Stalemate over, agencies to cover IPL

The stalemate over the media coverage of the second Indian Premier League is finally over with the major international news agencies agreeing to cover the event after the organisers withdrew contentious conditions imposed on the media outlets.

Ending uncertainty over the coverage of the event, starting April 18, the negotiation between the News Media Coalition (NMC), representing media interests worldwide, and the IPL authorities found a way out, clearing the decks for the worldwide coverage of the Twenty20 extravaganza.

The Associated Press (AP), Agency France-Presse (AFP) and Reuters would now be covering the five-week event after the IPL authorities withdrew their previous decision not to allow the agencies to distribute news and photographs to cricket websites.

"We are pleased to have reached this agreement with the global news media industry," IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi said in a statement.

"This will now allow the IPL fans across the world to gain access to the festival of sport and entertainment that is set to unfold here in South Africa over the next few weeks.

"It was always our intention to give an event like IPL its proper due by having it covered by the world media," Modi added.

NMC spokesman Andrew Moger hailed the outcome and said, "The outcome allows us to provide coverage of what promises to be a newsworthy spectacle. We are grateful for the time that the IPL's officers have put into our successful dialogue." 

AP's associate general counsel Dave Tomlin also welcomed the agreement and said it augured well for the game.

"It's a great outcome. Cricket is big news and we want to cover it. Now we can," Tomlin said.