Viacom 18 on Thursday acquired the BCCI media rights in both TV and digital category for the next five years, announced Jay Shah, the Indian board’s Honorary Secretary.
Viacom18 outbid Sony Sports Network and Disney Star in an e-auction held on Thursday to bag the rights.
“Congratulations @viacom18 for winning the @BCCI Media Rights for both linear and digital for the next 5 years. India Cricket will continue to grow in both spaces as after @IPL, and @wplt20, we extend the partnership @BCCI Media Rights as well. Together we will continue to capture the imagination of Indian cricket fans,” said Shah on the social media platform “X”.
Notably, Viacom18, a newcomer in the broadcasting world through its TV channel Sports18 and digital platform Jio Cinema, also holds the TV and digital rights of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) till 2027 beside having the rights to Cricket South Africa matches to be broadcasted in India between 2024 and 2031.
Viacom18 has now acquired the BCCI bilateral media rights from Disney Star, who had won the television and digital rights for the 2018-23 cycle for Rs 6138 crore. Meanwhile, Disney Star had also won the rights to the 2012-18 cycle of broadcasting Indian cricket in the country for Rs 3851 crores.
“Also, a big thank you to @starindia @DisneyPlusHS for your support over the years. You played a key role in making India Cricket reach its fans across the globe,” added Shah, also the President of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).
The BCCI had gone for an e-auction for the bilateral media rights, with a base price of Rs 25 crore for India digital and rest of world TV & digital rights and Rs 20 crore for India television rights, continuing the trend from IPL media rights auction.
It brought the combined rights value to Rs 45 crore per match for a total of 88 games for the 2023-28 cycle.
Viacom18’s cycle of broadcasting India’s matches will begin with the three-match ODI series against Australia from September 22.