IPL Media Rights: BCCI Expects A Good Auction In Absence Of Global Giants Amazon, Facebook

The IPL media rights for the next cycle (2023-2027) will see Indian broadcast giants bid and vie for the broadcasting rights for the richest cricket league in the world for the next five years. The bidding for the new media rights will take place on Sunday (June 12) via the e-auction process (auction on internet/online) and is likely to conclude on June 13.

The BCCI has segregated the IPL media rights into four bundles for the new cycle, unlike a single bid that 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.

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.

Indian broadcasters to flex their muscles to bag IPL media rights for the next cycle

There are four major giants from India – Disney Star (current holders of IPL rights), Sony (previous holders of IPL media rights), Zee (Essel Group) and Viacom 18 JV (Joint Venture) with Lupa Systems (Uday Shankar and James Murdoch). Viacom is the new entrant in the mega auction rights while Zee and Sony have forged a merger amongst them but will be bidding separately.

We are hoping for a good auction: BCCI

SuperSport of South Africa is the only international broadcaster to bid for its territory in the fourth package. Times Internet is another contender left in the auction process.

“With the kind of participation we have got, we are hoping for a good auction. The idea behind having an e-auction is to have a free, fair, transparent, and all-inclusive auction so that all levels of players get a chance,” BCCI treasurer Arun Dhumal told Cricbuzz.

“The interactions we have had with all the players are encouraging, they are all on board and they are happy with the system that has been put in place. With the kind of interest they have shown, hopefully, we will have a good show,” he further said. 

Over the Top (OTT) giants Amazon Prime pulled out of the bidding process for the IPL media rights for the 2023-2027 cycle. According to a Cricbuzz report, Amazon wasn’t pleased with BCCI’s special package for 18 games (third category) as it removes the exclusivity of the digital rights. Amazon India didn’t get the nod from its headquarters in the USA to bid for the IPL media rights.

Facebook, who placed a bid of INR 3900 crore for the digital rights of IPL in the last auction, didn’t even purchase the Invitation to Tender (ITT) document for this auction process as IPL is not on their cards.

Also Read: Amazon Might Not Bid For IPL Media Rights – Reports