IPL media rights: BCCI richer by Rs 46k cr and counting

The BCCI is set to laugh its way to the bank after selling its IPL TV and Digital rights for the Indian sub-continent for a whopping Rs 44,075 crore, making it one of the richest entities in the sporting world.

As per information received, Package A (Indian sub-continent TV Rights) for 410 IPL matches across five seasons from 2023 to 2027 has been sold for Rs 23,575 crore, which is effectively Rs 57.5 crore per match. However, it is the India sub-continent’s digital rights that stole the thunder with Rs 50 crore per match being offered by one of the bidders after the winner of Package A challenged it. The Package B fetched Rs 20,500 crore and thus cumulatively, the BCCI is now richer by Rs 44,075 crore.

When the auction stopped on the second day, another Rs 2,000 crore was bid for Package C, which has a select non-exclusive digital rights deal. The auction, which has moved into the third day, will resume with Package C on Tuesday. As of now, the Board has earned a staggering Rs 46,000 crore, which is already two-and-a-half times more than the 2018 auction value of Rs 16,347 crore. The base price for TV was Rs 49 crore while digital rights were pegged at Rs 33 crore.

“We are already reaching towards USD 5.5 billion mark after selling two packages. But, digital rights per match value touching Rs 50 crore is incredible. An incremental growth of 51 per cent over and above base price is phenomenal,” a BCCI functionary said.

The break-up of 410 matches across five years are as follows: 74 matches each for 2023 and 2024. It increases to 84 games in 2025 and 2026, and 94 matches in 2027. As per the norms of e-auction, the owners are given a secret code through which they bid. No BCCI office-bearers and employees have an inkling of the bidding companies’ code.

The bidding started with increments of Rs 50 lakh during the initial period and once Package A winner challenged the highest bidder of Package B, the incremental bid value was worth Rs 1 crore. None of the BCCI officials could confirm as to who won the two packages. It is believed that Sony and Walt Disney (Star) have had a bidding war for TV rights. Market sources say that Reliance-owned Viacom18 is in the fray for Package B.

As of now, the BCCI has earned a staggering Rs 46,000 crore, which is already two and half times more than the 2018 auction value of Rs 16,347 crore