Bennett, Coleman & Co and Network 18 join race for Indian cricket rights

Bennett Coleman & Co, the Indian media group that publishes the Times of India newspaper, and media company Network 18 have acquired tender documents for the global media rights of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, according to the Business Standard newspaper.

The two companies join pan-Asian pay-television broadcaster ESPN Star Sports and Sony-owned broadcaster Multi-Screen Media (MSM) in the group of potential bidders who have acquired the tender documents.

The tender covers worldwide rights for all India national team Test, one-day international and Twenty20 matches held in the country, as well as some domestic tournaments, in the six-year period from 2012-13 to 2017-18. Bids must be submitted by April 2.