ITV

Tag: Board of Control for Cricket in India

  • Apollo Tyres takes the front of India’s shirt in record guesstimated Rs 579 crore deal

    Apollo Tyres takes the front of India’s shirt in record guesstimated Rs 579 crore deal

    MUMBAI: Apollo Tyres has replaced Dream11 as the lead sponsor of India’s men’s and women’s cricket teams in a three-year pact guesstimated to be worth Rs 579 crore, the richest jersey deal in the sport’s history.

    Media reports state that the Gurugram-based company will pay the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI
    ) Rs 4.5 crore for each bilateral match and Rs 1.71 crore for ICC fixtures,  covering 121 bilateral games and 20 global tournaments through March 2028. Dream11 had reportedly been paying Rs 4 crore per bilateral game.

    The switch follows the government’s ban on real-money gaming platforms under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act 2025, which ended Dream11’s contract and left the team without a shirt sponsor during the Asia Cup in Dubai.

    BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia called the deal “a partnership between two institutions that have earned the trust and respect of millions.” Vice-president Rajeev Shukla said the intense bidding—from Canva, JK Cement and other suitors—proved the “strong market confidence in Team India’s global brand.”

    Vinit Karnik from WPP Media had this to say on Linkedin: “Apollo Tyres stepping in as Team India’s lead sponsor marks more than a sponsorship—it underscores commitment to excellence on a global platform. Cricket is India’s cultural heartbeat, and this partnership reflects vision, scale, and legacy. At WPP Media, we are proud to stand alongside Apollo Tyres in this defining journey.”

    The Apollo logo will now feature on all formats of Indian cricket, giving the tyre maker unprecedented global visibility and underlining cricket’s unmatched commercial clout.

  • PVR Inox brings IPL cricket to the big screen across 30+ cities

    PVR Inox brings IPL cricket to the big screen across 30+ cities

    MUMBAI: PVR Inox Ltd, India’s largest cinema exhibitor, is set to send cricket fans into a frenzy by screening Tata Indian Premier League (IPL) matches live in theatres across the country. In a  partnership with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the cinema chain will transform its plush screens into virtual stadiums for the 2025 season.

    Starting today with the opening ceremony, cricket-mad fans can catch weekend matches and playoffs on the big screen, complete with stadium-worthy sound systems and comfy seats—a far cry from the plastic chairs and overpriced lager at actual grounds.

    The opening weekend promises a cracking lineup:
    * 22 March:  Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bangalore
    * 23 March: Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals, followed by the mouth-watering Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians rivalry

    “We are excited to bring together India’s two greatest passions—cinema and cricket—through IPL screenings, offering an unparalleled viewing experience in a larger-than-life environment,” said PVR Inox chief executive for revenue and operations Gautam Dutta..“During the last cricket match screenings, we witnessed an overwhelming response from our audiences, with an influx of footfalls to our screenings across cities, affirming the immense popularity and success of this initiative. We are committed to providing a premium experience that takes sports entertainment to the next level this year as well

    The cinema chain appears keen to cash in on India’s cricket fever, offering premium experiences that might make watching at home seem positively dull by comparison. Gourmet food combos and surround sound for every six and wicket? Howzat for a Saturday night out.

    The screenings will blanket the country, hitting not just the usual suspects like Mumbai and Delhi, but also stretching to smaller cities where big-screen entertainment options are typically thinner on the ground than hair on a spinner’s head.

    Fans in Maharashtra can catch matches in Mumbai, Pune and even Latur, while those in Gujarat have options in Ahmedabad, Vadodara and Anand, among others. The eastern cricket faithful aren’t left on a sticky wicket either, with screenings in Kolkata, Guwahati, Odisha and Jharkhand.

    The initiative extends to Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and across southern India, including Hyderabad, Bangalore and Kochi.

    This crafty move by PVR Inox not only fills cinema seats during what might otherwise be quiet weekend afternoons but also provides cricket enthusiasts with a novel way to soak up the IPL atmosphere without battling stadium crowds or straining their eyes on tiny mobile screens.

    For those who prefer their cricket with air conditioning and the option of a decent meal, the boundary lines have just been redrawn.

