Justified Removal: Reason Behind Australian Podcast 'The Grade Cricketer' Erasing Its IPL Episodes
In a surprising turn of events, the beloved Australian cricket podcast, The Grade Cricketer, decided to pull their IPL content from all platforms following a "politely worded" legal warning.
Hosted bySam Perry and Ian Higgins, The Grade Cricketer has carved a niche for itself in the world of cricket, offering a blend of humor and insight. With an impressive roster of interviews, including the likes of Australian captain Pat Cummins, Glenn Maxwell, and even Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, the podcast has garnered a significant global following. Lately, their focus has been on the IPL, with a daily series titled 'The Big IPL Breakfast'.
Why the Sudden Disappearance of IPL Videos?
According to reports in the Sydney Morning Herald, the podcast received a legal notice from the BCCI and the IPL over the weekend. The notice concerned the unauthorized use of still images from IPL matches, which the BCCI deemed a breach of regulations since the images were used for commercial purposes rather than just editorial ones.
The videos featured sponsorship integrations, notably with Indian online grocery company BigBasket, which seemingly escalated the BCCI's concerns.
On Monday's episode, Perry informed listeners that all IPL-related material had been voluntarily removed to avoid potential sanctions or the loss of their digital presence. He emphasized that the channel had taken the decision themselves, and the content wasn't pulled down by the platforms.
Despite the removal, Perry reassured the audience that their IPL coverage would continue uninterrupted, and subsequent content would adhere to the BCCI's updated regulations. The duo is scheduled to embark on a trip to India later this week for a series of live shows in sync with the remainder of the IPL season. The BCCI has yet to officially comment on the matter.
Major photo agencies such as Getty Images consistently mark IPL images as available only for editorial purposes, thereby prohibiting commercial use.
IPL's Image Usage Policy
The IPL has stringent guidelines concerning the reuse of images from the tournament. Clause 7 of their terms and conditions states that licensed images should not be used for any commercial activity without prior written consent from the BCCI, which may be withheld at its discretion.
Clause 8 elaborates on the definition of commercial usage:
- Promotions or promotional materials (apart from promotion of editorial coverage of the Matches and Tournament in newspapers, magazines, and broadcast media);
- Advertising (including advertorials);
- Merchandising, as well as animations, avatars, and invitations.
Any use that generates financial value, suggests endorsement or sponsorship, or connects with any third party falls under the purview of commercial use[1].
These regulations apply widely and would be significant to podcasts or videos that intend to use IPL images commercially. To comply, content creators must secure explicit permission from the BCCI for commercial use.
[1] https://www.iplt20.com/the-iphigher-authority-regulations-for-broadcasting-and-media-coverage/Advertisement:Stay tuned for all the latest updates on IPL 2025, including live scores, team squads, news, team schedule, and more! The live streaming details for India, UK, and USA can be found here[2]. Check the updated points table, along with the Orange Cap and Purple Cap holders.
[2] Link to live streaming details here
- Glenn Maxwell, who has been a regular guest on The Grade Cricketer, may find it intriguing to learn that his podcast hosts, Sam Perry and Ian Higgins, agreed to pull IPL content from all platforms due to a legal notice regarding unauthorized use of IPL images for commercial purposes.
- Despite the removal of IPL-related material, the potential for The Grade Cricketer to secure the necessary permissions and resume commercial use of IPL images is considerable, as their podcast offers a unique blend of humor and insight that could appeal to a broad audience, including sports enthusiasts like Glenn.
- As The Grade Cricketer embarks on a trip to India for a series of live shows in sync with the remainder of the IPL season, they could potentially explore the possibility of discussing the IPL's image usage policies in their podcast, shining a light on the potential implications for other podcasts, sports enthusiasts, and content creators alike.
