After the e-auction that was conducted from June 12, 2022, to June 14, 2022, Viacom18 has announced that it has acquired the rights to digitally stream Indian Premier League matches in the Indian subcontinent for the seasons from 2023 to 2027 for Rs. 23,758 crore. Disney Star acquired the 5-year TV broadcast rights for Rs. 23,575 crore.
Viacom18 also announced that it has won the India digital rights for a special package of 18 games in every season. Globally, Viacom18 has won television as well as digital rights in three out of five international territories, including major cricketing nations.
Viacom18 said that it outbid reputed broadcasters and digital companies to establish itself as a leading digital media, entertainment and sports destination. With these IPL rights, Viacom18 said that it will make IPL available to every Indian in every part of India, including the 60 million FreeDish homes which today are not able to access this popular content.
It has already bagged a slew of sporting rights in soccer (FIFA World Cup, La Liga, Serie A and Ligue1), badminton, tennis and basketball (NBA), and this is the first major foray of Viacom18 into cricket. It recently launched Sports18, the network’s dedicated sports broadcasting channel, and also offers sports content in its premium video-on-demand platform Voot.
The company said that this will be an exceptional opportunity for advertisers to reach a larger, younger, more relevant and highly-engaged audience. It added that the targeting opportunities because of Viacom18’s strategic partnership with Jio will be unparalleled.
Commenting on the same, Nita Ambani, Director, Reliance Industries Ltd, said:
Sports entertain us, inspire us and bring us together. Cricket and IPL personify the best of sport and the best of India, which is why we are proud to be deepening our association with this great game and this wonderful league. Just like with everything we do, our mission is to take the joyful experience of IPL to cricket fans wherever they are – in every part of our country and around the world.