Viacom18 Wins 5-Year Media Rights for India's Cricket Matches

NEW DELHI: Viacom18 Media has emerged victorious in the bid to secure the media rights for broadcasting India's home international cricket matches for the 2023-2028 cycle. The announcement was made on August 31, as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) awarded Viacom18 with the rights to broadcast India's matches for the next five years. The media conglomerate, backed by Reliance Industries, clinched both the digital and TV broadcast rights, signifying a significant shift in the landscape of cricket broadcasting in India.

For online streaming, Jio Cinema, a subsidiary of Reliance, will serve as the platform to live stream all the matches. On the other hand, television broadcasting rights will be held by Sports18, another facet of the Viacom18 network. This strategic win for Viacom18 overshadowed the previously reigning broadcasters, Star Sports Network. The Star Sports Network, which held the title of official broadcasters, will continue to air the upcoming Australia series and the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 in October-November.

In a groundbreaking move, Viacom18 has reportedly committed to pay an impressive sum of INR 67.8 crore per match, encompassing both digital and TV platforms. This substantial financial commitment reflects the media giant's eagerness to tap into the ever-expanding cricket viewer base in India. With the Indian men's cricket team slated to participate in 88 home international matches until March 2028, the overall deal will amount to INR 5966.4 crore, signifying a significant boost to the cricket economy.

The success of Viacom18 in securing these rights marks a notable shift from the status quo. In 2018, Star Sports Network secured the BCCI media rights for INR 6130.10 crore, encompassing 103 international matches. This included the coveted broadcasting rights for ICC matches until 2027. However, Viacom18's triumph over Star Sports extends beyond just international matches. Earlier, Viacom18 had also outbid Star Sports for the digital rights to stream both the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Women's T20 Challenge (WPL) matches for a five-year duration.

Jay Shah, the Secretary of BCCI, extended his congratulations to Viacom18 for clinching the BCCI Media Rights. He took to Twitter to express his enthusiasm, affirming that this partnership would further propel the growth of Indian cricket in both linear and digital spaces. Shah also expressed gratitude towards the previous broadcasters, acknowledging Star India Disney Plus HotStar for their instrumental role in connecting Indian cricket with fans worldwide.

"Congratulations Viacom18f or winning the BCCI Media Rights for both linear and digital for the next 5 years," Jay Shah announced via a Tweet on Thursday. "India Cricket will continue to grow in both spaces as after IPL, and WPL, we extend the partnership BCCI Media Rights as well. Together we will continue to capture the imagination of Indian cricket fans. Also, a big thank you to Star India DisneyPlus HotStar for your support over the years. You played a key role in making India Cricket reach its fans across the globe."

In essence, Viacom18's triumph in securing the media rights for India's home cricket matches for the next five years signifies a transformative shift in cricket broadcasting dynamics. The staggering financial commitment and strategic distribution across digital and TV platforms underscore the media giant's determination to tap into India's undying love for cricket and connect with fans in innovative ways.

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