IPL Media Rights 2023-2027: Indian Premier League – one of the well-established cricket leagues in the world starts to seek a new media partner as their media rights agreement with Star India Network ended last season.
Previously, Star India Network won the IPL broadcasting rights for the 2017-22 cycle for INR 16,347.50 crores for both digital and TV.
Introduced in 2008, the Indian Premier League’s fanbase increases in an uptrend without any doubt. Understanding this BCCI tries introduce a lot of attractive concepts almost every season.
One such notable addition is increasing the team’s count by adding 2 new IPL teams in the previous season where Gujarat Titans bagged the trophy by beating Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2022 final match.
This increase in fanbase proportionally increases the brand value of the IPL. Thus to move the IPL to the next stage, BCCI set a base price of INR 32,890 crores to own the IPL media rights for the 2023-2027 cycle.
IPL Media Rights 2023-2027 Tender Invitation
On March 29, 2022, BCCI announced the release of an Invitation to Tender for IPL Media Rights 2023-2027.
The Governing Council of the IPL invites bids from reputed entities to acquire the Media Rights for the Indian Premier League Seasons 2023-2027, through a tender process.
IPL Media Rights 2023-2027 Auction
IPL Media Rights 2023-2027: For the first time since the establishment of the IPL, BCCI decides to host IPL 2023-27 media rights via an e-auction on June 12, 2022.
IPL Media Rights Packages:
BCCI announced 4 specific packages in which package A is exclusive for TV for the Indian subcontinent while package B is for digital-only grouping for the same region.
Apart from packages A and B, there are 2 more packages on the list – package C which is an 18-game non-exclusive India digital rights with a base price of Rs 16 crore.
Lastly, package D is a combined (TV and digital) bracket for the rest of the world consisting of five territories where the base price for each of the five regions has been set to INR 30 lakh.
Media rights for the Middle East and the USA have gone to Times Internet. Star India retained the TV rights while Viacom18 won the digital rights for the Indian Premier League’s 2023-27 cycle.
The IPL 2023-27 media rights have earned INR 48,390 crores (digital+TV). Across five years of media rights, a total of 410 matches will be played where BCCI earns roughly INR 118 crore per match.
Star wins the TV rights for a whopping INR 23,575 crores while Viacom18 spends out INR 23,758 crore to claim Packages B & C for digital rights exclusively.
According to another report, seven broadcasters including Disney-Star, Sony, Viacom-Reliance, Zee, Fun Asia, Super Sport, and Times Internet were in the race to win media rights.
- Package A(TV Rights) – Star India retained for INR 23,575 crore
- Package B & C(Digital rights) – Viacom18 won for INR 23,758 crore
The IPL media rights 2023-27 touches a new high after the e-auction ends at INR 48,390.32 crores. IPL is now the 2nd most valued sporting league in the world in terms of per match value.
BCCI in their official announcement states: The successful bidders will acquire the Media Rights from IPL Season 2023 to IPL Season 2027 for a cumulative figure of INR 48,390.32 crores, subject to execution of definitive documentation and completion of formalities as required by BCCI, and other obligations specified in the ITT being completed.
BCCI President, Mr. Sourav Ganguly said: “The game has never been just about money, it is about talent. The IPL e-auction just showed how strong the game is in our country. The numbers should be the biggest motivation for all the young players to take their ability and Team India to the highest level.
“IPL’s growth story and its phenomenal rise in the sporting world is a result of people’s immense faith and belief in the BCCI leadership and its workforce to keep on delivering under all adversities. I am sure with the constant support of everyone in the eco-system we will be able to take brand IPL to new heights on the global sports stage.”
Change in IPL Format
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has hinted at increasing the number of Indian Premier League (IPL) games per season in the next cycle of 2023-27.
The immediate indications are that the number of games will add up to 410 with a progressive increase after every two seasons.
As per a report, it is learned that BCCI will host a total of 74 matches in the first two years(20203 and 2024), in the next couple of years, the number of games will increase to 84.
In the last couple of seasons, the match could be 94 although the BCCI has kept the option of 84 games also open. However, the bidders are believed to have been advised to go with the total of 410 games instead of 370 matches.
If BCCI decides to host a total of 94 matches, each team will play twice each, home and away – the regular format – followed by the four play-offs.
In the last season, all 10 teams are divided into 5 teams of 2 groups where a total of 74 matches are played. The last season followed a format like – each team will play twice against 4 other teams of the same group and once against four of the other group and twice against the remaining one team of the other group.
If IPL is played with 84 matches then each team will play twice against each side in one’s own group, twice against two of the other group and once against the remaining three of the other group.
As reported before, there would be 18 games in the special package for a 74-game season. It is now understand that there will be 20 games for an 84-game season and 22 games in a 94-game season.
In total, the number of games in Package C in five years will be 96, which include the opening match of every season, the playoffs and the night matches of the double-headers.
The break-up of 410 matches across five years are as follows
- 2023 and 2024 – 74 matches each
- 2025 and 2026 – 84 games each
- 2027 – 94 matches
IPL Broadcasting Rights Sofar
The IPL’s broadcast rights were originally held by a partnership between Sony Pictures Networks and World Sport Group under a ten-year contract valued at INR 8,200 crore.
Star India Network was the current holder of the IPL rights for the 2017-22 cycle, with a winning bid of Rs 16,347.50 crore for both TV and digital. Notably, the global digital rights of IPL for a period of three years were awarded to Novi Digital in 2015 for INR 302.2 crores.
