NEWS
Follow UsThe Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which is facing uncertainty after the conclusion of its contract with Disney Star in March 2023, is yet to finalize a broadcaster for the next rights cycle. However, there is good news on the horizon as the board has decided to float the tender document for the upcoming rights cycle. The first event on the schedule was India's series against Australia in September.
Interested parties can access the Invitation to Tender (ITT) by paying a non-refundable fee of INR 15,00,000, along with any applicable Goods and Services Tax. The deadline for purchasing the ITT is set as August 25, 2023.
In recent months, the broadcasting landscape in India has witnessed significant changes with Jio's entry into the business through a strategic partnership with former Disney Star President Uday Shankar and 21st Century Fox's James Murdoch. They have disrupted the industry by acquiring the digital rights for the Indian Premier League and they will be determined to secure India's bilateral rights.
Disney's broadcasting wing is currently in uncertain waters, as its American owners seek a strategic partner to streamline the business. If they cannot submit a substantial bid, BCCI may lose out on significant amounts of money, especially considering Sony's history of being a conservative bidder. The delay in Zee's merger with Sony has further complicated the overall process; hence it is apparent why Viacom18 will have the leverage.
In a new development, Cricbuzz reported that BCCI has invited Amazon.com Inc. and Alphabet Inc. (Google) to participate in the bidding process. While Amazon had shown keen interest in Indian cricket a couple of years ago, they stepped back from the plan and did not bid for the IPL last time. On the other hand, Google has not been actively involved in cricket broadcasting in India, but its CEO, Sundar Pichai's Indian lineage and love for cricket make their participation a possibility that can't be ruled out.
