Commentators told to stop posting pictures, videos on match day

Diktat aimed at protecting broadcaster rights issued to players & teams; An IPL team was fined Rs 9 lakh for posting live match video

LAST WEEK, a former India batsman got a picture clicked of him commentating during an IPL game and posted it on social media. Soon after, he was asked to delete it by a BCCI staff member, whose job brief is to ensure commentators don't post pictures from any part of the stadium on match days.

However, the commentator, with nearly one million followers, refused to delete the photograph. Only after repeated requests did he agree. This is just one of the recent incidents involving commentators irking broadcast rights holders by posting pictures or videos on social media during an IPL game and breaking rules.

The Indian Express understands that BCCI and the official broadcasters want to stop individuals or teams from gaining social media followers by posting images or videos on match days.

The BCCI has now cracked the whip and informed all the commentators, players, IPL team owners and social media and content teams of all squads that breaking rules will have consequences.

One commentator's Instagram Live post from one of the IPL venues touched one million views, while an IPL team was fined Rs 9 lakh for posting a video clip of a live game they were playing. The two broadcast rights holders

“The broadcasters have paid big money for IPL rights. So commentators cannot post videos or photographs on match day on social media. There have been instances where commentators have done an 'Instagram Live' or posted a photo from the ground. One video got one million views.”

— Star India for television and Viacom 18 for digital — have monopoly over content of 'live matches' and the 'field of play'. IPL teams have been given a bit of a leeway.

IPL teams are not allowed to take footage or videos from games and directly post it on their social media handles but can post a limited number of images on match days. Teams are allowed to repost what BCCI or the IPL puts out on social media and so are commentators and players.

“The broadcasters have paid big money for IPL rights. So commentators cannot post videos or photographs on match days on social media. There have been instances where commentators have done an Instagram Live or posted a photo from the ground. One video got one million views. Even IPL teams can’t post videos of live games. They can post a limited number of photographs and can give live match updates on their social media platforms. If found guilty, a franchise will be fined,” a BCCI official said.

To ensure everyone sticks to the rules, designated staff members from a BCCI team, that oversees production of the IPL, keep a close watch on what is posted by commentators, IPL teams, players and those who are at the ground in official capacity.

The BCCI official said that a few players had recently posted pictures on match days and were told to delete them.

"Even players have been told to be mindful of social media posts on match days. All posts by players are being monitored. They had been informed of the rules but we found that some of them have not followed them," the official added.