IPL 2022: Bezos vs Ambani, but this time the 'pitch' is different

It promises to be a clash of the titans with a starting line up of Mukesh Ambani, Jeff Bezos' Amazon, Walt Disney and Sony. The bidding action for the IPL telecasting rights for 2023 - 2027 promises to be a nail bitter.

What is at stake?

Rights to broadcast live the world's third biggest sporting event IPL, and one of the world’s fastest-growing sporting events that draws 600 million viewers and has a brand value of almost $6 billion.

The pie is divided

So, the upcoming auctions on June 12 will be separately selling rights to broadcast matches on television and to stream them online for the first time. BCCI as per reports is auctioning 4 different packages to telecasters. Indian Sub Continent Broadcast, Digital rights in the Indian Sub-Continent, Non Exclusive Package (DIGITAL) and finally Rest of the World Rights (Outside Sub-Continent).

Companies can bid for four packages separately or for the entire media rights.

This opens the door to Amazon and its Prime video service, and sets the stage for a ferocious fight with Ambani’s budding sports empire.

The stakes are high

The last cycle of rights were sold at Rs 16,347 cr. BCCI has doubled the base price to 33,000 crore this time. Experts expect the final price to hit Rs 40,000-50,000 crore.