IPL media rights: Who got what

Though the TV ratings for the Indian Premier League (IPL) are going down with every passing season, the cost of owning the rights to broadcast IPL matches has more than doubled in the last five years. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had put the base price for IPL media rights for the next 5-year period of 2023 to 2027 at Rs 32,890 crore. But after the bid closed, it has come to light that the BCCI made Rs 48,390 crore by auctioning IPL's media rights.

IPL broadcasting rights are sold in 4 packages and companies can bid for each of the four specific packages either separately, or in totality. 

1. Package 1 covers Indian sub-continent exclusive TV (broadcast) rights.
2. Package 2 covers digital rights for the Indian sub-continent.
3. Package 3 covers 18 selected games in each season for digital space.
4. Package 4 covers all games for combined TV and digital rights for overseas markets.

SO WHO WON WHAT?

Viacom18 bags digital rights with its winning bid of Rs 23,758 cr. India has seen a digital revolution & the sector has endless potential. The digital landscape has changed the way cricket is watched. It has been a big factor in the growth of the game & the Digital India vision.

— Jay Shah (@JayShah) June 14, 2022

1. Disney-Star bagged the TV rights (package 1) for Rs 23,575 crore
2. Viacom 18 picked up the digital rights for both the Indian sub-continent (package 2) for Rs 20,500 crore
3. Viacom 18 also picked up the special package of 18 matches per season (package 3) for Rs 2991 crore
4. Viacom18 and Times Internet together bagged the overseas rights of the T20 tournament for Rs 1324 crore. While Viacom18 took home the rights (digital and TV) for Australia, South Africa, and UK markets, Times Internet acquired the mandate for the US and the Middle East North Africa (MENA) regions.

WHAT IS THE COST PER MATCH?

This auction has made IPL the 2nd most valued sporting league in the world in terms of per match value. How? 

1. When you watch the next IPL match on TV, just remember that it cost Disney-Star Rs 57.5 crore per match.
2. If you watch the match online, you will obviously have to tune in to Voot, one of Viacom18's channels. It has cost them Rs 83.24 crore per match. 

SO WHAT WILL BCCI DO WITH THIS MONEY?

As per a tweet by Jay Shah, the Secretary of BCCI, the BCCI plans to use this money to strengthen the domestic cricket structure. They plan to boost infrastructure, spruce up facilities across India, and enrich the overall cricket-watching experience.