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Tag: BCCI

  • BCCI to release tender of IPL 2023-27 media rights cycle on 25 Oct

    BCCI to release tender of IPL 2023-27 media rights cycle on 25 Oct

    Mumbai: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the dates for release of the tender of Indian Premier League (IPL) media rights for 2023-27 cycle. The cricket governing body made the decisions in a meeting on Tuesday.

    The BCCI has decided that the IPL media rights tender for the cycle 2023-2027 will be released immediately after the appointment of two new IPL teams which is scheduled to be announced on 25 October.

    In a first for the IPL, the last two league matches before the Vivo IPL 2021 playoffs will be played concurrently. On the last day of the league stage (8 October) of the ongoing season, instead of having one afternoon match and one evening match, two matches (Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Delhi Capitals) will be played simultaneously at 7.30 p.m IST (6.00 p.m GST).

    Star TV Network had been awarded the media (TV+digital) rights for the 2019-23 cycle for $2.55 billion. This year Sony, Jio, and Amazon are seen as top bidders for the media rights.

     

  • BCCI invites bids to acquire IPL franchise rights

    BCCI invites bids to acquire IPL franchise rights

    Mumbai: The Board of Cricket Control of India (BCCI) has invited bids to acquire the right to own and operate one of the two new teams proposed to be introduced to take part in the Indian Premier League starting from the 2022 season, through a tender process.

    BCCI, honorary secretary, Jay Shah said the detailed terms and conditions governing the submission and evaluation of bids including eligibility requirements, process for submissions of bids, proposed new teams’ rights, and obligations, etc are contained in the ‘Invitation to Tender’ (ITT). “ITT will be made available on receipt of payment of a non-refundable fee of Rs 10 lakh plus any applicable goods and services tax. It will be available for purchase till 5 October,” he said.

    “Interested parties are requested to email at ittipl2021@bcci.tv to get further details for purchasing the ITT. The email requesting the ITT should have the subject line ‘ITT for the Right to Own and Operate One of Two Proposed New IPL Teams’. Any interested party wishing to submit a bid is required to purchase the ITT. However, only those satisfying the eligibility criteria set out in the ITT and subject to the other terms and conditions set out therein shall be eligible to bid. It is clarified that merely purchasing this ITT does not entitle any person to bid,” Shah added.

    BCCI reserves the right to cancel or amend the bidding process at any stage in any manner without providing any reason.

  • Reigning champions MI to take on CSK when IPL 2021 resumes on 19 Sep

    Reigning champions MI to take on CSK when IPL 2021 resumes on 19 Sep

    New Delhi: Defending champions Mumbai Indians will take on Chennai Super Kings on 19 September when the much-awaited edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 resumes in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

    The cricket league was suspended mid-way after a sudden surge in Covid-19 cases breached the bio-bubble, and infected a few players and support staff.

    “The 14th season, which was postponed in May this year in the wake of the pandemic, will resume on 19 September in Dubai with a blockbuster clash between Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians,” said the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) in its latest announcement.

    A total number of 31 matches will be played over a period of 27 days including seven doubles headers (five were held in India). In all, 13 matches will be held in Dubai, 10 in Sharjah and 8 in Abu Dhabi.

    “There will be seven double headers (five matches already played in India – total of 12 matches) with the first match starting at 3:30PM IST (2:00PM Gulf Standard Time). All evening matches will start at 7:30PM IST (6:00PM Gulf Standard Time),” added BCCI.

    This year, the official broadcaster Star Sports had also made arrangements to live broadcast the IPL 2021 in eight different languages, and arranged a new virtual set and a myriad of augmented reality graphics to impress audiences who remained under lockdown when the tournament began in April.

    The final league game will be played between RCB and Delhi Capitals on 8 October.


     

  • India-Sri Lanka ODI and T20I series set to begin on 18 July

    India-Sri Lanka ODI and T20I series set to begin on 18 July

    Mumbai: The start date for India’s tour of Sri Lanka has been changed ahead of the limited overs series that features three ODIs and three T20s. The first ODI will now take place on 18 July and the tour will conclude with the third T20 on 29 July.

    The series, which was originally scheduled to begin from 13 July, had been postponed after Sri Lanka’s batting coach and data analyst tested positive for COVID-19.

    Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has informed its official broadcast partner SPN that in consultation with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), it has decided to reschedule the dates of the ODI and T20I series as a precautionary measure aimed at providing more time for the Sri Lanka National Players and the Support Staff to complete required health protocols.