  • No more ‘gutka’ with the game? BCCI faces heat over surrogate ads

    No more ‘gutka’ with the game? BCCI faces heat over surrogate ads

    MUMBAI: Cricket might be a game of glorious uncertainties, but one thing the Union Health Ministry wants to be absolutely certain about is a tobacco-free Indian Premier League (IPL). In a major crackdown ahead of the tournament’s 22 March 2025 kickoff, the ministry has urged the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to ban all forms of tobacco and alcohol advertising, particularly surrogate promotions by gutka manufacturers endorsed by Bollywood celebrities and former cricketers.

    The ministry’s directive comes after a study by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Vital Strategies, published in the British Medical Journal, which found that 41.3 per cent of all smokeless tobacco (SLT) surrogate ads in 2023 were displayed during the last 17 matches of the Cricket World Cup. These ads, often disguised as ‘elaichi’ mouth freshener promotions, allow tobacco brands to sidestep advertising bans while maintaining high visibility.

    In a letter dated 5 March 2025 to IPL chairman Arun Singh Dhumal and the BCCI, Director General of Health Services Atul Goel called for a blanket ban on tobacco and alcohol advertising across stadiums, related events, and national TV broadcasts. The ministry has also recommended that sports authorities discourage players, commentators, and stakeholders from endorsing tobacco-linked brands, either directly or indirectly.

    The letter stressed that cricketers are role models for millions, and the IPL, India’s largest sporting spectacle, has a moral responsibility to support public health initiatives. Goel pointed out that tobacco and alcohol consumption are leading contributors to India’s non-communicable disease (NCD) burden, with cardiovascular ailments, cancer, lung disease, diabetes, and hypertension accounting for over 70 per cent of annual deaths. India ranks second in global tobacco-related fatalities, with nearly 1.4 million deaths per year, while alcohol remains the country’s most widely used psychoactive substance.

    Despite strict advertising restrictions, India’s alcohol and tobacco industries continue to wield influence through high-profile sporting events like the IPL. The alco-bev market, currently worth Rs 1.7 trillion, is projected to touch Rs 5 trillion by FY28, while the tobacco sector is set to generate 14 billion dollors in revenue by 2025, according to Statista. However, with increasing government scrutiny, companies are expected to cut brand extension ad spends by 20-30 per cent, reports Financial Express.

    The crackdown isn’t limited to cricket. India became the first country to extend tobacco advertising prohibitions to OTT platforms from 1 September 2023. Now, new proposals seek to mandate non-skippable 30-second anti-tobacco health warnings on streaming content featuring tobacco use.

    With the IPL just weeks away, the big question remains: Will the BCCI enforce a ban on surrogate ads in stadiums and broadcasts? If implemented, this move could significantly impact brand visibility for tobacco and alcohol manufacturers while reinforcing cricket’s commitment to public health.

    For now, it’s game on for stricter regulations, but whether the IPL will play ball remains to be seen.

  • IPL 2025 to begin with Kolkata-Bengaluru clash

    IPL 2025 to begin with Kolkata-Bengaluru clash

    MUMBAI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India has announced the schedule for the Tata Indian Premier League 2025, which will run from 22 March to 25 May.

    The 74-match tournament will be played across 13 venues, featuring defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the opening fixture at Eden Gardens.

    The season includes 12 double-headers, with afternoon matches starting at 15:30 IST and evening games at 19:30 IST. The first double-header on 23 March will see Sunrisers Hyderabad face Rajasthan Royals, followed by a clash between five-time champions Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians.

    Three teams will split their home games across two venues: Delhi Capitals between Visakhapatnam and New Delhi, Rajasthan Royals between Guwahati and Jaipur, and Punjab Kings between New Chandigarh and Dharamsala.

    The playoffs will be held in Hyderabad and Kolkata, with the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium hosting Qualifier 1 and the Eliminator on 20 and 21 May respectively. Eden Gardens will stage Qualifier 2 on 23 May, followed by the final on 25 May.

    The detailed schedule of the Tata IPL 2025 can be accessed by clicking HERE.

    (PICTURE COURTESY BCCI)

  • ICC enlists Prabhakaran Thanraj as VP-commercial & operations

    ICC enlists Prabhakaran Thanraj as VP-commercial & operations

    MUMBAI: Prabhakaran Thanraj has reasons to be pleased. He’s just been appointed as the  vice-president – commercial & operations at the apex global cricket administrative  body – The International Cricket Council based in Dubai. For three years he was at the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), first as head of events & commercial, then being promoted as general manager – events and commercial in 2024..

