MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks India has acquired exclusive media rights from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for the Indian subcontinent (Pakistan and Sri Lanka included) for a period of five years starting in 2018 through 2022.
This agreement with ECB gives SPN the rights to both televise and digitally broadcast within the Indian subcontinent, men’s and women’s international matches, including Test matches, T20 Internationals and ODIs, played in England.
The first major cricket series that SPN will be showcasing post the acquisition is India’s tour to England in July that involves five Tests, three ODIs and three Twenty20s.
While financial terms were not disclosed, it is reasonable to assume that it would be in a similar ball park in average per game value to what SPN had negotiated last October with Cricket Australia for six-year rights in the Indian subcontinent, beginning with the 2017-18 Ashes.
SPN’s deal with Cricket Australia – also for an undisclosed amount – also contains the men’s and women’s Big Bash League, and includes tours by India, Pakistan and South Africa, as well as the 2021-22 Ashes.
Star India, by virtue of agreements between ESPN Star Sports-CA and ESS-ECB, was the incumbent rights holder in the Indian territory for both these boards.
While the ECB deal for the 2013-2019 period was inked by ESS at $200 million, ESS’ deal with CA toted up to $212 million.
Coming to the deal value, CA’s and ECB’s deals with Star Sports were reportedly worth up to $8 million per international match. SportzPower understands that SPN, like it did with CA, would be paying on average half of that per international match over the next five years. It also needs noting that it will be from the India tours that 80% of the overall deal value would have been calculated.
Key viewership highlights of the 2018-2022 term of scheduled ECB games include:
Upward of 80 international men’s and women’s matches
India’s tour of England this summer which includes five Test matches, three ODIs and three T20 Internationals
Real-time and live match viewership available in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, apart from India
With this acquisition, SPN’s exclusive cricket portfolio includes most of the major international cricket boards, namely, CA, ECB, Pakistan Cricket Board, Sri Lanka Cricket, Cricket South Africa, Cricket West Indies and Zimbabwe Cricket Board.
NP Singh, managing director & chief executive officer, SPN, noted: “The acquisition of media rights of ECB for a five-year term, effective now through 2022, provides for some exciting cricket viewership. Cricket is a passion for most Indians and this term of ECB games includes three tours of the Indian cricket team which promises some thrilling cricket, the first of these coming close on the heels of the hugely exciting South Africa series. SPN will now be home to almost all international away series giving our fans a one-stop destination to view their favourite stars in action. We remain committed to building a multi-sports culture in India and we will lead sports broadcast action during June to September 2018 by airing FIFA for football fans and ECB games for cricket lovers.”
Tom Harrison, chief executive officer, ECB, added: “Today’s announcement means millions of cricket fans across the Indian subcontinent can follow their favourite team in action the next time they tour England – as well as enjoying access to iconic cricketing contests like next year’s Ashes. “
“It will also help further raise the global profile of the English game – giving both the England men’s and women’s teams valuable exposure in a part of the world where people are passionate about cricket and avid followers of the global game as well as their own national team.”
