Loss of revenue could have forced Board to oppose two-tier system

MUMBAI: Protecting the interests of smaller nations is the reason given by the BCCI for not supporting the two-tier Test. But the Indian Board’s main opposition

MUMBAI: Protecting the interests of smaller nations is the reason given by the BCCI for not supporting the two-tier Test. But the Indian Board’s main opposition is more about protecting its territorial broadcasting rights deal.

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It’s a different issue from the Big Three revenue-sharing model that the earlier regime had come up with. That was about extracting the pound of flesh from the cricket properties owned by the International Cricket Council (ICC), which was not justified. This is about protecting interests.

With no clarity on the proposed revenue model for the two-tier system, the BCCI had reasons to be wary about committing to it. When it was first mooted at the ICC meeting, the early reports said in the new model, the rights of Test-playing nations would be sold as a block. It appeared to be something like the ICC does for World Cups and Champions Trophy, which are its properties.

There was no clarity on the model or who would own the rights. Hence, the BCCI’s apprehension to be a part of it. Its main income is from the territorial broadcast deal for the national team and IPL broadcast deal.

CONTENTIOUS

With the BCCI in the opposition, there was little chance of it getting the green signal at the two-day ICC chief executives’ meeting in Dubai. The ICC on Wednesday withdrew its contentious proposal of having a ‘Two-Tier’ Test system. The ICC said it will now look afresh at the whole aspect.

However, the two-day meeting of the member boards at the ICC headquarters would have given a better idea to all the stakeholders.

As per the current arrangement, the entire amount of telecast deals goes to the home board for all bilateral series.

HT has learnt that the proposal will be separate from the territorial rights. The ICC is looking to make money from broadcast deals in unexploited properties, like countries other than the two participating teams. The idea is to sell the rights in a block which will help it dictate to the broadcasters.

What’s happening now is that there are some bilateral series which have no takers. Also, the broadcast rights for most series go unsold outside their countries. There was doubt over whether the just-concluded South Africa and New Zealand Test series would be telecast at all.

CONFUSION

The proposal has come from the member boards and the ICC will just facilitate if needed. It is not going to be an ICC property like the World Cup. The confusion is how to sell the rights as a block while not impacting the revenue earned by the host board from territorial rights.

The mechanism of how it can be done is yet to be decided. During the meeting, all the Board representatives have been extensively briefed about the proposal. They can come back with suggestions at the next ICC board meeting in October.

Unless the interest of the BCCI is safeguarded there is going to be no headway on this.

“When there are only seven-eight major teams, what’s the point in having two tiers? At a time a maximum of four games can be played,” said former BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah, dismissing the idea outright.

“This kind of proposal was tabled during my time as secretary of BCCI and we had dismissed it,” said Shah. “The centralised marketing of the global broadcast rights is only a ploy to take away the power from India.”