BCCI and Sony on collision course over IPL broadcasting rights

New Delhi: The broadcasters of the Indian Premier League (IPL) -- Sony Pictures Network (SPN) -- are worried. The reason for their worry is the BCCI's decision to announce on Sunday the details of its proposed Invitation To Tender (ITT) for the IPL media rights. Sony, the official broadcaster of the IPL in the sub-continent since 2008, was looking forward to renew its deal with the BCCI for the next designated rights period. However, the news of BCCI’s decision to follow a 'transparent tendering process' mean that SPN may have to join the bidding process. "As a responsible sports body, we expect the BCCI to honour the terms of the contract, just as every reputed organization would do," CEO of Sony Pictures, NP Singh was quoted as saying by TOI. Claiming it has the first rights to negotiate terms of renewal, Sony says it has asked the BCCI to submit a "final written offer" as mentioned in its IPL contract. However, one of the top board officials confirmed to TOI that media rights tender would be announced after Sunday’s conference. "Yes, we are announcing it. Deals that happened between 2008 and 2010 happened in different circumstances. It's a different world today." If the Board goes ahead with its plans and announces the details of the ITT, Sony will have two options: move to the courts with a risk of getting blacklisted for the next 10 years by the BCCI or enter the bidding process and compete with the deep pockets of Star India.