BCCI Media Rights: BCCI is planning to have a short T20 series at home against either Sri Lanka or Afghanistan in June. However, the Indian board will have to look for a temporary broadcast partner. BCCI’s current deal with Disney-Star ended with India vs Australia ODI series last week. However, with the BCCI only intending to release the BCCI Media Rights Tender after IPL 2023, there will be no official broadcaster. Hence, BCCI will release a separate tender for the series. Follow India Cricket Team LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN.
However, the series is still not announced and only in the planning stage. India have never played a T20 series against Afghanistan and there is a slim possibility that India host them for a short series. Sri Lanka are the other team that enjoys a great rapport with the BCCI. Hence, after the WTC Final, BCCI could host either of them before the team leaves for the West Indies tour. However, none of the senior players are expected to take part in the series with Hardik Pandya likely to lead.
“We are still in discussion. No series has been finalised yet. But yes, since the month of June will have a little gap after the WTC Final, we are in talks with couple of boards. But it is also monsoon in India at that time. So, a lot of deliberation is needed. But yes, if any series is finalised, we have to bring in a series-specific broadcaster as there is a high chances that the new deal won’t be finalised,” a senior BCCI official told InsideSport.
Instead of a 5-year deal, BCCI is already contemplating a move similar to ICC. The international body sold media rights for 4 years instead of 5. BCCI is likely to walk on the same path. However, unlike IPL Media Rights, BCCI is likely to combine both Digital and Television rights this time. BCCI earned a whopping ₹48,390 crore from the two deals with Disney-Star retaining the Broadcast deal and Viacom18 bagging the digital rights.
With India set to play 20 Tests, 21 ODIs and 31 T20s at home under the 2023-27 FTP, BCCI expects a great deal once again. Back in 2018, Star India bagged the TV deal for ₹6138.10 Crore. This time, it is likely to cross Rs 10,000 Cr with Sony and Zee missing out on both IPL, WPL and ICC deals.
Furthermore, Star and Viacom will once again be bigger players. With no IPL and HBO shows on Disney-Hotstar, its subscriber base is expected to shrink. Star would want to retain BCCI media rights to keep the OTT platform lucrative.
“For sure, we expect north of Rs 10,000 Cr for that period. But we have not come to a final decision on whether it will be a four-year period of a five-year period. Four years seems logical as it is in line with a lot of business decisions. The tender should come out last week of IPL or after that,” the BCCI official told InsideSport.
BCCI Media Rights: All you need to know
- BCCI’s existing media rights with Disney-Star came to an end with the ODI series against Australia.
- Disney-Star bagged the rights in 2018 for ₹6138.10 Crore for five years.
- BCCI will now float a new tender after IPL 2023.
- However, instead of a 5-year deal, it is likely to be for four years.
- But as the Indian board is looking to play a short series in June, it will be any official broadcast partner.
- Hence, the BCCI is looking for a temporary broadcast partner for the series.
- India are likely to play a three-match T20 series either against Sri Lanka or Afghanistan in June after the WTC Final.
As for Viacom18, despite bagging all the big tournaments, it still has no Indian cricket to show. Hence, they will be equally interested in bagging the BCCI rights, especially since the four-year cycle will also include a full home series against England and South Africa.
India Cricket Schedule:
- IPL 2023: March 31-May 28
- WTC Final: June 7-11
- Home series against Sri Lanka/Afghanistan: June
- India Tour of West Indies: July-August
- India Tour of Ireland: August
- Asia Cup 2023: September
- ODI Series vs Australia: September
- World Cup 2023: October
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