Amazon-Reliance tussle likely in IPL media rights bidding war

With the Indian Premier League (IPL) set to witness a broadcasting change post-2022, many new entrants are certain to announce their arrival in the market and aim to acquire the telecasting rights of the cash-rich league for the seasons to come.


While Sony and Walt Disney are already giants in the said industry, Reliance and Amazon are understood to express their desires in fighting for the media rights of the IPL. With the tournament having an unprecedented demand in the market, the cost to gain its telecast rights may shoot up to a record INR 500 billion, reported Reuters.


"Cricket is the second-biggest sport in the world with two-and-a-half billion fans and IPL is like its Super Bowl. If you're not there, you do not exist," head of Parimatch, Anton Rublievskyi quoted.


While at first Sony and Zee's merger seemed to have sealed the deal, the latest arrivals of Reliance and Amazon have upped the competition. The present holder of IPL's television and digital rights Disney-owned Star India are currently running behind in the race as their fierce competitors have pockets filled with a whopping sum of money.


Notably, Reliance is raising $1.6 billion to invest in its broadcasting venture Viacom18. The deal holds importance and will decide the way IPL media rights are heading to.


"Winning this bid is critical to Reliance's long-term plans for its Jio platform and its digital expansion. Everything that has happened at Viacom18 in the last few months, like buying rights to the Spanish La Liga and setting up a sports channel, has been building up to this," a source close to the company said as recited to Reuters.


Amazon's Prime Video has started live streaming cricket matches. They are also interested in putting the IPL matches under their base but the lack of a TV channel makes their case a bit shaky.


With the rise in the cost of rights, industry experts have been pointing towards its sustainability and lack of profit to the company.


"The IPL has got to a stage where it's now too big to fail and therefore everyone who is part of the ecosystem is propping it up," advertising expert Meenakshi Menon stated.


Meanwhile, the BCCI secretary Jay Shah informed Reuters that the board aims to derive the right value for the IPL.


"We will do our best to derive the right value a tournament like the IPL deserves," Jay Shah mentioned.

Discover more
Top Stories
news

AUS vs SL | 5th T20I: Sri Lanka end series on positive note after win in close encounter

Sri Lanka ended the T20I series against Australia on a positive note after winning the final match by 5 wickets in Melbourne on Sunday. Needing 9 off the final over while chasing 155, Dasun Shanaka gathered 8 runs in the first three balls despite a dot delivery first up from Kane Richardson. He scored a couple on the second ball of the over while striking a maximum on the third to bring down the equation to 1 off 3. Shanaka then played the fourth delivery onto his stumps while trying a scoop to get dismissed for 35 off 31. Richardson later couldn't bowl any further he felt some pain in his leg and walked off. Daniel Sams then came in to complete the proceedings and it took Sri Lanka just one ball to clinch a win. The visitors had lost wickets at regular intervals and were reduced to 71/4 before Kusal Mendis and Shanaka joined hands to provide the resistance. The two batters stitched a partnership of 83 runs for the fifth wicket before Shanaka was out. Mendis on the other side remained unbeaten at 69 off 58. Australia earlier rode on some fine piece of batting from Matthew Wade who scored 43* off 27 which included two maximums and as many fours during the course of the innings to help the side put 154/6 in 20 overs. While the hosts suffered a defeat in this game, they had already clinched the series after winning the first four matches. "We were outplayed in the powerplay. That's where the difference was. The p'ship between Wade and Sams was outstanding. It's been a fantastic series. For us to grow as a team has been fantastic well. Sri Lanka are a dangerous side To win five is really tough in this format," Finch said after the match.

news

James Faulkner caused deliberate damage to hotel property: PCB

All-rounder James Faulkner left the PSL 2022 after there was a payment dispute between him and the board. "I apologise to the Pakistan cricket fans. But unfortunately I've had to withdraw from the last 2 matches and leave the @thePSLt20 due to the @TheRealPCB not honouring my contractual agreement/payments. I've been here the whole duration and they have continued to lie to me. It hurts to leave as I wanted to help to get international cricket back in Pakistan as there is so much young talent and the fans are amazing. But the treatment I have received has been a disgrace from the @TheRealPCB and @thePSLt20. I'm sure you all understand my position," he tweeted. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Quetta Gladiators then issued a statement and called Faulkner's allegations baseless and further added that he won't be a part of the PSL events in future. "In the seven years of the HBL Pakistan Super League, no player has ever complained about the nonfulfillment of the PCB's contractual obligations," the PCB said. "It has been unanimously agreed by the PCB and the franchises that Mr James Faulkner will not be drafted in future HBL Pakistan Super League events," the statament also added. The things got so heated up during a discussion with a PCB official that Faulkner threw his helmet and the bat on a onto a hotel chandelier from the lobby floor balcony. The all-rounder later paid for the damages before leaving for the airport. "Prior to his departure on Saturday morning, Mr Faulkner caused deliberate damage to the hotel property and as a result had to pay damages to the hotel management. The PCB later also received reports and complaints from the immigration authorities that Mr Faulkner had acted inappropriately and abusively at the airport," the statement from the PCB read.