded to Pioneer Digadys, an advertising sales company.
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Modi to submit reply
Meanwhile, Modi’s reply to the second show-cause notice will be submitted on Tuesday. According to an insider, Modi’s counsel, Mehmood Abdi, notified this to the BCCI office-bearers on Monday, the last day of submission.
A Modi aide confirmed that while Abdi will hand over the hard copy on Tuesday, Modi was expected to email his reply to BCCI secretary, N Srinivasan, late on Monday.
Defamation notice against Clarke
After receiving the second show-cause notice, based on England and Wales Cricket Board chairman, Giles Clarke's, complaint of Modi attempting to create a divide in English and world cricket, Modi filed a defamation notice against Clarke in a London court. He has sought an apology from Clarke within seven days.