Mid-1993: Board gives TV rights for England tour to Trans World International (TWI). For the first time in the world, a major cricket series is broadcast exclusively onsatellite.
Mid-1993: Board gives TV rights for England tour to Trans World International (TWI). For the first time in the world, a major cricket series is broadcast exclusively onsatellite.
August 1993: PILCOM sells 1996 Wills World Cup telecast rights to WorldTel.
Late 1993: Board sells rights for Hero Cup to TWI. This time DD blocks satellite uplink facility. First few rounds of the limited-overs tournament are not telecast. BCCI, under pressure from sponsors, goes to court. Supreme Court orders the Government to provide TWI with uplink, but makes it clear that no precedent has been set.
Early 1994: Board signs a $35-million five-year deal with ESPN for worldwide telecast of Indian cricket. TWI brought in to produce coverage. Once again DD threatens to block uplink.
May 1994 : WorldTel signs an MoU with DD for $4.75 million forterrestrial and satellite rights for the World Cup. DD pays $1.45 million toWorldTel.
October 1994: Onthe eve of India-West Indies one-day series, the Supreme Court rules that theairwaves are public property. Says ESPN has the right to uplink and telecastIndian matches to countries other than India, and awards DD exclusive rights forIndia. So, two sets of cameras are seen at one ground.
Late 1994: DDropes in WorldTel for help with production. It also challenges ESPN's dealwith ATN for the telecast of the India-West Indies one-day matches. Courtoverrules ESPN-ATN deal. ESPN then ties up with Asian Independent Network. DDgoes to court again. But ESPN-TWI withdraw from the series.
January 1995: DD pays secondinstal-ment of $1.45 million to WorldTel. STAR TV makes an offer to PILCOM forpan-Asian C&S rights. WorldTel clarifiesthat the offer can be considered only if DD relinquishes its claim on C&Srights. It argues that pan-Asian rights for STAR would exclude India. DD isunconvinced.
June 1995: WorldTel sends DD copy ofproposed contract.
August 1995: Aftermuch deliberation, DD draws up counter-draft and reneges on key agreements.
September 23: WorldTelsends reply to DD and seeks third instalment of payment. R. Basu directsofficials concerned to pay before the deadline of October 15.
October 15: WorldTel extendsdeadline.
October 20: On non-receipt ofpayment, WorldTel gives a seven-day notice.
October 26: DD sends fax toWorldTel's Connecticut office claiming a draft for $1.45 million hasbeen sent.
November1: WorldTel terminatesagreement.
November 3: WorldTel signs $5million deal with Prime Sports.
November 15: DDfiles petition against WorldTel in Delhi High Court.
Tags