[Archive Blog (04/09/15) Indo – Pak Series and its Future !!

Couple of days ago read a comment of Shoaib Akhtar in which he said Indo – Pak Series should be called off until and unless tension between both Country get resolves. I am agrees with him and respect his great piece which he put infront of the World. We can’t cheer any kind of business relationship in the cost of war. Business relationship means total business whatever its currently going on should be pause. It’s should not looks like that India or I should say BCCI only don’t want Indo – Pak Series.

Udhampur Terror Attack put another tie in the strain political relationship between India – Pakistan. Months before we can think about the possibility of 1 Cricket series but now its almost dusted. But still people of PCB trying their level best although it’s all upto BCCI and Indian Govt. only. Eventually powerful leaders of both Govt. and Opposition carrying the bag of BCCI.

Couple of months ago when everyone was hoping for a series BCCI had 1 problem and that is TEN SPORTS is a official broadcaster of this series in India at Pakistan they having rights jointly with PTV SPORTS. Means we could have sure shot confirmation by now if TEN was not having contract with PCB or if they decide not to go away with BCCI featured series just like they did with India – Sri Lanka series ? Or BCCI is totally dependent on Govt. order although they’re a private body and not govern by Central at all. Now we all know the sweet relationship of ZEEL and BCCI.

Indo – Pak series called as a money whoppy series with high stakes, black and white get involves from all the possible channels. Although we having less series against each other in last 6 decades still those considered at houseful and superhit. Obviously series will automatically become strong after the arch rivals involvement. Even if not arch rivals then also both Country’s cricketers are enough to make a franchisee teams grand just like Pakistani players involvement in the inaugural season of IPL.

2008 where the time India faced the biggest blow of a life, Mumbai terror attacks put us kneel down and Indian Govt. suspended the cricketing relationship with Pakistan. Only Cricket not others though. Since Cricket gave a huge a revenue to Pakistan so better cut it and tat too series like Indo – Pak which is Golden Bird to claim.

Just remember a small series of Pakistan Tour of India at late 2012 – 13. Pakistan clinch that Series by 2 – 1 after leveling T20 series by 1 – 1, 2 Boards made a good money along with Sponser and Broadcaster, Broadcaster goes 1 step ahead and let the Operator reminds that “Operator need Broadcaster, Broadcaster don’t.”

From more then a decades we know how much Cricket is important then anything else between both Countries thats a reason whatever happens we switched off the cricketing plug. We still welcomes Film Stars, Musicians across the Border and infact our Performers too go there and perform. We enjoying their contents so does they, News channels took things 1 step ahead when they have joint simulcast shows between 2 channels, you will often got such during Worldcup – Cricket Match or during Political discussion, Indian viewer also knows about Hamid Mir a very well known Journo from Pak.

It’s not like BCCI competely locked the doors from Pakistani cricketers. Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar, Ramiz Raja did work for BCCI Production over the years since they’re committed with STAR SPORTS and STAR SPORTS have a rights of BCCI. Infact Waqar Yonus was once coaches Sunrisers in IPL and Wasim still associating with KKR, Ramiz and Shoaib are the well known voice of IPL and defunct CLT20, Pakistani umpire Asad Rauf was regular with Umpire’s Hat till his name raised in Fixing. Aleem Dar also standed in many IPL matches if he was not busy with ICC fixture. Fromer Pakistani Cricketer Azhar Mahmood even represented KXIP since he hold the British Passport and not have contract with PCB. So it is wrong to say that Cricketing relationship is totally cutted since 5 – 6 peoples make a huge difference.

Currently many people who live Cricket get 1 thing to say and that is “Why India fearing from Pak to play ?”, why we will fear we got the world’s best team but since because of political strain we’re not playing although we continue to have cricketing relationship with Bangladesh and Srilanka despite of decades long rift on Indo – Bangla Border agreement and problem with Sri Lanka over Indian Fisherman’s.

Literally India would have no Cricket in Asia if Politics get involves because we all know every Country is right on their own point of view. Even if BCCI looking to scrap Indo – Pak series it shouldn’t look like that Political agenda is a excuse to get rid from the series because they don’t want bunch of few people to earn some bucks and made headlines in TV ratings. BCCI signed a MoU which they shouldn’t if Govt. can enforce them or they’re bound to follow some rules. BCCI can be straight forward in this issue rather then thinks to get and provides benefits for their partners.

[Archive Blog (12/1/2017)] Why BCCI is still a Honeycomb for many ?

