There is clarity on at least one aspect of the Indian Premier League’s second edition. The game is headed to South Africa and six destinations have been earmarked for the series. Now the Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, Kings XI, Deccan Chargers, Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai Super Kings, and Delhi Daredevils will play in six destinations – Durban, Cape Town, Bloemfontein, Pretoria, Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth.
The dates of the games are also expected to have been delayed by a week and would now reportedly commence from April 17, 2009.
However, the aspect that still remains to be clinched is the telecast rights partner. This part of the deal would be closed by World Sports Group, and an answer is now expected ‘any moment now’. All the sources that exchange4media spoke to stated that the frontrunner in the telecast rights was still Multi Screen Media (MSM).
Even as all sections of the industry are debating on the implications of the IPL moving out of the country, and with it moving out all on-ground initiatives that the franchisees would have undertaken, the stadium revenues that the various cities could have made and in all the ground euphoria around the event, most are just relieved that the games are taking place.
Now, only if the telecast rights partner would be in place, too, the advertisers could also stop living in the uncertainties that they are at present.