Viacom 18 Group entitled to Digital OTT Rights for 20,500 Crores. Joint IPL broadcasters for the first time.
Shobhit Chandola – Mumbai Uncensored, 14th June 2022
On March 29, the BCCI made an announcement to release a tender for the Media Rights Cycle of the Indian Premier League ( IPL ). Therefore, On June 13, 2022 commenced the high octane battle for the IPL Media rights between big giants. The E-Auction comprised primarily the Linear & Digital Rights for the IPL for a 5 year cycle which meant that the broadcasting giants would 20be holding the rights reserved from 2022 to 2027.
As per the Sports marketing analysts, the Day 1 saw the bidding valuation surpassing over 43,000 crore landmark, also making the 100 crore rights ( Digital + Television ) surpassed in a record move. What was special about Day 1 was a record 1.2 x jump over the final bidding at the end of the Day of 43,000 crores against the base price set by the BCCI at Rs 32,890 crores and was almost twice the 5 years Cycle Valuation made by the Star India Group from 2017- 2022 at 16,438 crores.
However it was on Day 2 when the biggest T20 League in the world got its purchaser with none other than Sony Entertainment Television ( SET ). With the tough competition from the potential giants such as Star Group, Viacom 18, Essel Zee Group, it was the SET group who fetched the TV rights for the record amount of Rs 23,575 crore whereas it was Viacom 18 backed by the Reliance Entertainment that secured the Digital Streaming rights for a whopping amount of Rs 20,500 Crores. Thus, bringing up the combined TV & streaming rights per match to Rs 107.5 crore. As part of the deal, Sony Group will receive Rs 57.5 crore per game whereas the remaining 50 crores will be secured by Reliance Entertainment.
Not only it has surprised the expectations but also has broken the record by overtaking the biggest football league in the world- EPL ( 84 crores ) sitting just behind the NBA league valuation / match.
It also has made the BCCI, the biggest Cricket governing body in the world who now is set to enjoy the perk of earning from the biggest league in the Indian subcontinent. All thanks to the leadership which Sourav Ganguly has shown throughout the auction.
Now what it means to the subscribers and dear audiences is that the glory days of the IPL are said to be back. Remember the time when IPL used to have a great blend of audience, glamorous cheerleaders, divas like Archana Vijay, Karishma Kotak interviewing the big names, the Danny Morrison’s humor as the pitch curator preceded by the Official annual slogan be it ‘Ek India Happy wala’, ‘Dil Jumping Japang’ or ‘Come on Bulawa Aaya hai’, the on-mic conversation of the on-field fielder with the sports commentator, the Siddhu & Aakash Chopra’s mic skills and what not.
Well, the list will never end. The IPL is set to regain its glory since the Sony group will be aware of the majors of the IPL which outplayed the Big Bash , Caribbean premier league in its prime. How successful Sony will be in its 2nd Inning of IPL, only time will tell. But let us just tell our viewers that the Media rights purchase means that the official broadcaster in the TV will be Sony making Set Max, Sony Six & Ten Sports to be eligible for the broadcast ( excluding Sony Liv )
whereas the Live match broadcast in the OTT platform will be streamed on the VOOT ( Viacom 18 group ) app. Therefore, the premium subscription of the Voot will be required to stream your matches digitally or possibly the JIO TV shall allow the access of the matches to the jio customers.
Sunday, September 22, 2024, marked a day etched in the annals of Indian chess history. The Indian men’s team, led by a formidable trio of young prodigies, clinched the coveted gold medal at the 45th Chess Olympiad, a feat that had eluded the nation for decades.
The architects of this historic triumph were D. Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, and R. Praggnanadhaa. These three young Grandmasters, each with their unique style and strategic acumen, formed the backbone of the Indian team. Their performances throughout the tournament were nothing short of exceptional, showcasing a level of chess that belied their age.
The final round against Slovenia was a tense affair, but it was the Indian team that emerged victorious. Gukesh, Erigaisi, and Praggnanadhaa delivered decisive victories on their respective boards, securing a 3-0 win and sealing India’s gold medal. Their performances were marked by a combination of tactical brilliance, strategic depth, and nerves of steel.
This victory was a culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and talent. It was a testament to the strength of Indian chess, a sport that has seen a meteoric rise in popularity in recent years. The Indian team’s success has inspired a new generation of chess players, and it is hoped that this victory will serve as a catalyst for even greater achievements in the future.
