Reports: Combined bid for IPL TV and digital right breaches INR 40,000 crore mark

The TV and digital media rights for the prestigious Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023-2027 cycle e-auction started on June 12 (Sunday). According to reports, the combined bid for both television and digital platforms right has gone above the INR 40,000 crore mark.

There are a total of four specific packages in which the auctions are being conducted for 74 matches per edition for a five-year time between 2023 and 2027 with a provision of increasing the number of matches to 94 in the final two years. The process has been divided into a total of four packages (A, B, C, and D).

Package A is exclusive for TV for the Indian subcontinent while package B is for digital rights for the same region. Package C is for selected games in each season while Package D is for all games combined rights (TV and digital) for overseas markets.

Amazon pulled out of IPL media rights auction race: Reports

As per the reports, leading multinational company Amazon had withdrawn its name from the IPL media rights auction race, sources confirmed to NDTV. Disney-Star, Sony, Viacom-Reliance, Zee, Fun Asia, Super Sport and Times Internet are in the fray to bag the media rights.

In the previous auction, Star India came on top against Sony Pictures to secure the IPL media rights for the 2017-2022 cycle with a bid of Rs 16,347.50 crore in September 2017. With this deal, the cost of one IPL match had become around INR 55 crore.

In 2008, Sony Pictures Network won the IPL media rights for a period of ten years after bidding INR 8,200. The most famous franchise-based league was expanded from eight to ten teams this edition with Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants being included from the 2022 season. The new entrants, Gujarat Titans (GT) went on to win the tournament in its first appearance.

Package A: Indian Subcontinent Television Rights

Package B: Indian Subcontinent Digital Rights

Package C: India Digital Rights 18-game non-exclusive pack

Package D: Rest of the world Television and Digital Rights

Package C Grouping: 18 or more consisting of opening match; Playoffs night games of double headers

– Package D groupings: Territory A: Asia, Australia, Canada, the Caribbean islands, Israel and New Zealand; Territory B: Middle East and North Africa; Territory C: South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa; Territory D: UK, Europe & Territory E: USA

Base prices

Package A: INR. 49 crore

Package B: INR 33 crore

Package C: INR 16 crore

Package D: INR 30 lakh per territory; and each bid must be done on per game basis