|
Many followers of cricket are disappointed by a media decision not to cover the Indian Premier League (IPL). It is too easy to blame the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) - which is responsible for selling the concept of the IPL - for being too money-oriented and greedy, as a wider perspective must be applied to their actions.
Sport today is a product which, like any other, must be marketed to be effective. No longer is it considered "an honour" to participate, it is winning that counts - nobody remembers who came in second. So to ensure fans of any sport get maximum entertainment, only the best sportsmen and women are chosen to participate. In these days of professionalism in sport it means paying top athletes good money to take part so as to ensure the crowds turn up and more money is gained by selling exclusive television or media rights.
The BCCI is not the first sport body to adopt exclusivity deals with media; it has been done before in World Cup Football, World Cup Rugby, Premier League Football and the Olympics. It is a sign of our times and we must expect to see it more often in future.
|