Beyond the individual brilliance of Gukesh, Erigaisi, and Praggnanadhaa, the Indian team’s success was also a product of excellent teamwork and support. The team’s captain, Srinath Narayanan, provided invaluable leadership, while the coaching staff played a crucial role in preparing the players for the tournament.
India’s gold medal at the Chess Olympiad is a moment to cherish. It is a testament to the country’s growing stature in the world of sports and a source of immense pride for chess enthusiasts everywhere. As the Indian team celebrates this historic achievement, the chess world eagerly awaits to see what the future holds for these young talents.
The cricket team from Pakistan arrived in India on Wednesday under heavy security as it gets ready to compete in the next, seven-week World Cup. Pakistan is travelling to India for the first time since 2016, and as the team’s captain Babar Azam and other players arrived at the airport in Hyderabad, large groups of enthusiastic fans shouted and chanted their names while being restrained by security agents. On October 5, the ODI competition is set to begin, and Pakistan will play their first match the following day.
Political difficulties between India and Pakistan have a long history, hence the two countries’ international matches are mainly limited to regional and global competitions. However, Pakistan was given a warm welcome in India on Wednesday, and the players posted about it on their official social media account. Babar Azam, the team’s captain, Shaheen Afridi, and wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan were among the players to express gratitude to the Indian government and crowd on social media.
The World Cup will consist of 48 games played over 46 days at 10 different venues, with the championship game taking place on November 19. Pakistan will play two exhibition games, one on September 29 against New Zealand and the other on October 3 against Australia, both in Hyderabad. After evaluating the security measures for a significant festival that day, the game against New Zealand will be played behind closed doors.
Babar added that the sid is not under any pressure but will miss its fans when it plays the World Cup matches in India during his pre-departure press conference in Pakistan.
“We’re all happy of the World Cup trip we took. We haven’t played in India before, but we don’t feel any pressure. We’ve done our investigation, and we’ve heard that the circumstances are comparable to those in other Asian nations. Being the captain this time around is an honour, and I sincerely hope we return with a trophy.
We shall regrettably be without the supporters. We will play in crowded stadiums since, as far as I know, all of the games are sold out. Even though they won’t be present, our followers will still show their support by posting on social media. Although I have not personally witnessed it yet, I have heard that Indian fans also display their devotion, which makes me want to play there as well.
During the Asia Cup final cricket match between India and Sri Lanka in Colombo, Sri Lanka, India’s Mohammed Siraj celebrates the wicket of Sri Lanka’s Dhananjaya de Silva.
Mohammed Siraj, an Indian fast bowler, has recaptured the top spot in the ODI bowler rankings in advance of the ICC World Cup. Siraj advanced eight spots as a result of his outstanding performance in the Asia Cup final against Sri Lanka. He rose to the top spot because to his outstanding performance spell in which he needed only 6/21 to bowl out Sri Lanka for just 50 runs. Siraj had dropped to second place in March of this year, but he has since surpassed elite bowlers like Mitchell Starc, Rashid Khan, and Trent Boult.
Siraj’s comeback to the top of the standings is a huge boost for India as the World Cup approaches. His current form and consistency have made him an invaluable asset for the club, and he has replaced Mohammed Shami, who missed the majority of the Asia Cup this month, as the first choice in the playing XI.
Along with Siraj, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Rashid Khan, two Afghan spinners, saw an increase in their rankings. Rashid Khan is currently rated fifth in the ODI bowling rankings, while Mujeeb Ur Rahman is currently ranked fourth. Both spinners have contributed significantly to Afghanistan’s limited-overs cricket success and will be essential to their team’s World Cup run.
Keshav Maharaj of South Africa, who finished outside the top 10, had a remarkable rise in the rankings. Maharaj climbed ten spots to number 15 in the rankings, a career-high performance, because to his performance in the most recent ODI series against Australia, where he claimed eight wickets at an average of 16.87 and an economy rate of just 4.07 per over.
Heinrich Klaasen of South Africa moved up one spot to ninth in the ODI batting rankings after an outstanding performance against Australia in the fourth ODI, in which he scored 174 runs at a 209.64 strike rate. Ben Stokes, who recently announced his retirement, made an incredible return to ODI cricket at The Oval with a stunning 182-run innings, moving him up to position 36 in the rankings.