    At the ACC, along with the team, he helped monetise the Women’s Asia Cup, a 70 per cent higher value from Sony Pictures Networks India for the ACC  media rights for the 2024-2031 cycle.

    Prabha, as he is called by colleagues, began his career as a signage and branding coordinator at IMG Reliance for the Aircel Chennai Open from 2009-2012. It was onto the desk as a graphic designer for around two years with Cognizant Technology and hew switched to IMG Reliance as a graphic designer for a year. It was here that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) spotted him and hired him as sponsorship manager for the Champions League 2013 and 2014. IMG  Reliance once again lured him away as assistant sponsorship manager and he stayed put there for almost four years.

    And then came the shift to the ACC which was a huge leap for Prabha. But he has proved himself. Today, he has a track record driving revenue through strategic partnerships, managing high-impact events, and leading successful marketing campaigns. And he is known for guiding teams, maximising brand impact, and advancing the sport’s reach on an international scale.

    The ICC congratulated him and wishes him all the best for his innings with them. We, at indiantelevision.com,  are sure Prabha will negotiate the googlies  as well as the short-pitched deliveries well. And even pull some of them over mid-wicket for a six.

  • Madison Media Alpha and PMG enable Atomberg to become the Official Partner for BCCI

    Madison Media Alpha and PMG enable Atomberg to become the Official Partner for BCCI

    Mumbai: Atomberg Technologies, India’s fast-growing home appliance manufacturer, has partnered with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The deal was consulted by Madison Media Alpha and Professional Management Group (PMG), which are part of Madison World, India’s largest homegrown communications network.

    The partnership between BCCI and Atomberg will begin in 2024 and will cover all major BCCI events until 2026, including domestic and international tournaments.

    On this announcement, Atomberg Technologies founding member & chief business officer Arindam Paul said, “There is no comparison to the reach and credibility that any association with cricket brings to brands looking to scale up pan India. Atomberg with its revolutionary products have captured the imagination and love of consumers across the length and breadth of the country and built a 1000 cr ARR business in less than a decade. In the last couple of years, we have used the power of bilateral cricket by being broadcast sponsors for many marquee series. And looking at the excellent results in both brand and business metrics, this official partnership with BCCI was the next logical step for us. We hope the visibility offered by the sport and the association will go a long way in building brand awareness and brand love for Atomberg”.

    “At Madison, we firmly believe that association with cricket gives an unparallel reach and I strongly believe that Atomberg’s association with cricket embarks on a journey to be one of the most prominent brands in the country. With Atomberg’s association with BCCI events on ground, it signifies a great deal of prestige”, commented Madison Digital and Madison Media Alpha CEO Vishal Chinchankar on this association.

  • ManoramaOnline presents SUPER WOMEN’S CUP: Empowering women cricketers

    ManoramaOnline presents SUPER WOMEN’S CUP: Empowering women cricketers

    Mumbai: In an effort to empower female cricketers and raise the stature of women’s cricket in the state, ManoramaOnline, the news portal in Malayalam, proudly hosted the ManoramaOnline Super Women’s Cup in association with Chungath Jewelry & Chaver Movie. The tournament was held on August 25 and 26 at the Paris Sports Center (PSC) in Ernakulam.

    Amid the ODI Cricket World Cup fever gripping the nation, the event witnessed tremendous enthusiasm and participation from both players and spectators, making it a grand success. The primary objective of the tournament was to support women cricketers.

    The journey to the championship was marked by intense competition and sportsmanship. Social, digital and print media were effectively utilised to invite entries from women’s cricket teams. Eight formidable teams advanced to the knockout stage. They were: Brawlers Cricket Club, Wisden Cricket Club, Lenkara Jewelry Design Institute, Marthoma College, Scoreline Cricket Club, St. Paul’s College, St. Teresa’s College and UC College.

    After fierce battles, four teams — Lenkara Jewelry Design Institute, UC College, Marthoma College and Wisden Cricket Club — entered the semifinals.

    After an exciting semis, Widen and UC College advanced to the final match.  

    In a thrilling title clash, Wisden Cricket Club emerged victorious, clinching the ManoramaOnline Super Women’s CUP, defeating an exceptionally skilled UC College.

