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IPL Media Rights : The Economic Might of Cricket on TV

 

Shah Faisal 

The media rights for the broadcasting of 5 IPL seasons 23-27 were auctioned yesterday and the bidding was carried out by money-laden sports broadcasters. It is reported that at the end of their Bidding IPL had become the second most lucrative sports event in the world.  The broadcast rights were sold in three packages.

The pricing for Package A (TV rights) and Package B (Digital rights), according to reports, has been set at Rs 44,075 crore. The IPL media rights package C includes non-exclusive digital rights to 18 games, including the opening game, final, and three play-offs. This means that each IPL match is worth more than Rs 100 crore, which is unprecedented in Indian sports. The current fee for each IPL match is Rs 107.5 crore, according to cricket sources. According to sources, the agreement covers a total of 410 matches over five years. The digital rights were sold for Rs 20,500 crore, while the TV rights were sold for Rs 23,575 crore.

 

The status of IPL has loomed further and above the status of International cricket and it would not be unfair to compare it with ICC events.  The worldwide following that IPL gets from its viewers and Broadcasters has Encouraged investors to advertise heavily and enhance their market pool by connecting to people at a time when most of them would probably be setting in front of screens either TV or mobile.

However, the question arises what makes IPL such a demanding entertainment product?

The answer to it lies not just in the mass interest of Indian people in cricket and their love to repeatedly watch their heroes on the ground but also in the quality of cricket that is displayed along with World quality bowlers who with their full fitness and might detain their National duties and opt to play in IPL. Besides these; the huge sum of money on offer to players, the mergence of entertainment and sports and also the Primetime screen time makes it a notable and demanding TV show for cricket lovers and Market Endorsers.

India is among the top tear most populated countries in the world and if they are asked about their common interests; most of them would mention cricket and movies. They love cricket and carry a certain pride in their cricket culture.  Thus an event of interest taking place in a 1.38 billion people country would guarantee success and viewership.

Another important factor behind the success of IPL over the years has been the display of competitive cricket by the franchises. With its batting-friendly wickets and Indian Batsmen, the tournament often witnesses high-scoring and tight matches that go down to the wire, keeping alive the enthusiasm of the players, viewers and crowd. Thus the guarantee of all matches finishing on exciting notes further attracts the interest of the people and generates space for ads to be advertised.

The appearance of International stars make IPL the hub of cricket culture around the world, with only four internationals allowed to play in a team per match the management select the most dashing hitters of the cricket ball in the likes of Livingstone, Warner, Russell and many others. These players have their respective fan bass who follow them wherever they play t20 cricket, and IPL is the Best Place to watch them because here they get the ideal pitches and crowd ;consequently making IPL a rare event to witness amalgamation of stylish play and brutal hitting. The combo of de Villars- Kholi and Sharma-de cock give provide viewers with soothing sight of batting display at its ideal best.

The most central and imminent reason that drive the spirit of IPL is the quality of bowlers and their international status.  IPL does a Pinpoint selection when it comes to bowlers and it is the face-off of International bowlers like Starc, Rabada, Cummins and Ferguson with Sharma, Russell, Kholi and Pant that pumps the audience and pundits to expect quality completion and sophisticated cricket.  Thus international bowlers are at the helm of IPL glory and, in my subjective view, they are the ones who make IPL what it is today.

The amount of money that IPL offer is something that can't be rejected, and drive the loyalties of Players from international commitments towards itself. The historical Maligna decision; to quite test cricket when he was playing IPL and his board asked the Sri Lankan Players to report to training camp for national duty in the middle of IPL, is evidence of this claim. Over the years the West Indian superstars of the now past generation were infamous for shedding their national duties to play in IPL. Thus not just the interest and quality of stars but money also is a resounding reason behind the global craze of IPL.

However, the highly bid lucrative IPL rights are not just a mere display of over flowing money but, in fact, a ground of certainty for all the stakeholders to invest their money in a phenomenal event that makes sure a highly saturated primetime viewership in India and Eastern European countries and, consequently, attracts multinational companies to advertise their products and ensure growth in their market value. Thus making IPL a power house of money for players, Board and digital partners to provide opportunity and entertainment.  

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