    Led by former India captain Rahul Dravid who will step in as coach, Shikhar Dhawan will captain the young side while Bhuvneshwar Kumar will be the vice-captain in the three-match ODI and T20I series against Sri Lanka.

    Revised schedule of India tour of Sri Lanka is as below:

    1st ODI: 18 July
    2nd ODI: 20 July
    3rd ODI: 23 July
    1st T20I: 25 July
    2nd T20I: 27 July
    3rd T20I: 29 July

    Viewers can catch live coverage of the series on 18 July, 2pm onwards on SONY SIX & SONY TEN 1 channels in English, SONY TEN 3 channels in Hindi and SONY TEN 4 channels in Tamil & Telugu on SonyLIV channel as well as on its on-demand OTT platform.

  • Vivo IPL to recommence in UAE in Sep-October

    Vivo IPL to recommence in UAE in Sep-October

    MUMBAI: The world’s most valued cricket league – the Vivo Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to make a comeback (and continue from where it left off early May) in September-October 2021 in the United Arab Emirates. This was announced by The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah through a press release a short while ago.

    The decision was taken, Shah revealed, because “the monsoon season in India (is still in place) in the months of September-October this year.”

    It may be recalled that the Vivo IPL 2021 had to be aborted following three cricketers getting infected by the novel coronavirus, despite strict bio bubbles being in place. At that time, India had just started reporting global world-record-setting Covid-19 infections as the pandemic’s second wave gathered pace.

    The decision was taken at the special general meeting (SGM) held virtually, where members unanimously agreed to resume the IPL. India is all set to play a five-match test series against England, and it is speculated that the T20 series will commence immediately after the tour ends.

    The BCCI SGM on Saturday further authorised its office bearers to seek an extension of time from the ICC to take an appropriate call on the hosting of ICC T20 World Cup 2021.

    IPL’s comeback is a welcome one for the broadcaster Disney Star India, advertisers, and agencies who were left twiddling their thumbs when a decision was taken to pull down the curtains on the tournament because of the negative Covid-19 sentiments and burgeoning deaths due to the pandemic in India.

    Advertisers – who had signed for the IPL which was to end this month – were given the first right of refusal to their deals with Disney Star India when the tournament’s recommencement dates would be announced.

  • IPL 2021 set to resume, come September

    IPL 2021 set to resume, come September

    Kolkata: In what could be good news to many in business, Indian Premier League (IPL 2021) is likely to resume on 18 or 19 September in UAE, as per media reports.

    The final game may be played on 9 or 10 October. The three-week window will see many power packed matches if played with as many as 10 double header matches.

    The league was postponed earlier this month after the bio bubble security was breached. Four team members, including staffers tested positive for the COVID-19 infection even as the number of cases started picking up across India. Moreover, it was also called out for being ‘tone deaf’ in the middle of an ongoing pandemic crisis.

    “The BCCI has spoken to all the stakeholders and the likely start could be between September 18th to 20th. Since September 18 is a Saturday and 19 a Sunday, it is more likely that you would want to re-start it on a weekend date,” a BCCI official was quoted in a PTI report.

    It would be a big relief for the advertising industry as well with huge amounts of money committed to the IPL sports calendar.

    As per reports, BCCI will not ask the England Cricket Board to change dates for the India-England series. After the last match, players will be flown to UAE in a chaterd flight in a bio bubble transfer.

  • IPL residual season may catch virtual flight to Emirates

    IPL residual season may catch virtual flight to Emirates

    Mumbai: Sporting fans will return to spectator stands after more than a year of a forced hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, as India faces off with New Zealand in the World Test Cricket finals.

    Just over 4000 fans will cheer the two teams, for the first time, after 16 months of cricket sans spectators becoming the new normal in the world of cricket since the pandemic struck. Star Sports will bring live actions of the world test championship finals for Indian audiences. 

    As per (new normal) the standard protocols and practising Covid-19 appropriate behaviour, the Indian team is currently observing the harsh conditions of quarantine in Mumbai, before they depart for the UK on 2 June.

    Once there, they will stay ensconced within the imaginary bubble and hope it doesn’t burst before their Kiwi test challenge to decide top honours of the sport, at the Southampton stadium grounds on 18 June.

    The inclusion of spectators at the stadium will enthuse the cricketers, since most International matches over the last 16 months played out to empty stadiums over fears of infection of the contagion. 

    The United Kingdom sets an example

    The decision to include spectators in the test championship final was made as the Covid-19 situation in the United Kingdom has markedly improved. Recently, 1,500 spectators watched the match between Hampshire and Leicestershire at the Rose Bowl in Southampton, the same venue that will host the test championship final, come 18 June.

