India bilateral media rights tender delayed as broadcast firms request for more time

The much-awaited bilateral media rights of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) might face further delays as the interested broadcast firms have requested for more time. Ernst & Young (EY), recently appointed by the BCCI as consultants for the bilateral rights, has received these requests.

The rights deal with Disney Star Sports had concluded after the India-Australia series in March, leaving the BCCI without a sponsor for the domestic matches. The board initially targeted locking in the new broadcasters by July, but the process seems likely to extend beyond August.

One reason for the postponement request is the impending merger between Sony and Zee, a much-talked-about deal which was expected to be completed by December 2022 but has not yet seen the light of the day. The industry chatter provides indications of a possible cancellation of the deal but parties involved say they are still interested in integration but it is not a slam dunk yet. Legal litigations involving Zee network have caused delays, leading to the speculations but the parties involved insist on their continued interest in integration.

The idea of a joint bid from Sony-Zee is believed to hold more force, resulting in a fierce contest between the parties for the rights. The tender is anticipated to be released in July or even pushed to August to ensure the highest value for the media rights.

Given that India has no bilateral games scheduled until December, where they are set to host Australia in five ODIs, there is no immediate urgency to finalize the deal. However, India will play three ODIs before the World Cup in September as part of their preparation for the event in October-November. Whether the BCCI will go for an interim arrangement or finalise the deal is still not known.

EY has been engaging with potential broadcasters and will recommend the appropriate timing for the BCCI to issue the tender. It remains uncertain whether the Board will opt for an e-auction or closed bidding. Under the ICC FTP from 2024-27, India is scheduled to play 141 games, including 38 Tests, 42 ODIs, and 61 T20Is.

Dream 11 to sponsor Indian team

In other news, the BCCI has entered a four-year partnership with Dream Sports for the sponsorship of the Indian team's jersey. Dream 11 will replace Byju's and will feature prominently on the sleeves of Indian players across formats and teams. Dream Sports has been associated with cricket properties, including the ICC, for a considerable period.