Viacom18 Bags Packages B And C As IPL Digital Rights Rake In More Than TV
The big headline from this IPL media rights auction was the emergence of digital as the big brother, as it trumped the amount that was paid for the TV rights.
It has been a big pay day for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) as the lucrative media rights for the Indian Premier League has raked in the expected billions for the cricket board. After the fate of the all important packages A (TV rights) and B (Digital rights) were decided on Monday, broadcasters slugged it out for package C, which has a select non-exclusive rights deal.
Reliance's Viacom18, won the rights for package C with a Rs 3,258 crore winning bid. As a result of this, Viacom, who also won the rights for Package B with a pay out of Rs 20,500 crore (Rs 50 crore per match for 410 matches), ended up paying Rs 23,758 crore for the entire bouquet of digital rights.
"Viacom18 bags digital rights with its winning bid of Rs 23,758 cr. India has seen a digital revolution & the sector has endless potential. The digital landscape has changed the way cricket is watched. It has been a big factor in the growth of the game & the Digital India vision," BCCI secretary Jay Shah confirmed in a tweet.
Viacom18 bags digital rights with its winning bid of Rs 23,758 cr. India has seen a digital revolution & the sector has endless potential. The digital landscape has changed the way cricket is watched. It has been a big factor in the growth of the game & the Digital India vision.
— Jay Shah (@JayShah) June 14, 2022
This figure is slightly more than what Disney Star paid (Rs 23,575 crore) to retain their TV telecast rights, which was confirmed by BCCI secretary Jay Shah in his tweet.
Iam thrilled to announce that STAR INDIA wins India
— Jay Shah (@JayShah) June 14, 2022
TV rights with their bid of Rs 23,575 crores. The bid is a direct testimony to the BCCI's organizational capabilities despite two pandemic years.
The big headline from this IPL media rights auction was the emergence of digital as the big brother, as it trumped the amount that was paid for the TV rights. The value of each IPLÂ match based on these numbers currently stands at a little over Rs 115 crore.
The Package D, which included rights for the Rest of the world, was won for a bid of Rs 1058 CRÂ
In the end it was the BCCI that laughed its way to the bank, raking in a total sum of Rs 48,390 crore for the packages A, B, C and D.
"I am thrilled to announce that STAR INDIA wins India TV rights with their bid of Rs 23,575 crores. The bid is a direct testimony to the BCCI's organizational capabilities despite two pandemic years. Since its inception, the IPL has been synonymous with growth & today is a red-letter day for India Cricket, with Brand IPL touching a new high with e-auction resulting in INR 48,390 cr value. IPL is now the 2nd most valued sporting league in the world in terms of per match value!" Shah tweeted.
"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 and enjoys high quality cricket in world-class facilities. The BCCI will utilize the revenue generated from IPL to strengthen our domestic cricket structure starting from grassroots, to boost infrastructure and spruce up facilities across India and enrich the overall cricket-watching experience," he added.
This is nearly three times the amount that it had received for the previous 5-year cycle for the media rights as Star had paid Rs 16,347.50 in September 2017 to win the global rights (TV and digital).Â
"We made disciplined bids with a focus on long-term value. We chose not to proceed with the digital rights given the price required to secure that package. IPL is an important component of our portfolio of television channels in India, providing an incredible opportunity for us to showcase The Walt Disney Company's powerful global brands and iconic storytelling, as well as Disney Star's impressive collection of local original content, to millions of viewers in India," Rebecca Campbell, Chairman, International Content and Operations, The Walt Disney Company said in a statement.
In 2008, Sony Pictures Network won the IPL media rights for a period of 10 years with a bid of Rs 8200 crore. The global digital rights of IPL for a period of three years were awarded to Novi Digital in 2015 for 302.2 crore.
The tournament was expanded from eight teams to ten teams this year with Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants being included from the 2022 season. Gujarat Titans went on to win the tournament in its maiden season last month.