Court suggests fresh bids by Zee, ESPN

The Board of Control for Cricket in India BCCI had awarded conditional rights to Zee earlier this week on a winning bid of 308m. But ESPN-Star Sports went to court asserting that Zee was not eligible as per the conditions outlined in the tender. It said Zee did not possess the required two years experience of telecasting cricket matches on an international level.

In a courtroom packed with journalists and a battery of lawyers representing BCCI, Zee TV, ESPN-Star Sports and Government of India, the judges today suggested a submission of fresh bids after listening to BCCI8217;s contention that both Zee and ESPN-Star Sports were equally eligible.

Then Zee8217;s counsel asked if he could be allowed to respond to the proposal in the afternoon session. Zee came back after the lunch break and through its lawyer Rafiq Dada said it would reply to the judges8217; proposal after consulting its board of directors on Monday.

But ESPN-Star Sports instantly agreed to the court8217;s suggestion. Speaking to the media, ESPN Star Sports managing director Asia Rik Dovey maintained that the high price for telecast rights was justified and hoped that the whole process would be completed by next week.

Later, lawyers from both sides told the media that if the Zee Board favoured a new bid, they would meet informally on Wednesday September 15 and submit their bids in sealed envelopes to the registrar.

Also present in the court room was Zee group chairman Subhash Chandra Goel who expressed confidence that his company would bag the rights. 8216;8216;The rights will come to us, because the truth is with us,8217;8217; he said.

When BCCI had awarded the contract to Zee, it had said that originally

Zee was the highest bidder at 260m, and had later agreed to match the renegotiated price of 308m which was offered by ESPN-Star Sports.