MUMBAI: $ 350 million going on $ 400 million! The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) today floated tenders for global media rights and reports indicate that the board has revised upwards what it expects prospective bidders to shell out for India cricket for the next four years.
Two other tenders for the appointment of a television production company and advertising sales agency were also floated today.
The tenders will be available for five days starting 30 January, wire agency United News of India quoted a BCCI release as stating.
The bids would be screened on the day following the submission and the winning bid would be selected on the day after, Lalit Modi, BCCI vice-president and chairman of the board's marketing sub-committee, was quoted as saying.
Bidders can purchase the tender documents from the BCCI's headquarters in Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai after paying Rs 100,000 per bid.
As regards media, the BCCI is unbundling cable TV rights, DTH, broadband, radio and mobile. The bids, which will run from 1 April 2006 through to 31 March 2010. As for what comes in terms of cricket action for the successful bidders, it is this: A total of 162 days of live cricket that includes 12 Tests, 30 ODIs and seven days of offshore cricket. There are also 70 days of First Class cricket that will come inbuilt with this package..
In an earlier media briefing, Modi had stated that parties interested in taking any particular piece of the India cricket rights cake could very well bid according to what specific areas interested them (territory or media). The BCCI has reportedly divided the global package into seven territories — and called it the international package — and is planning to invite bids for each territory separately too.

Also read:

BCCI fixes base price for composite India rights bid at $ 350 million