Date:27/09/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/09/27/stories/2005092704180100.htm

Back Zee Tele wants to kick its interest in cricket — Signs deal for domestic football coverage

Our Bureau

TOSSING OUT CRICKET?: Mr Subhash Chandra, Chairman, Zee Telefilms, at a press conference in the Capital on Monday. - Kamal Narang

New Delhi , Sept. 26

THE recent controversy surrounding cricket management seems to have dampened the enthusiasm of Mr Subhash Chandra, Chairman, Zee Telefilms, towards the game.

Though the broadcaster has bid for the four-year telecast rights to the matches organised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Mr Chandra on Monday said, "The ongoing cricket drama is a shame. I would not like to bag the telecast rights for the game."

Zee Sports has gone ahead and signed an exclusive 10-year telecast deal for all the domestic football matches played under the aegis of the All Indian Football Federation (AIFF). Under this, Zee Sports will not only broadcast the matches but will also market all the domestic tournaments including the Federation Cup, Santosh Trophy, National Football league and Super Cup.

While details about the revenue agreement between the two were not divulged, Mr Priyaranjan Dasmunshi, President, AIFF, said, "We have got more than double of what we had received in the past. The contract was awarded after an open-bidding process and Zee Sports had emerged as the highest bidder." However, industry sources pegged the deal at Rs 500 crore. Other companies such as Nimbus Sport, NDTV and ESPN had also pitched for the rights.

Mr Chandra added that the broadcaster would air about 100 matches each year with the first one beginning in October. "We are already negotiating for sponsorship. As part of the total telecast package, we are working on special initiatives to substantially boost the value we will provide to football fans and advertisers," he added.

FM radio: Zee Telefilms is considering participating in the second phase of FM radio privatisation. Mr Chandra said, "The issue (of bidding for the second phase in 91 cities) would be discussed in the company's board meeting which will be held on September 28."

This is not the first time that the broadcaster is eying the FM radio business. It had bid for a few cities during the first phase. Though the company had bagged some circles, Zee had withdrawn from the process citing unreasonably high licence fee costs.

Though Mr Chandra said that there are no major problems in the new FM radio policy, the business has a large gestation period and would take at least four-five years to turn profitable.

On the direct-to-home broadcasting, the Zee honcho said that the venture would turn profitable next year. He also added that groundwork is being carried out for the proposed news channel for the Asian region, "We are in talks with Pakistan, China, Singapore and other countries and hope to finalise something soon," Mr Chandra added.