Viacom18 has acquired the media rights of the inaugural Women’s IPL for a period of five years following the auction in Mumbai. The company will pay Rs 951 crore (about USD 116.7 million) for the period from 2023 to 2027 – which BCCI secretary Jay Shah called “massive”, announcing on Twitter.
ESPNcricinfo has learned that out of the eight parties that won the tender, only two turned up for the auction: Viacom18 and Disney Star*. The winning bid was for both linear TV and digital and was sold globally including in India.
“After pay equity, today’s bid for media rights for Women’s IPL is another historic mandate,” Shah said on Twitter. “This is a huge and decisive step towards the empowerment of women’s cricket in India, which will ensure participation of women of all ages. A new dawn indeed!”
Such a huge game changer for women’s cricket all over the world!
Young little girls who want to take up this sport can dream big.
Also, it is time for all the cricketers on the domestic circuit to reap the benefits of continuous hard work. #WIPL @BCCI Women https://t.co/RFgUDrAUUC
— Shikha Pandey (@shikhashauny) January 17, 2023
Shah further said that the deal would “revolutionize women’s cricket” globally. “I am really thrilled that we have received such an encouraging response to a league that will revolutionize women’s cricket, not only in India but around the world,” she said in the statement. “It is a commitment I made to the board and our women cricketers and today we have taken a giant leap forward. Broadcasters play a vital role in taking the game to a wider audience and their active interest in the league is a clear indication that women Indian The Premier League is moving in the right direction.”
A per-match price of INR 7.09 crore was calculated for 22 matches per season over the first three years, followed by a possible increase to 34 matches from 2026 when the BCCI, based on the performance of the women’s IPL, could consider adding a Was. Sixth Franchisee.
BCCI President Roger Binny said in a release, “Women’s cricket has been on the rise for a few years and the recently concluded bilateral series against Australia is testimony to how popular women’s cricket has become in India.” “It was only fitting to get our own women’s T20 league and give fans more of women’s cricket.”
Two major differences between the sale of men’s and women’s media rights were that, unlike men’s, there was no base price for women’s rights, and the three-day auction process divided men’s rights into multiple categories and regions. Was. ,
The inaugural women’s IPL is expected to feature five teams, which will get 80% of the central commercial pool, with media rights forming a major part.
BCCI has shortlisted a pool of ten cities from across India and five teams will be associated with each city.
ESPNcricinfo had earlier reported that the owners of men’s IPL teams Chennai Super Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Punjab Kings, Delhi Capitals and Gujarat Titans had submitted bids for a team in the women’s IPL. The BCCI has set January 23 as the deadline for submission of technical bids for evaluation. Compared to media rights, the ownership rights of the teams will be for a ten-year period (2023–32).
While the official dates are not out yet, it is understood that the first season of the women’s IPL will run from March 5 to March 23 – before the start of the men’s edition. The first three seasons (2023-25) are to have 22 matches each. Each of the five teams will play twice (20 matches in total) in the league stage, followed by an eliminator between the second and third placed teams, and then a final between the winner of the eliminator and the table-topper. , From 2026 season, WIPL will have 33 or 34 matches.
Viacom18 had acquired both the digital rights of the men’s IPL for the subcontinent region (for Rs 23,757.5 crore or USD 3.04 billion) and the TV and digital rights in three global territories – Australia + New Zealand, the UK and South Africa – (INR 1058 crore or for USD 135.49 million) last June.
*ESPNcricinfo and Disney Star are part of The Walt Disney Company