    According to a senior official formerly attached with the Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI), “India was always preparing to play in a foreign venue in respect of the T20 World Cup that has been rescheduled to be held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). India was supposed to host the tournament but the decision to shift the venue to the UAE was taken last year after the pandemic situation broke out over reluctance by other cricketing nations to visit India even as the pandemic’s footprint grew larger upon us in India. Now, even the remainder of the IPL is likely to be shifted to the UAE,”

    In another recent interaction, with Cricbuzz, the Hampshire cricket county club head Rod Bransgrove confirmed that upcoming county games and the world test championship final will be played with a reasonable number of spectators in the gallery. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), and the International Cricket Council (ICC) have also given a green signal to permit 4,000 spectators for the much-awaited clash between India and New Zealand. 

    After reaching Southampton, the Indian cricket team will undergo quarantine for ten days. However, the team will be allowed to participate in training sessions during this period. 

    Will India witness packed cricket galleries in near future?

    Even though England has permitted a limited number of spectators in cricket matches in the country, the current scenario in India indicates that the likelihood of people enjoying matches from galleries is still unlikely. The second wave of Covid-19 is expected to be followed by a third wave of the same that has the potential to wreak havoc in India. 

    The BCCI was compelled to temporarily suspend the remainder of the 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) after some players tested positive for Coronavirus infection. Even though the tournament played out with all stakeholders abiding by safety protocols and viewer galleries bereft of spectators, the bio-bubble was still invaded by the virus. BCCI president Sourav Ganguly, while suspending the tournament revealed that the cricket board would incur a loss of Rs 2,500 crores if the 2021edition of IPL was not completed. 

    India was similarly expected to host the ICC T20 Men’s cricket world cup in October that will most likely now shift to the UAE. As the current wave of the pandemic in India is showing no signs of slowing down, it appears likely that this tournament will also be outsourced to a neutral venue such as the UAE.

    Both the ICC and BCCI have thought of a backup plan if a third wave hits India. Last month, ICC had revealed that Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates were being considered as alternatives if the pandemic situation in India worsened. 

    Dhiraj Malhotra of BCCI had also recently confirmed that the UAE would be used as a contingency if the pandemic in India continues to get worse. 

    The recent developments strongly indicate that the future of cricket in India will be directly dependent on the pandemic situation, and it is highly unlikely that matches in the country will be played out to packed galleries, or even moderately populated stadiums until the pandemic curve flattens. 

  • How brands are looking at live sports in pandemic times

    How brands are looking at live sports in pandemic times

    KOLKATA: The pandemic has brought live sports to a standstill across the world for a brief period. Despite the re-start of major sporting events, most tournaments continued to be played in empty stadiums.

    The broadcasters relied on the use of augmented reality, virtual reality to sustain the viewer’s attention. But, the tectonic shift in the way a game is being played impacted big brands along with franchises, players, athletes, federations who depend on sports for better reach and higher recall. Many had to tweak their advertising strategies to adapt to the changing times.

    Amid all this, came the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). One of the biggest sporting extravaganzas returned to the home-country after more than a year. But, as the game was beginning to catch momentum, the ferocious second wave of the pandemic compelled the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) to suspend it mid-way, leaving the advertisers in a quandary.

    In India, larger spends on sports revolve around Cricket given the fandom of the game across the country. After an unusual year, the entire industry was looking forward to 2021 with big-ticket tournaments in pipeline. But with the IPL 2021 suspended indefinitely, the eyes are now on the upcoming tournaments in the sports calendar.

    At this critical juncture, Indiantelevision.com is organising a virtual panel discussion to deliberate on ‘Brands and live sports in the pandemic times’ on 21 May (Friday) at 3 pm. The roundtable is part of the Television Boardroom series.

    The esteemed panel includes speakers from brands and advertising agencies: Havas Media Group India CEO Mohit Joshi, DDB Mudra Group Integrated Media country head, managing partner Rajmohan Sundaram, upGrad India CEO, Arjun Mohan and Mobile Premier League (MPL) corporate development, investors relation SVP Joe Wadakethalakal. The panel discussion will be moderated by Indiantelevision.com founder, CEO & editor-in-chief Anil Wanvari.

    The virtual session will begin at 3:00 pm on Friday and will be live-streamed on YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter. 

    Join us for an insightful discussion! 

