Sports broadcaster Nimbus is understood to be in advanced talks with Sony Entertainment
Television for distributing cricket matches to be played in India after Star India
pulled out from an earlier deal.
Industry sources said talks between Nimbus and SET for a four-year deal were likely
to be finalised soon. Nimbus has already tied up with SAB TV, owned by SET, to
broadcast with commentary in Hindi for the five matches that India will play in
the upcoming one-day international series in Ireland.
When contacted, Nimbus Managing Director Harish Thawani
declined to confirm or deny the development.
"We cannot comment at the moment," he said from Mumbai.
A company official, however, said Nimbus was likely to finalise a distributor
within a week.
Nimbus had earlier signed a Rs 1,000 crore, four-year distribution
deal with Star India but the latter pulled out from the deal citing lack
of exclusivity after the government's policy of making it mandatory for private
broadcasters to share feed with Doordarshan.
According to reports, Nimbus had approached a Singapore court seeking damages
to the tune of over Rs 1,200 crore.
Nimbus holds telecast rights from BCCI for four years for all cricket matches
to be played in India. It has already signed up with Sun News for Tamil, Gemini
News for Telugu, Udaya Varthalugu for Kannada, while sharing feed with Doordarshan
for the upcoming series.
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