Nimbus Sports bags TV production contract from BCCI

Televisionpoint.com Correspondent
The Board of Cricket Control in India, BCCI today awarded Nimbus Sports the productions rights for international and domestic matches for the next four years.

"Nimbus Sport quoted less in both the HDTV based package and the SDTV based package and was awarded the production contract beating contender TWI, in both the HDTV based package and the SDTV based package and being the lowest cost bidder, BCCI has awarded the production contract to Nimbus Sport." the BCCI said in a release today.

The BCCI further said "Despite a considerably higher technical specifications issued by BCCI compared to previous series, such as increase in cameras from 21 to 25, inclusion of Hawkeye or equivalent, Zoomer, Ruler etc; BCCI has achieved an approx SDTV cost per day of coverage of international cricket of less than $ 96,000 compared to the recent India-Sri Lanka and India-South Africa ODI series where the BCCI had paid approx $ 125,000 per day. The reduction in cost is despite the fact that current contract with Nimbus Sport is for the next four years and costs will escalate every year but the BCCI has secured a fixed price for four years."

Accordingly, the Board will now pay Nimbus around Rs. 43.2 lakh for per day SDTV production cost while the HDTV production charges works out to Rs. 45.9 lakh. Three companies had submitted the tenders for the production rights and Nimbus and TWI had the requisite qualifications.

"BCCI in its quest for development of cricket in India wishes to provide the cricket fan the best viewing experience. With Nimbus Sport's excellent track record and very competitive cost, BCCI has secured for itself and its fans a fantastic level of television coverage never before seen in India cricket," BCCI Vice-President and Marketing Sub-Committee chairman Lalit Modi said.