The Invitation to Tender (ITT) for the media rights of the International Cricket Council has been purchased by seven different broadcasting firms (ICC). With one exception, there is not much mystery about the individuals who purchased the extensive document that cost $30,000, except for one. The usual suspects, Sony Pictures Network India, Disney Star, Viacom 18, Zee TV, Amazon, and Sports Technologies Pvt Ltd (FanCode), have all taken the ITT, but certain details about it remain classified.
According to what Cricbuzz has been told, four of the six companies indicated above have already paid the required bid collateral, which is 3.25 million dollars and is a prerequisite for taking part in the bidding process. A confirmation is still expected for the other two, which are Amazon and FanCode, in addition to the news regarding the anonymous ITT buyer. The deadline for the payment was this past Monday, the 22nd of August.
The confirmation of payment is a significant step forward because it proves an essential point: namely, that all four broadcasters (Star, Viacom, Zee, and Sony) who have been at acrimonious and protracted odds with the ICC could be taking part in the bidding process. These broadcasters have been at odds with the ICC for a long time. This new information makes it quite unlikely that any of them will participate in the proposed boycott.
The collateral was required to be transferred to an ICC account, and the ICC was required to say the following in its most recent supplementary clarifications: “You will receive the required Bid Collateral from us by way of a telegraphic transfer into the Designated Account. This is being done in accordance with the ITT. Our payment reference details are laid out in Annex 1.”
In addition to making the cash, anybody who wishes to compete will be required to hand in their technical bids on August 22 between the hours of noon and two o’clock local time in Dubai. This is the deadline set by the International Cricket Council (ICC). Recently, the regulatory body stated that “Envelope A shall be accepted by the ICC’s General Counsel (or another authorised representative of IBC) in the presence of the appropriate Bidder and a receipt will be issued.” When we return in a few hours, we should have additional information to share with you.
The final list of participants will be known after the submission of the Envelope (A), which will contain the firm credentials and audited accounts. On Friday, there will be a closed process for the first round of the financial bidding. This part of the process will take place (August 26). It is possible that there will be a second round of the e-auction as well, but this will depend on whether or not the highest bids are within 10% of one another.