  • IPL suspension may hit Disney+ subscribers’ growth, ad revenue, says top exec

    IPL suspension may hit Disney+ subscribers’ growth, ad revenue, says top exec

    KOLKATA: When the Board of Cricket Council of India (BCCI)’s announced on 4 May, that it is indefinitely suspending the Indian Premier League (IPL) mid-way, the decision was backed by advertisers and broadcasters alike. The health and safety of players and staff was indeed paramount in  wake of the current Covid crisis in the country.

    But it also left media and advertising professionals guessing the impact that the suspension of one of the biggest cricket tournaments could have on the businesses, especially IPL’s official broadcaster – Star India.

    According to a top Disney executive, there could be an immediate effect on Disney+ subscriber addition guidance for the next two quarters. Despite lesser revenue with a low ARPU, Disney+Hotstar contributes significantly to the overall subscriber base of The Walt Disney Co’s biggest streaming bet since Disney’s entry in India last year merging with existing Hotstar service.

    While Disney+ paid subscribers have reached 103.6 million subscribers, Disney+Hotstar has nearly crossed around 34.5 million subscribers, which accounts for one-third of the overall base.

    The company spokespersons in the earnings call revealed that they expect “fewer net subscribers’ addition in the second half of the year given the Covid-related suspension of the IPL season and the decision to move the Star+ Latin America launch to the fourth quarter.” After the launch of Disney+Hotstar in India, the network had taken the tournament entirely behind the paywall for the first time.

    Other than millions of viewers who tune in to TV or OTT platforms to watch one of the biggest cricket spectacles, numerous brands also line up for quick reach and brand recall. Disney+Hotstar had roped in 14 sponsors for IPL 2021 and was expected to rake in higher ad revenue this year. But with the recent turn of events, IPL suspension could hit the advertising revenue too. “You could see a decrease in the ARPU and the subscribers in India if that plays out like we just said,” Christine McCarthy said during the earnings call.

    The 14th edition of the IPL was suspended after the bio-secure bubble was invaded by the Covid-19 and several players and team staff contracted the disease. The fate of the tournament now hangs in balance, as BCCI now faces the challenge of finding a suitable window to play the rest of the matches this year. BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has already made it clear that there is no option, but to play the remainder of the season outside India.

    “About half of the 60 IPL matches that were expected to be played this season have already taken place. So you’re looking at the back half, 30 games to be played. So sure, if they were able to successfully relocate the tournament, we would hopefully see an impact, especially on advertising,” McCarthy replied while asked if rescheduling of IPL would change the outlook for the second half of the financial year.

    With the second wave of Covid-19 ravaging the country, and a third wave likely, it remains to be seen how BCCI will navigate through the pandemic and schedule the remaining matches in a Cricket-packed year. The big-ticket events like ICC T20 World Cup are also scheduled for October-November 2021.

    “The big issue is going to be when in the quarter and if it overlaps into q4, or if it goes into the first fiscal quarter, which starts for us and the beginning of October. So it would have an impact on it, it just depends on when it would come in. Let’s hope they can relocate it,” McCarthy added further.

  • Remaining IPL matches to be played outside India: BCCI prez Sourav Ganguly

    Remaining IPL matches to be played outside India: BCCI prez Sourav Ganguly

    New Delhi: The remainder of the suspended Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 will be played outside the country, said Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) head Sourav Ganguly, putting to rest a lot of speculations about the league.

    While it remains unclear if a window will be available this year to play the outstanding 31 games of the tournament, Ganguly said he is sure that it will not happen in India in the present scenario.

    The 14th edition of the immensely popular cricket league that began on 9 April was suspended mid-way last week after several cricketers including team staff tested positive for Covid-19.

    “There are lots of organisational hazards like 14-day quarantine. It can’t happen in India,” Ganguly told Sportstar magazine in an exclusive interview, expressing reservations over holding rest of the league matches in India due to the Covid-19 restrictions .”This quarantine is tough to handle. Too early to say how we can find a slot to complete the IPL.”

    Warwickshire, Surrey and the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) are keen to host the remaining matches in September. But according to a Reuters report, BCCI is yet to discuss the offer.

    IPL 2020 was played in the United Arab Emirates last September when the world braved the first onslaught of the deadly pandemic.

    The BCCI head had earlier revealed that the governing body will incur a loss of Rs 2,500 crore if the suspended IPL 2021 is called off for this year. “If we fail to complete the IPL, the loss will be close to Rs 2500 crore ($340 million approximately). That is going by early estimates,” he had told The Telegraph. 

    Meanwhile, India would play three one-dayers and five Twenty20 Internationals in Sri Lanka in July.

    The Indian team is expected to leave for England in early June for the World Test Championship final in Southampton against New Zealand. They will play a five-test series against England.