Television channels have appealed to the government to intervene in the stand-off with the Indian Premier League over match coverage guidelines.
In a statement on Friday, the Indian Broadcasting Foundation said it had asked the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to intervene in the dispute as it did two years ago. Sources in the Ministry say that while broadcasters have not yet contacted them, the Ministry is open to such intervention.
The IPL has reduced the duration of match footage that news channels can carry — 30 seconds per bulletin and seven minutes a day. Repeats will be allowed thrice a day, against four times earlier. Earlier, there was a five-minute delay from the live telecast, while the new guidelines stipulate a half-an-hour delay.
“[This dispute] had erupted in 2008. On that occasion, the intervention by the Ministry through the then Additional Secretary resulted in a compromise and the guidelines framed then held good till now. In the interest of millions of cricket-loving viewers, the Ministry must intervene and hammer out a compromise,” said the statement.
Failing to negotiate a settlement could have serious consequences, with all parties risking the ire of cricket lovers and viewers, the IBF said.
