The BCCI has opened the tender process for the next cycle of IPL television and digital rights beginning in 2018, and will accept bids until October 25. The television rights are currently held by Sony Pictures Network India (SPNI) and expire after the 2017 IPL season. Star India are in possession of the digital rights and the overseas media rights, except in the UK and the US, all of which also expire after IPL 2017.Interested parties will vie for television rights for the IPL in the Indian subcontinent until 2027, digital rights in the same region until 2022 and media rights for the rest of the world until 2022 as well. Bidders may bid for any combination from the above, a BCCI press release said.The open-tender process, BCCI president Anurag Thakur said, would ensure there was transparency: We dont want anything where anyone can point a finger at us.Speaking at a press conference in Delhi, Thakur said the process did not contravene the Lodha Committees recommendations on transacting official business. Where does this action say it defies the court order? I havent seen that.This is routine process, routine working of BCCI. I think the AGM on 21st is not far away; you will have to wait for three days to understand what business we can adopt and what actions will be taken during that time.One of the eligibility criteria for the bidders is to have no litigation with BCCI. Thakur said the board has lost a lot of money in legal battles in the past did not want a repeat of that. In 2015, the BCCI was directed to pay INR 12 crore ($1.8 million) to Nimbus communications for wrongful termination.We have been into litigation in the past where certain broadcasters have bid. In the first few years the rate is less, in the last few years the rate is more, he said. There is more litigation with them and BCCI has lost a lot of money in litigation as well as money which was supposed to be used for promotion of game. Broadcasting rights money is the major source of income for the cricket board.The existing contract, with SPNI, allows them the first right of refusal as well as the right to match a counter-offer. Their reaction to the IPL rights going up for bidding remains to be seen, although inside sources suggested they felt the BCCI was not honouring the original agreement.Thakur said he had invited SPNI to the bidding process. We have made it very clear that anyone who wants to participate, they have to come and participate. We believe in transparency, accountability as well as professionalism. Sony has been asked to participate in this. We were supposed to offer - this is our offer to them. Our offer is to come and participate in the bidding process.As far as IPL is concerned, we are very happy with Sony, Thakur said. They have been a good partner and have also put in a lot of effort to make the IPL the worlds most popular cricket league. In a way, we dont want any litigation and we dont want to deal with anyone who is already into litigation with the BCCI.BCCI chief executive Rahul Johri said the board was under no obligation to accept the highest financial bid. Two people can put similar amount of money but the value could be different, he said.Sometimes we get very similar bids but when the financial advisors look at what is the value of it, how it is spread over 10 years, the final definition of the best offer for the BCCI has to be left to the financial advisors.Johri said the financial due diligence of the process would be handled by Deloitte, and the legal due diligence would be handled by Amarchand Mangaldas.Asked why the television rights for the Indian subcontinent were awarded for ten years, Johri said the BCCI wanted to replicate the current cycle, which gave SPNI the rights from 2008 to 2017. In our country television is very well established, he said. If you look at most cricket tenders, eight years-ten years have been the norm. Thats why we went for 10 years. The area where trends are changing very fast is digital, thats why we have reduced digital to five years.The Invitation To Tender document will be available from Monday. While the last day for purchase has been set for October 18, parties interested in the bid could seek clarifications from the BCCI on the tender process till October 4.ESPN has a long-term collaboration with Sony Pictures Networks (SPN) for the launch of SONYESPN-branded television channels and digital assets in India and the subcontinent Cheap Tigers Jerseys . Kuznetsov, who was selected by the Capitals in the first round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, has been playing for his hometown team Chelyabinsk Traktor of the KHL. Detroit Tigers Pro Shop . Arsenal failed to take full advantage of its main rivals stumbles on Saturday as substitute Gerard Deulofeu levelled with a hard shot from a tight angle in the 84th minute to give Everton a deserved point. Ahead of a crucial fortnight that will see them play against Napoli in the Champions League, Manchester City and Chelsea, Arsenal leads by five points ahead of Liverpool and Chelsea. https://www.cheaptigers.com/ .ca look back at each of the Top 10 stories of 2013. Today, we look back at Boston Strong - a citys recovery from tragedy. Detroit Tigers Store . "Trying to breathe," he said with a grin. Bernier stopped 42 of 43 shots on Monday night, including all 22 in a hectic middle frame, his heroic performance propelling the Leafs toward an undue point in their final game before the Christmas break. Wholesale Tigers Jerseys . Pettersen, winner of last years Evian Championships, had nine birdies and three bogeys, holding off a series of challengers led by Marion Ricordeau of France. The second-ranked Norwegian made her season debut after missing the LPGA Tours opening event last month in the Bahamas because of a shoulder injury. The NCAA will move seven championship events this academic year from the state of North Carolina, including the first and second rounds of the 2017 NCAA mens basketball tournament, because of the states controversial HB2 law.The NCAAs Board of Governors made the announcement late Monday night. The decision comes on the heels of the NBA moving the All-Star Game in February from Charlotte to New Orleans.The board issued a statement