Reports: BCCI considering roping in multiple broadcasters in new rights deal for IPL 2022

The IPL 2022 is scheduled to get underway on March 26. After making some smart and important buys at the two-day mega auction in Bengaluru last month, all the 10 participating franchises would be geared up for the upcoming tournament, having rebuilt their respective squads. The Chennai Super Kings are the defending champions.

As the excitement for the 15th edition of the marquee tournament builds up, it has been reported that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has been given a suggestion for a new media rights deal by mulling multiple broadcasters. This move is set to largely enhance the viewership of the gala T20 competition.

New media rights tender for the IPL 2022 could have a compendium of bundles

According to Cricbuzz, “the new media rights tender for the IPL could have a compendium of bundles that would ensure the involvement of multiple broadcasters. That is apparently a suggestion given to the BCCI. We will have to wait for the ITT (Invitation To Tender) document to see if it has been implemented,” said a top executive of a media selling company as quoted by Cricbuzz.

The report further suggested that one of the national cricket board’s strategies is to create a non-exclusive category. Furthermore, it has also been mentioned that the feature of the tender will be out within the next fortnight. The move will allow multiple television stations to broadcast the same games simultaneously. Thus, it might also push the expected revenue phenomenally which is estimated to be above INR 30,000 crore with the likes of Star, Sony, Amazon, and Reliance enjoying a lion’s share in the Indian Premier League.

Coming back to the IPL 2022, a total of 70 matches will be played in including 55 in Mumbai and 15 in Pune across four venues- Wankhede Stadium, Brabourne, DY Patil, and the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) respectively. The complete schedule of the competition is yet to be announced.

Amid the COVID-19 concerns, it was speculated that the matches might take place behind closed doors. However, on February 28, it was confirmed that the Maharashtra government is likely allow 25 percent of spectators at the venues.