MUMBAI: The BCCI is likely to release the media rights tender for bilateral cricket games in India within a day or two. According to a report in Cricbuzz, the board and its consultants have informed potential bidders about the date.
The exact method of sale, whether through e-auction or closed bidding, is yet to be clarified, but considering the success of the Indian Premier League (IPL) media rights online bidding last year, an online auction is anticipated. The media rights are set to remain valid for a duration of five years, spanning from 2023 to 2027.
While the specific number of matches and their distribution among Tests, ODIs, and T20Is remains to be finalized, it is expected that the new cycle will include around 100 matches, similar to the previous cycle which had 103 games. The trend of having fewer ODIs and more Twenty20 Internationals is likely to continue, while the number of Tests is expected to remain unchanged, the report said.
In the previous deal that ended in March, Disney Star had secured the bilateral rights for INR 6138.10 Crore, approximately INR 61 Crore per international game across formats. The upcoming base price for the tender is anticipated to be significantly higher. The media rights will be sold in separate packages for linear and digital
rights, and a consolidated package bid option will not be available.
The tender may include other packages, such as non-India/ Rest of the world rights, but a special non-exclusive package like the one that contributed to the substantial value of the IPL tender is unlikely. The BCCI aims to finalize the sale by August 19, giving the new buyer ample time to market the first series in the cycle, a three-match ODI series against Australia in September, planned as a preparatory series for the World Cup in October-November, a report added.
