With Sharad Pawar at the helm of affairs of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, key sports broadcasters competing for the telecast rights are beginning to plan their moves afresh
The issue of telecast rights has been pending for almost two years, but BCCI sources say a solution could finally emerge now that the battle for power has ended.
It is clear that Pawar's team will want to streamline the system and indications to that end have started emerging already with the first changes being made in the selection committee.
On the same hypothesis, BCCI insiders say they feel ESPN-Star, seen as a favourite with the outgoing camp, could become a natural casualty in this witch hunting exercise, and their serious competitor Zee Sports could benefit.
"Zee was up against a mountain so far. But now at least they can expect a fair chance to be given," said a BCCI member close to the Pawar group.
Complications surrounding the awarding of telecast rights saw Zee file a litany of cases against the bidding procedures followed by the BCCI. It wasn't immediately clear if the company is planning to withdraw those cases now in view of the power shift in the cricket board.
"Zee realises its back in reckoning. Similarly, ESPN-Star will now be uneasy simply because of the perception that they have been close to Dalmiya," another BCCI source said.
Chances are the new-look BCCI will scrap the earlier process and frame new guidelines for the bidders.
There is also a view that the problem could be far from over because whosoever gets the rights will face legal hurdles from the other interested parties because the stake is too high for all the players.
Cricket is bread and butter for both Zee Sports and ESPN-Star Sports and neither would want to give up without a fight.
Zee, however, has of late branched out into football in a big way acquiring the telecast rights from All-India Football Federation for 10 years.
