Disney Star-owned Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) has officially recorded a modest profit of Rs 2 crore in FY23, following a decade of struggles.
According to filings accessed by Mint from Mashal Sports Private Ltd, a subsidiary of Disney Star and the league’s owner, this profit comes after years of losses — Rs 8.6 crore in FY22 and Rs 22 crore in FY21.
Disney Star secured the media rights for PKL in 2021 for five years for Rs 900 crore (since it owns PKL, said rights deal could well be looked at as internal funds redistribution).
Growth in the league was also facilitated by sponsorships from industry giants such as Dream11, Roff, UltraTech Cements, and Patanjali. Together, the 12 participating teams attracted major brands, enriching the league’s financial ecosystem.
Recent statistics reveal that viewership surged during season nine, with a striking 43% increase in unique viewers and a 24% boost in overall watch time via streaming service Disney+ Hotstar compared to the previous season.
Ownership stakes are shared, with Disney Star holding 74%, while industrialist Anand Mahindra and sports commentator Charu Sharma each own 11.7%. The remaining stakes are held by a law firm, Lex & Legal Services.
Anupam Goswami, CEO of Mashal Sports and the league’s commissioner, has emphasized the league’s status as the largest outside of the IPL. He referenced data from the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India, highlighting the league’s cumulative reach of 245 million viewers in the latest season — an uptick from 222 million in season nine and 189 million in season eight.
