ACC invites applications for Asia Cup media rights allocation for 2024-31 period

The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has decided to auction the global television, digital, and audio rights covering events such as the Men's Asia Cup, Women's Asia Cup, Men's Under-19 Asia Cup, Men's Emerging Teams Asia Cup, Women's Under-19 Asia Cup, and Women's Emerging Teams Asia Cup. The ACC has set a base price of USD 170 million for the Asia Cup alone.

Speaking of the Men’s Asia Cup, it will be the most sought-after arena in the auction. The term for the rights of this particular event starts from 2024 to 2031. The period will cover four editions in different in as many countries.

The upcoming edition of the Asia Cup will be held in India in 2025 in T20 format. The subsequent one, in ODI format, will be in Bangladesh in 2027. Meanwhile, Pakistan will host the tournament in 2029 in T20 format while Sri Lanka will host the tournament in 2031 in ODI format.

Also Read: Jay Shah-led ACC announces Women's Under-19 T20 Asia Cup

Broadcasters will be particularly drooling over the possibilities of showcasing the highest TRP grabber, India and Pakistan clash. The fervour is palpable when these teams meet and there are two default games between arch-rivals in every Asia Cup barring the finals meet-up.

An Invitation To Tender (ITT) has been sent to all the broadcasters and the winner will be decided through an e-auction, which has been a standard way of conducting the auction nowadays as the process was zeroed in as the most transparent. The parties will need to submit their bids in Dubai on October 30.

It is worth noting that other than the Men’s Asia Cup, there are three Women’s Asia Cup rights in the auction. The last Men’s Asia Cup was held in a hybrid model in Sri Lanka and Pakistan alike, whereas the women’s version was held in Sri Lanka.