The Board of Control for Cricket in India has today (Tuesday) hailed an “overwhelming response” to its latest rights tender for the Indian Premier League Twenty20 competition after confirming that 18 media and technology entities have purchased the invitation to tender document.
The tender was launched on September 19, with the BCCI accepting bids for the rights through to October 25. The packages on offer include television rights in the Indian subcontinent for 10 years, from 2018 to 2027, digital rights in the Indian subcontinent over five years, from 2018 to 2022, and television and digital rights for the same five-year period for the rest of the world.
The ITT was available to purchase through to today and the BCCI has listed the purchasers, without breaking down their interest in terms of the three packages.
The 18 companies are: Star India, Amazon, Followon Interactive Media, Taj TV, Sony Pictures Networks, Times Internet, SuperSport International, Reliance Jio Digital Services, Gulf DTH, GroupM Media India, beIN, Econet Media, Sky UK, ESPN Digital Media (India), BTG Legal Services, BT, Twitter and Facebook.
BCCI president Anurag Thakur said: “This is going to be a historical moment for Indian cricket. With the global trends of showcasing content on multiple platforms becoming increasingly important – TV, internet and mobile rights are up for grabs together this time. To have as many as 18 prospective bidders in the fray reinstates the faith of market forces in the Indian Premier League.”