I&B Ministry takes up Nimbus-AIR issue with BCCI

In order to acquire radio broadcast rights,AIR had sent an offer of $6000 per match to Nimbus.

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Nimbus Communications’ decision not to share the feed of the ongoing India-England cricket series with AIR,has prompted the I&B Ministry to write a strong-worded letter to the BCCI,asking it to take immediate action and ensure live commentary of the matches.

The All India Radio (AIR) has been unable to air live commentary of series that started on October 14,and will conclude on October 29,as Nimbus Communications,which has broadcast rights for the tournament,is demanding 50 per cent of the ad revenues of AIR.

In the letter to the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India),the Ministry has suggested that “radio broadcast rights of sporting events should not be clubbed with TV broadcasting rights and should be made available directly to AIR at a negotiated price as far as India is concerned”.

“This action on the part of Nimbus appears to be an effort to arm twist Prasar Bharati,” the Ministry has said in the letter.

According to Nimbus Communications,AIR has refused to follow the 50:50 sharing of advertising revenues,which has been mandated by the Sports Broadcasting (Mandatory Sharing with Prasar Bharati) Act.

AIR and Doordarshan come under Prasar Bharati. However,according to the letter by the Ministry to the BCCI,the provisions of the Sports Act apply only if the rights holder for TV telecast broadcast the match either on television,cable,DTH,or the radio broadcast right holder actually broadcasts the commentary over the respective medium in India.

“As regards to radio,no private broadcaster is allowed to carry the commentary of sporting events of national level in India the provisions of Sports Act relating to sharing of the signal do not apply to radio coverage,” the letter said.

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The provisions relating to revenue sharing therefore also do not apply in case of radio coverage,it added. The ministry has further said that from the sequence of events applicable to the current India-England series,it is amply clear that Nimbus has no intention for seeking an amicable solution or allowing AIR to provide radio commentary of the matches.

“The present case has resulted in right squatting by Nimbus any action that deprives people at large of access to this beloved medium of communication would go against wider public interest,” it said.

In order to acquire the radio broadcast rights,AIR had sent an offer of $6000 per match to Nimbus on October 10,2011.