BCCI invites Zee and ESPNStar for final discussions

The Board of Control for Cricket in India has invited Zee Telefilms and ESPNStar for a final round of discussions regarding the telecast rights on September 4 in Chennai. Zee, was the highest bidder with approximately US$260million for the four-year cricket telecast rights, while ESPNStar was close to US$30million less than that. A final decision on the matter is expected on September 5.

RC Venkatesh, managing director of ESPNStar Sports, told Business Standard: "We have been invited by BCCI to present a clarification on our bid. We are open to any kind of negotiations that will enable us bag the deal."

ESPNStar had said that they were willing to increase the bid to around US$300million if the BCCI extended it to a five-year contract and not four. Thay had also alleged that Zee did not qualify for the bidding process they did not meet the board's criterion of having two years' experience in telecasting international cricket events.

Zee, however, refuted the charge and said that they had telecast international cricket matches in other countries, like the UK, since 1995.