SPN and Star India betting big on IPL 2018

With the closure of 10th edition of Indian Premier League (IPL), BCCI on Sunday announced that the tender process to allocate the new title sponsor for IPL 2018 will start on May 31, 2017. Chinese smartphone manufacturer, Vivo is the current title sponsor with its contract ending this year.

The IPL Governing Council on Saturday met in Hyderabad to finalise the timelines of various tender processes for IPL. Mr. Vinod Rai, Mr. Vikram Limaye and Ms. Diana Edulji, members of the Committee of Administrators (CoA) were also present in the meeting. After due deliberations and considering all aspects the IPL Governing Council (with the concurrence of the CoA) decided that the IPL Title Sponsorship Invitation to Tender will start on May 31st, 2017. The Request for Proposal (RFP) for IPL Event Services contract will be floated on June 12th, 2017 and the IPL Media Rights Invitation to Tender on the next rights period will commence on July 17th, 2017.

All the three above-mentioned processes shall be for the next five years cycle.

All eyes are set upon who grabs the next cycle of broadcast and media rights of the shortest format of the game. According to sources, Sony Pictures Network (SPN) being the incumbent broadcast rights holder aims to retain the rights by aggressively bidding for it. Following suite will be Star India (Hotstar) who currently enjoys the digital and overseas media rights  for IPL. Others who have bought the tenders are Econet Media, Sky Sports, Group M, Amazon, Taj TV, Zee Group, Times Internet Limited, ESPN, Reliance Jio, BTG Legal Services, Supersport, Followon Interactive Media. Discovery Communications , a new entrant in the sports category with the launch of DSports, is also expected to bid for the TV rights of the game, as mentioned in various media reports. Social media giants, Facebook and Twitter are also said to be in the bidding race with an objective of live streaming it.

IPL Chairman, Rajeev Shukla, said: “I’m pleased that both the Governing Council and CoA members have finalized the timelines for the next rights period. If the success of 2017 season is an indication, I believe we will be able to get the best value and service for the world’s premier Twenty20 extravaganza. The early announcement will also help the prospective bidders/service providers to prepare well.”

Vinod Rai, Chairman, Committee of Administrators, commented, “I’m confident about the process and would like to assure all prospective participants the highest level of transparency and accountability.”

 

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