IPL Media Rights: The Digital Space Can Throw Quite A Bit Of Surprise – Arun Dhumal

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) conducted a mock auction on Monday (June 6) as they are set to sell the IPL media rights for the next cycle (2023-2027). The Indian cricket board experimented with the e-auction for four days in order to make the prospective bidders familiarise with the new concept.

The BCCI has segregated the IPL media rights into four bundles for the new cycle unlike a single bid was allowed last time with Star India Pvt Ltd bagging the rights for a whopping sum of INR 16,347 crore for the period of 2018-22.

IPL Media Rights scheduled on June 12

The e-auction is scheduled to take place on June 12 (Sunday) and the results are likely to be announced within 24-48 hours of the bidding process.

Transparency of the bidding process is most crucial: Arun Dhumal

The four categories of the IPL media rights for the next cycle are: TV Rights for the Indian subcontinent, Digital Rights, 18 games (inaugural game, weekend double-headers, 4 play-off fixtures), and the Rest of the World.

“The transparency of the bidding process is most crucial here. In this day and age, given the expected value of rights, approaching an exercise of this magnitude by calling for closed bids just doesn’t work,” BCCI treasurer Arun Dhumal told Times of India. 

“With the kind of tech advances we’ve seen over the last five years, we do expect the digital space to be keenly contested. It is a constantly evolving space that can throw quite a bit of surprise.

“And then again, in a country like ours, television is not disappearing anywhere in a hurry. So, the traditional media houses will be itching to bag the linear package given the reach and last-mile connectivity it has,” Dhumal added.

Star India Pvt Ltd, Viacom-18 Media Pvt Ltd, Sony Pictures Networks India Pvt Ltd, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited, Amazon Seller Services Pvt Ltd, Sporta Technologies Pvt Ltd (Dream 11) are the other parties who have purchased the Invitation to Tender (ITT) documents, worth INR 25 lakh.

Also Read: American Giants Google, Amazon Join Race For IPL Media Rights – Reports