Last week and was a first official day of 2017 which bring no good news for Former BCCI President and Secretory as they was sacked by Honorable Supreme Court from their duty in Cricket after Lodha Committee's recommendation. Former BCCI President was not pleased and why would anyone ? BCCI is a honeycomb on which everyone wants a authority and suddenly no one wants a Law and Order on BCCI which is not a Govt. organization. Ownership in Cricket Administration is important because of first India is a Youth-Centric Country, second peoples love with Cricket. Peoples love with the game Cricket can be considered from a example of Warm-up Match between India A vs. England and why this match was so important ! because MS Dhoni was leading the side for the one last time, normally Warm - up matches doesn't telecast but this match was, also it was a kind of a crowd puller match with almost houseful crowd in Brabourne Stadium (Mumbai). People was so enthusiast and was passionate towards the game which registered the capacity crowd who witness Dhoni to lead the side for one last time, he didn't left the game but quit the captaincy only. Due to massive response only the business involve with Brand BCCI is flourishing and everyone wants a peace of pie which is quite tasty. 

BCCI involved with a huge numbers game and why not ! From Broadcaster to Sponsorship it opens the wing of opportunity to promote themselves during the game and make a money from it. We saw transition but never saw drought in talent and tats why peoples interest towards the game remain the same as everyone picking up their hero and watching them play. Because of Talents in Indian Cricket concept like IPL become a star-studded show and after 6 years if IPL's value gone double then its because of Indian players and not because of Overseas players. Lodha committee's one of the biggest issue was money involved in CLT20, after the cancellation of CLT20 brain behind the league STAR India paid $300mn to get rid of it and State Associations involving it was start cashing the amount, as per some Media report the amount was Rs. 60 crore and when Lodha committee freezes the account of BCCI, people behind the org. start questioning the series possibility of India vs. England 2016 Test Series, Justice Lodha afterwards explained the blocking of Bank Account although series did concluded quite successfully as well. There is a old say that "you will found yourself in difficult situation after having more then enough" and tats applied with BCCI quite well. The proudest property of BCCI, IPL bogged down in corruption and people involved was the owner of IPL Franchisee and interestingly one of them was Son of Law of that time's BCCI President.

In the power of BCCI some people works behind the scene and some represents from outside, no matter whatever the ideology everyone having in real life when it comes to Cricket everyone take care of each others back. Today whosoever defending BCCI has interest behind and whosoever are opposing are the people who left behind the juncture and want to see their time to up, in the game of cricket you will see allies between BJP - Congress and BJP vs. BJP to fight or save the power of the dominate sport body of India and tats what its quite unfortunate for the game, after fixing and irregularities in IPL we saw many headlines, many faces came into the real picture, some known ones got exposed as well tat was quite a disastrous moment in the history of BCCI which still keeping the black spot in IPL which will never vanish no matter whatever solution gonna use on it. Before matter gone to court couple of friends became "temporary enemies" because they wanted to save the BCCI from some monitoring but they couldn't and after Supreme Court's sacking of BCCI Officials those temporary enemies became friends again.

After implementation of Lodha committee's recommendation we saw lots of Former Cricketers too forced to left the Association which indeed a proof that its not like Former Cricketers was never in Administration but yes they was the face of the proceedings. I always believe that selecting the new Chief of BCCI will be the most difficult task, because Cricketers who're not in Administration are either busy on their own Business (business of Sports Management etc.), Cricket Academies or Govt. Sector Job and the other those who're not in Administration but are in BCCI like as Commentator or Members of different kind of Committees never voiced up on what they feel but rather then what the Cricket Body unitedly believes in. Transforming BCCI shouldn't end with change in leadership but also to bring transparency in Selection Criteria, some players keeps on waiting for the opportunities and some got chances after chances. Keeping politics away from BCCI is keeping the game's respect Nationally and Internationally, giving everyone a fair chance. Top face fighting for the Cricket Administration was boasting India's Top Performance as a example of BCCI's Management but its not because of Administration but its because of the players who're coming from difficult circumstances to live their dreams.

After Supreme Court's decision one thing is proved that no one is bigger then law and order and everyone has to respect it. Second thing that this judgement will also gonna impact other Sports Authority in India which is also running with a similar concept in hand. Transparency is the biggest key of any successful organization, its not like that anything is licit if results are desired and as per the expectation. Any malpractice can't be equalize with success, infact that will fade the desire success as always. World Cricket knows the importance of Indian Cricket through Financially tats why BCCI's stand is always important in any given rules and regulation towards the International Cricket. Conflicts of Interest is harmful and its equalizer of corruption, in Indian Cricket after Match Fixing, IPL Controversy was one of the worst moment, infact series of allegations years after years was good enough to hamper the credibility of the league and Board who is organizing it. International Cricket may moved out from the entire controversy but tat incident also highlighted the ugliest drama to keep the power of the biggest Chair. Any non profit organisation if aims to gain then it shouldn't gets the treatment like "Trusts" nor can run from its deeds.

