In a development that was called “massive” by Jay Shah, secretary, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Viacom18 has successfully bid for the media rights for the Women’s IPL for a period of five years.
The company will pay INR951 crore ($116.7 million) for the five years until 2027. That corresponds to nearly $870,000 each match. A total of 22 matches will be played each season for the first three years, followed by 34 matches in the last two years of the cycle.
Viacom18 is a network backed by Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance Industries, the largest company in India on the basis of market capitalisation. It recently launched a sports channel Sports18, and owns a number of media outlets.
Women’s IPL
Shah tweeted: “After pay equity, today’s bidding for media rights for Women’s IPL marks another historic mandate. It’s a big and decisive step for the empowerment of women’s cricket in India, which will ensure the participation of women of all ages. A new dawn indeed!”
In an IPL release, Shah added: “I am really thrilled that we have had such an encouraging response for a league that will revolutionise women’s cricket not just in India but across the globe.
“This is a commitment I had made to the Board and our women cricketers and today we have taken one big leap. The broadcasters play a key role in taking the game to a wider audience and their active interest in the league is a clear indication that the Women’s Indian Premier League is headed in the right direction.”
The winning bid comprises three categories – TV, digital and combined (TV and digital) – and were sold globally, including India. ESPNCricinfo said that only two of eight parties that had bought the tender, turned up for the final bidding. Disney Star being the other company.
The men’s IPL is one of the costliest properties in cricket. It fetched a five-year deal of $6.2 billion in June last year with a per-match-value of INR58 crore ($7.43 million approx.).
The BCCI is scheduled to unveil the five Women IPL franchises on January 25.
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