Aussie podcasters take down IPL 2025 videos after BCCI`s `polite` legal letter

The creators of the popular Australian podcast The Grade Cricketer have removed `every single video` related to their IPL 2025 coverage after receiving a `polite legal letter` from the BCCI.

Hosts Sam Perry and Ian Higgins disclosed that they received a legal notice from the BCCI and the IPL over the weekend, prompting the decision. “You may have noticed that every single video from our coverage of this year`s cricket tournament has been removed from YouTube, YouTube Shorts, Facebook, Instagram and X,” Perry announced on their latest podcast episode.

“This is something we`ve done ourselves, it hasn`t been done to us, we have removed these videos. On Saturday evening Australian time we received a very polite legal letter about elements of our content from the cricket tournament we speak to you about pertaining specifically to this season. As a result we decided to take those videos down,” he added.

According to a report by the Sydney Morning Herald, the legal notice concerned the use of still photographs from the IPL, which the BCCI alleged were employed for `commercial` rather than `editorial` purposes.

The IPL’s media guidelines clearly state that media-provided audio and video content are strictly for editorial use only. “Media are allowed to use the press conference video/audio on their respective websites or mobile applications for editorial use. The press conference video/audio cannot be uploaded on social media platforms including but not limited to YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter),” all IPL media advisories state.

Despite the legal intervention, Perry and Higgins assured listeners that their coverage of the tournament would continue. Both are scheduled to travel to India later this week for a series of live shows.

“It`s very important to note we`re going to continue to post coverage of the tournament, at the same cadence that we do. In fact, there`s going to be more in the next couple of weeks because we`re going to India,” Perry explained. “But our approach to content has been consistent for five years, we just now have a deeper understanding of what is and isn`t passing muster,” he further noted.

Following the developments, the show`s daily IPL segment, The Big IPL Breakfast, will be rebranded. “We are considering changing its name to the Big Cricket Tournament Breakfast,” Perry said.

(With PTI inputs)