saying, Current North Carolina state laws make it challenging to guarantee the host communities can help deliver on that commitment if NCAA events remained in the state.The NCAA said deciding factors in moving the events were that the North Carolina law invalidated any local law that treats sexual orientation as a protected class or has a purpose to prevent discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender individuals.The NCAA cited that the HB2 law makes it unlawful to use a restroom different from the gender on ones birth certificate, regardless of gender identity.The NCAA also pointed out that the law provides legal protection for government officials to refuse services to the LGBT community.The seven events that will be moved:??Division I womens soccer championship College Cup, slated for Cary, N.C., Dec. 2 and 4.? Division III mens and womens soccer championship in Greensboro, Dec. 2-3.? Division I mens basketball tournament first/second rounds in Greensboro, March 17 and 19, 2017? Division I womens golf championship regional in Greenville, May 8-10.? Division III mens and womens tennis championship in Cary, May 22-27.? Division I womens lacrosse championship in Cary, May 26 and 28.? Division II baseball championship in Cary, May 27-June 3.North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory issued a statement Tuesday denouncing the NCAA for taking political retaliation and failing to show respect while the matter is being addressed in the courts.The issue of redefining gender and basic norms of privacy will be resolved in the near future in the United States court system for not only North Carolina, but the entire nation, McCrory said in the statement. I strongly encourage all public and private institutions to both respect and allow our nations judicial system to proceed without economic threats or political retaliation toward the 22 states that are currently challenging government overreach.Sadly, the NCAA, a multi-billion dollar, tax-exempt monopoly, failed to show this respect at the expense of our student athletes and hard-working men and women.The Duke mens basketball team is expected to be a preseason No. 1 and a likely top seed, meaning the Blue Devils probably would have been placed in Greensboro.Duke already had to switch a non-conference opponent after New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) banned the New York state university at Albany from playing at a North Carolina school due to HB2. New York, Minnesota, Washington, Vermont and Connecticut have banned state-sponsored travel to North Carolina.The deadline for submitting bids to host any of the championship games previously slated for North Carolina is Sept. 27. An announcement for the new sites is expected on Oct. 7. Private sale tickets for the NCAA basketball first- and second-round games in Greensboro will be refunded. That process already has started. ?Due to the TV component, the new NCAA Tournament sites will have to be in an Eastern timme zone.ddddddddddddFairness is about more than the opportunity to participate in college sports, or even compete for championships, said NCAA president Mark Emmert in a statement. We believe in providing a safe and respectful environment at our events and are committed to providing the best experience possible for college athletes, fans and everyone taking part in our championships.A number of musical acts also have canceled shows in the state due to the law.New sites for the championships are expected to be determined soon. Schools in the state of North Carolina can earn the right to host a postseason tournament event, but it would not be a championship event sponsored by the NCAA.NCAA vice president Dan Gavitt told ESPN that the mens basketball selection committee will have an expedited two-week bid process from interested sites to find a replacement for the first and second rounds of the tournament once slated for Greensboro in March. He said the plan would be to make the selection by mid-October.Gavitt said the new site will be in the East, joining the other East regional site, Buffalo. Orlando and Indianapolis, the Southeast and Midwest, are the other two Eastern Time Zone sites. The NCAA wants a fourth site. Gavitt said it will be tough to find one on short notice due to NBA and NHL scheduling. That means the venue may have to be an arena on a college campus, or one that has a college team as a primary tenant. South Carolina sites are now a possibility since the state removed the Confederate flag from its state capitol in Columbia.The future of the Belk Bowl in Charlotte is unclear. Although the NCAA could decertify the bowl this season -- the game cannot be played if its not certified -- an industry source said he doesnt think the NCAA will do so.The Belk Bowl matches teams from the SEC and ACC and is scheduled for Dec. 29 at 5:30 p.m. on ESPN from Bank of America Stadium.The NCAA is not going to do anything to make the Power 5 leagues mad, the source told ESPNs Brett McMurphy. It would be interesting, though, to see what would happen if the bowl game was between the Sun Belt and Conference USA, or any Group of 5 conferences.While the NCAA does not operate the postseason FBS bowl games or the College Football Playoff, it does certify bowls before each season. Since bowls already have been certified for the season, the NCAA could still decertify a bowl, making any student-athlete who participated in the game ineligible.The ACC also has not taken any action about moving its football conference championship game. Its been in Charlotte since 2010 and is in the midst of a six-year deal to remain in Charlotte through 2019.ACC commissioner John Swofford said his conference had previous plans to review the situation at this weeks ACC Council of Presidents meetingSo it would be premature to make any decisions or announcements, Swofford said.?In 2015, the NCAA threatened to move out of the state of Indiana, where its headquarters are located, if it didnt alter the states Religious Freedom Law. Gov. Mike Pence, the current GOP vice presidential nominee, clarified that the law wouldnt discriminate against the LGBT community.Information from ESPNs Brett McMurphy and Dana ONeil was used in this report. ' ' '