BCCI anticipates exceeding $1 billion through home media rights

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) expects its cumulative earnings from selling separate TV and digital rights for India's 88 home games to exceed USD 1 billion (about INR 8200 crore) by March 2028. In this new cycle, India will have 21 home games against Australia along with 18 games against England out of the 25 Tests, 27 ODIs, and 36 T20Is.

During the 2018-23 cycle, the BCCI earned USD 944 million (about INR 6138 crore) from Star India, with a fee per international game of INR 60 crore (digital plus TV). The BCCI will solicit separate bids for TV and internet rights after earning INR 48,390 crore during the Indian Premier League (IPL) media rights auction. The bidding procedure will be performed via e-auction as it is regarded as the most transparent method for optimum price discovery. The auction is scheduled for the first week of September 2023.

"It is difficult to put a number right now as the value of dollar to rupee has also changed from the exchange rate of last time. But don't be surprised if digital rights earns way more than TV," a broadcaster involved in this business was quoted as saying by NDTV.

There will be only three serious bidders if Zee-Sony conglomerate joins the bidding war: Senior Official

According to a senior official from one of the broadcasters, several companies have purchased the bid document worth Rs 15 lakh. Meanwhile, the three serious bidders for India's home matches are going to be Disney-Star and Reliance-Viacom, while Zee could be a big contender if the merger with Sony is completed before the auction.

"It is too early to comment but there will be only three serious bidders if Zee-Sony conglomerate joins the bidding war. There are many things one needs to factor in. Two entities - Reliance and Star - had gone all out for IPL rights. Star also owns the ICC tournament property. So how much each will stretch is a question," a senior official from one of the broadcasters said.