The ascendency of India as an economic world power

Cricket is almost a religion in India or may be even more. Millions of people often skip their offices and schools just to see India playing against any other team. So, the fans are extremely unhappy with the current situation in which people without cable connection cannot enjoy the matches live in their television sets as private network Nimbus has the exclusive rights to broadcast the matches.

Doordarshan and Nimbus have failed to work out a deal about sharing broadcast rights. BCCI has got a fortune from Nimbus and that is why BCCI officials are supporting Nimbus. On the other hand, Doordarshan officials are trying to take advantage of being a government organization.

Cricinfo reported:

Criticising the "rigid line" taken by the Indian information and broadcasting ministry and the state broadcasteing corporation Prasar Bharati, BCCI rights holder Nimbus challenged the public broadcaster to produce its own programme and go live".

 

"We offered Prasar Bharati a deal where they could have live feed of the matches if they encrypt signals or they could go in for a 15-minute delayed feed", Digvijay Singh, the CEO of Nimbus, told PTI immediately after the talks with Prasar Bharati. "However, since they do not agree to both these, all I can say is they can come to the stadium with their equipment and go live if they believe they are so entitled under guidelines."

 

Asked if this would not be illegal, he said: "Let them first do it, then we will see."

 

L D Mandloi, the director-general of national broadcaster Doordarshan (DD), ruled out any live recording from the stadium, saying, "How can we do it without an agreement? It is not possible."

The only victims of the feud are the 50 million TV users in India who do not have cable connection in their home. Both Nimbus and Doordarshan officials should come forward with a sacrificing mentality and resolve the issue as soon as possible.