With big bucks flying, Indian Premiere League just got bigger

The auction for the second season of the DLF Indian Premiere League (IPL) kicked off the usual drama and sensation.Although just about 17 players went under the hammer in the current season, and the bidders remained cautious while spending as the spending limit of all teams was set at $2 million(Rs9.8crore) each, it was not bereft of action.

The biggest action took place when the battle for capturing Mashrafe Mortaza, the Bangladesh all rounder heated up, between the Kings XI Punjab and Kolkata Knight Riders. The heated bidding started from $50,000 for Mortaza and finally KKR got him for $6,00,000, 12 times more than the base price. This climb set a new record after was Manoj Tiwary’s, bidding had seen a jump from $100,000 to $675,000 last year.

Another high of sorts was created when English cricketers Andrew Flintoff bagged by Chennai Super Kings and Kevin Pietersen bought by Bangalore Royal Challengers for Rs 7.5 crore each,

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Revenue sharing row keeps IPL matches off big screen

The chances of enjoying IPL matches on 75 mm screen is almost ruled out after Multi Screen Media Pvt Ltd (the new name of Sony Entertainment) and the major multiplex players couldn't settle the revenue sharing arrangement. The talks fell flat when Sony refused to grant telecast rights to multiplexes for anything less than 60% of the revenue earned through screening of IPL matches, according to industry sources.

In earlier stages, Sony had insisted on charging the multiplexes around 65 to 70% of the revenue, which the industry players found difficult to concede. Additionally, the multiplex owners would have had to pay a tax on a full house for showing the event. "Such is the tax structure, that in case of category of special event sunder which the IPL format falls, we have to pay taxes for a full house even if only five people turn up. After sharing 60% of revenue with Sony and paying a tax to government for full occupancy, what would we be left with?" said a source.

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It's Khan vs Khan today!

Last year it was Amitabh versus Shah Rukh on Star Plus as KBC 2 battled it out with KBC 3. This year the war has turned more complicated, with entertainer Shah Rukh taking on entrepreneur Shah Rukh, as Kya Aap Paanchvi Paas Se Tez Hain ( KAPPSTH ) on Star Plus duels with the IPL match on the Sony Max channel on Friday.

An industry source says Star has invested over Rs 10 crore promoting KAPPSTH on and off air, excluding the ad spots the channel gives from the quota of its own on-air time. On Kaun Banega Crorepati's (KBC) first launch, Star had spent Rs 5 crore on on air promotion and Rs 2.5 crore on off-air promotion.

Media planners are putting their bet behind KAPPSTH, saying historically well-promoted programmes have managed a good opening, if not a sustainable viewership. "It has been eight days of IPL already.
After a great opening in terms of viewership that IPL matches registered, the TRPs have declined in the weekdays and the viewership is expected to stabilise around Saturday. If one has to predict about this weekend, KAPPSTH definitely has brighter prospects than its counterpart. Traditionally also, well-promoted programmes get good openings," said Nandini Dias, COO of Lodestar Universal.

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