Viacom18 wants closed-envelope bids for media rights junked, ICC disagrees

Experts have said the ICC believes its international media rights could fetch more money than those for the Indian Premiere League (IPL), and it has adopted a two-round process to make the auction str

Indian broadcaster Viacom18 has asked the International Cricket Council (ICC) to "safeguard the sanctity" of media rights auction for some 700 matches and cancel bids made in closed envelopes.

The ICC is auctioning media rights for its international tournaments for an eight-year cycle, from 2024 to 2031. Apart from Viacom18, three other broadcasters – Disney Star, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited, and Sony Pictures Networks India – have submitted technical bids for the e-auction. These bids were submitted till August 22. The final bids will be handed over on August 26, Friday.

In a letter to the ICC