Lalit Modi

So Lollet and ESPN and Disney, they go to IMG, the big international sports agency, which we didn't plan this at all. Amazing crossover with our Rolex episode. The same IMG. IMG, of course, helped Rolex design the testimony program that brought in Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer and then ultimately Roger Federer and all of the athletes who partnered with Rolex over the years. Yep.

So Lollet and ESPN and Disney, they go to IMG, the big international sports agency, which we didn't plan this at all. Amazing crossover with our Rolex episode. The same IMG. IMG, of course, helped Rolex design the testimony program that brought in Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer and then ultimately Roger Federer and all of the athletes who partnered with Rolex over the years. Yep.

So Lalit and ESPN and IMG, they go to the National Cricket Board in India that controls these broadcast rights. The National Cricket Board is called the BCCI, the Board for the Control of Cricket in India. And they say, hey, you sold these pretty cheaply to Rupert. we'll pay you more. We'll take them.

So Lalit and ESPN and IMG, they go to the National Cricket Board in India that controls these broadcast rights. The National Cricket Board is called the BCCI, the Board for the Control of Cricket in India. And they say, hey, you sold these pretty cheaply to Rupert. we'll pay you more. We'll take them.

And all of the other cricket-playing countries from England to Australia to Sri Lanka to the West Indies, they all have the same type of structure in their countries.

And all of the other cricket-playing countries from England to Australia to Sri Lanka to the West Indies, they all have the same type of structure in their countries.

Yes, it is the British Commonwealth countries that are historically the cricket-playing nations that are part of the ICC. Yep. So we've been talking about how these early cricket rights here in the 90s, Starr and Murdoch, they're able to get them super cheap. It actually wasn't until right before all this goes down that India even realized they had the broadcast rights to cricket at all.

Yes, it is the British Commonwealth countries that are historically the cricket-playing nations that are part of the ICC. Yep. So we've been talking about how these early cricket rights here in the 90s, Starr and Murdoch, they're able to get them super cheap. It actually wasn't until right before all this goes down that India even realized they had the broadcast rights to cricket at all.

They didn't even know. And this is crazy. You can't make this up. How do they find it out? In 1991, the South African national cricket team comes on a tour to India. It's international cricket. They're playing in India. And the South African cricket board is like, hey, we want to broadcast this. How much do we owe you for the rights?

They didn't even know. And this is crazy. You can't make this up. How do they find it out? In 1991, the South African national cricket team comes on a tour to India. It's international cricket. They're playing in India. And the South African cricket board is like, hey, we want to broadcast this. How much do we owe you for the rights?

Yep. And it's all tied up with the television penetration of India. Yes. The first time that it's even possible for these to become big national pride type events. So here, South Africa is just coming for a tour, national team, and the board is like, well, how much do we owe you for this? They don't know how to respond.

Yep. And it's all tied up with the television penetration of India. Yes. The first time that it's even possible for these to become big national pride type events. So here, South Africa is just coming for a tour, national team, and the board is like, well, how much do we owe you for this? They don't know how to respond.

So there's this great history of they're sort of like talking amongst each other. Well, what do we think we should say? We should say $10,000? Is that crazy? Let's start with 20. See what they say, $20,000. And then, you know, they can bargain us down from there. So they go to the meeting or phone call with one representative of the BCCI with the South African board.

So there's this great history of they're sort of like talking amongst each other. Well, what do we think we should say? We should say $10,000? Is that crazy? Let's start with 20. See what they say, $20,000. And then, you know, they can bargain us down from there. So they go to the meeting or phone call with one representative of the BCCI with the South African board.

And before the BCCI representative can open his mouth at all, the South African board member says, we're thinking $200,000. Does that sound good to you? Yeah. And then you guys are like, uh, yeah. Yeah, that sounds great. Let's do that. So they only just discovered that this thing had value. They even had these rights and that they could sell them.

And before the BCCI representative can open his mouth at all, the South African board member says, we're thinking $200,000. Does that sound good to you? Yeah. And then you guys are like, uh, yeah. Yeah, that sounds great. Let's do that. So they only just discovered that this thing had value. They even had these rights and that they could sell them.

Yep. And that guy, Del Maya, he was the BCCI board member who was negotiating with South Africa. He was the guy on the call who heard $200,000 and was like, okay, yeah.

Yep. And that guy, Del Maya, he was the BCCI board member who was negotiating with South Africa. He was the guy on the call who heard $200,000 and was like, okay, yeah.

Yep. He was like the proto-Lalit Modi. Lalit before Lalit. Yes.

Yep. He was like the proto-Lalit Modi. Lalit before Lalit. Yes.