Daily Management Review

Indian Cricket Tournament IPL’s Media Rights Auctioned For A Record-Breaking $6bn


06/15/2022




The internet and television rights to the Indian Premier League, the world's richest cricket tournament, have been auctioned for a record $6.02 billion over the next five years.
 
For $3.05 billion, Viacom18, backed by Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani, obtained streaming rights until 2027. The TV deal was kept by Disney-owned Star India for $3.02 billion.
 
The total value of the two deals exceeds the $2.4 billion spent by Star for the previous five seasons of the IPL. In terms of cost-per-match, the figures place the IPL alongside the NFL in the United States and the English Premier League.
 
The winning bid for the TV rights - which include 410 IPL matches - was around $7.36 million per game.
 
The internet streaming rights for the annual two-month competition beginning in 2023 were auctioned for $6.4 million per match.
 
"The fact that digital rights value was higher than television showcases the scale and future potential of streaming in India", Mihir Shah, vice president of Media Partners Asia, said.
 
The cash generated by the IPL, according to Jay Shah, secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, aids grassroots cricket in the country by sponsoring infrastructure renovations and facilities.
 
"Now, it's time for our state associations, IPL franchises to work together with the IPL to enhance the fan experience and ensure that our biggest stakeholder - the cricket fan - is well looked after," he added.
 
The IPL, one of the world's most watched sporting events, attracts many of the game's greatest cricketers, who are drawn in by hefty contracts.
 
(Source:www.independent.co.uk)