[Archive Blog (3/1/2017)] #Demonetization cleaning the chunk from TV, hit the local brand

After 50 days where Aam Aadmi yet to get a relief from the effect of Demonetization. There a certain things from which we got relief, first from increasing a number of Television Shopping Channels, second from local brands. In last 4 - 5 years ever since Cable era changed from Analog to Digital the number of News Channels increased like nothing. During this timeline business of Online Shopping too flourished because its quite convenient, you will get everything in one place, and also for small business owner its a platform to sold the product and spread the reach into Nationwide. Sale of local brands as well which are assembling from the Chinese hardware are too increased in this time being. From online shopping quality may be compromised but we trust it because of its return policy as we can return the product in the first instance.

When First PVT. TV channel started it became a place for ESSEL Group to promote their "Asian Sky Shop" on their own ZEE TV. Later shops like Telebrands, TVC captured the slot of our Television screens with imported products and surely few played a gambled by ordering it. But the legacy continues till at this moment of time and now entire scenario is divided into 2. One is foreign backed total online shopping portals and another are domestic backed TV shopping based companies. When you compare companies like Flipkart, Snapdeal they gets a big amount of chunks as a support from outside at the same time Amazon and Ebay are itself a American major. Snapdeal also partnered with DEN Network to own "TV Shop" as a part of it they're selling economical product as their Local venture. In this following list ShopClues may be sharing the spot with Ebay in terms of popularity and sale, but figure can differs !!

Lots of companies emerged and revamped during this era like Planet M Shopping became Shop Direct, After the exit of Star India Network, South Korean Home Shopping major CJ O Shopping partnered with P5 Asia Holding Investments (Mauritius) to continue its footprint in India as Shop CJ Network both in TV and Website. Among all HomeShop 18 and Naaptol expanded during this period and didn't shaken up, with growing Digitization HomeShop 18 and Naaptol found buying slots in both Cable and DTH, Naaptol has maximum reach in TV not only partnered with Home Channels of different operators but also own two Hindi shopping channels as Naaptol Blue and Green respectively along with regional language channels as well as first HD shopping channel in India. 

Meanwhile couple of groups too are in business but as the market is not a guarantee for success. Groups like Times Shopping, Anand India was trying to spread their wings but couldn't reached into that height. India Today Group even sold their 80% stakes of their thirsty shopping venture to ZEE Media. Akshay Kumar and Shilpa Shetty too jumped in a shopping venture named Best Deal TV partnering together after a split in a romance between two decade back, they even partnered with South Star Vikram to expand the business as in Tamil Market. There is no word to deny is that in India whether startup business are getting enough space to grow or not Shopping business are definitely a idea on which business houses are working and trying our level best according to the opportunity to grab.

Its a quite a debate to make that after demonetization when big online shops got hit and impacted then what would have the faith of the 2nd league companies ? Flipkart CEO himself admitted the hammer in business and criticizes the implementation of demonetization, The biggest boom for online shopping was Cash on Delivery (COD) and when the existing cash gone illegal then how people will buy and how company got to do business ? Companies like HBN, Akshay - Shilpa's Best Deal TV decided to rap the business for the moment because of their concentration in only COD mode. ZEE Media may be supporting Demonetization and may be as of now keeping the shopping brand in cold bag but have to be accountable for the purchases they made. India Mobile brand Micromax also decline sale either from their own Web channel or via different portals. Another Mobile manufacturer Jivi Mobile stop financing a slot of a promo channel for their mobile.

Carriage fee is a big revenue maker for the operators and for the shopping brands digitization boosted a lot as now more slots are created and competition is also increased in which operators are forced to provide more channels from starter pack itself. For operators and shopping brands its a win - win situation also to fulfill the alleged demand of people from digitization. After demonetization people stood in a queue and exchanged the note to fulfilled their daily needs and for many days luxurious life was like over for them. Indeed shopping is too like luxury to live, after online shopping came few people got the hobby to buy number of back cover for their fav. mobile so that they change it in a week time, some people has some other, indeed few writer termed shopping as hobby and not a need and thats why it matters in the Country's economy when demonetization kind of moment impact the individual and local vendors and who're a part of some online portal.