ICC media rights: Audit firm PWC opts out of bid process; Cricket body says they were on board for 'due diligence'

PWC), advising the International Cricket Council (ICC) on the sale of media rights for the next cycle beginning with the India market, are learnt to have quit the process. While precise details of why PWC have decided to opt out are unclear, their exit comes on the heels of broadcasters constantly reminding the ICC that the process set in place for sale of rights is convoluted and lacks transparency. When asked for details, ICC told TOI: "PWC were contracted to support the ICC's media rights sales process in two phases. Firstly, providing background checks as part of the due diligence on all bids which is ongoing. The second element was to act as an independent third party to hold the financial bids securely between submission and opening. "Recent clarifications to bidders confirmed that bids can be submitted and opened simultaneously meaning PWC's services were no longer required to securely hold financial bids. PWC continue to support the process in other respects." The development takes place after a series of exchanges between the ICC and the broadcasters when the latter kept telling the governing body that the media rights tender was "confusing" and kept requesting for amendments. Here is a FAQ on the points that broadcasters had raised over the last one month.

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The International Cricket Council (ICC), by way of a tender document, has asked interested broadcasters to come forward and submit bids.

Last week, the ICC brought about certain changes to the tender process in an attempt to assuage the broadcasters' fears and shared the same in a list of further clarifications, which can be read here.

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