Doordarshan puts VCA in a spot

According to sources, the VCA had initially received advertisement cheques worth Rs 4 lakh, but the advertisers have demanded the money back looking at the ‘viewership’ of the first Test held in New Delhi.

‘‘We were forced to return the cheques because Doordarshan was not showing the match live on the National Network, while DD Sports has been boycotted by the cable operators. The advertisers were not ready to put money on two-hour National viewership,’’ he said. It may be recalled that DD had beamed the first Test live on the DD-I two hours a day an hour each in the morning and evening.

The number of banners booked for the first and second floors of the stadium may hardly touch the double digit mark, but the only saving grace for the VCA were the boundary runners, the rights of which have been purchased by an Australian company Sporting Frontiers for Rs 50 lakh. VCA also entered into a five-year contract with a local newspaper group for Rs one lakh for advertising on the pillars between the stands.

Gate money is another worry for the host association. Only 10 per cent tickets of the 35,000-capacity stadium have been sold. The revelation that the one-day international between India and South Africa, held here in March this year, was fixed is another reason for the dying interest of the spectators,’’ he argued.