    To add to the excitement, a friendly match was played between the champions Wisden Cricket Club, and the lead actors of the upcoming Malayalam movie “Chaver,” featuring iconic stars such as Kunchako Boban, Antony Pepe, Arun Nair, Tinu Papappacha and their crew.

    The tournament, spanning over two action-packed days, was played in front of a packed audience at the Paris Cricket Turf in Ernakulam. The winners received a cash prize of Rs 25,000, while the runners-up were awarded Rs 15,000 at the prize distribution ceremony attended by Shri Hibi Eden, honourable MP of Ernakulam & Thrikkakara MLA Uma Thomas. Excited by the overwhelming cricket atmosphere, guests also tried their hand at batting and balling along with the movie crew ahead of the ceremony.  

    In a heartwarming gesture, participants and celebrities who were part of the tournament signed a cricket bat, extending their best wishes to the Indian Men’s Cricket team for their upcoming ICC Men’s ODI World Cup campaign. The signed bat will be presented to the Indian cricket team and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) through the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA).

    Kunchako Boban, Malayalam superstar and the lead actor of “Chaver,” expressed his excitement at being part of the tournament and commended the women cricketers for their outstanding performance. Antony Varghese, popularly known as Antony Pepe, praised the women cricketers and encouraged them to dream of following in the footsteps of Minnu Mani, the only player from Kerala to be picked in the inaugural Women’s Premier League auction and to elevate their game to the international level, representing the country.

    The ManoramaOnline team successfully revitalized the campus connect, especially among women-centric colleges in the state, through this campaign. The overwhelming response and enthusiasm of the participating teams have prompted ManoramaOnline to announce this event as an annual tournament.

    ManoramaOnline Sports, Women, and Movie digital channels collaborated seamlessly to host the tournament, resulting in a high level of excitement among the audience and increased session durations during the live updates.
     

  • BCCI invites bids for IPL media rights from 2023-27

    BCCI invites bids for IPL media rights from 2023-27

    Mumbai: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday released the Invitation to Tender for Media Rights to the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the 2023-2027 seasons.

    The governing council of the IPL has invited bids from ‘reputed entities’ to acquire the media rights for the IPL 2023-27 seasons, through a tender process.

    The detailed terms and conditions governing the tender process including eligibility requirements, process for submissions of bids, proposed media rights packages, and obligations are contained in the ‘Invitation to Tender’ (ITT) which will be made available on receipt of payment of non-refundable fee of Rs 25 lakh plus any applicable goods and services tax. The ITT will be available for purchase till 10 May, said the statement.

    “Any interested party wishing to submit a bid is required to purchase the ITT,” stated BCCI honorary secretary Jay Shah. “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.”

    Furthermore, BCCI reserves the right to cancel or amend the bidding process at any stage in any manner at its discretion.

     

  • How does Dream11 benefits from IPL sponsorship

    How does Dream11 benefits from IPL sponsorship

    NEW DELHI: Yesterday, the announcement around Fantasy sports platform Dream11 bagging the title sponsorship rights for IPL 2020 made it to news outlet across the world. The fantasy league platform won the right for Rs 222 crore and replaced the Chinese mobile phone brand, Vivo, for a four-and-a-half-month deal. For the record, Vivo this year pulled off the association due to the ongoing Indo-Sino tensions across after the border.

    Dream11 has managed to get the sponsorship title at nearly half the price to what Vivo was paying. Vivo signed the title sponsorship rights with BCCI for five years till 2021 at Rs 2,199 core. The Chinese smartphone brand was paying approximately Rs 440 crore per year to BCCI whereas Dream11 has only spent Rs 222 cr.

    According to Dream Sports (Dream11) CEO & co-founder Harsh Jain, "The launch of IPL in 2008 gave birth to the idea of Dream11. We would like to thank the BCCI for giving us an opportunity to become the Title Sponsor of IPL, which in our opinion is the world’s greatest sports property. We are happy to continue building our partnership with BCCI & IPL to further promote sports fan engagement in India, and look forward to 10 Crore+ Indians making their Dream11 for every Dream11 IPL match.”

    Founded by Jain and Bhavit Sheth, the brand became India’s first gaming unicorn in April 2019. In the last few years, Dream11 has scaled up the brand proposition in the market while creating a niche for itself. The fantasy game app in the last two years has associated with multiple sports platforms like ICC, IPL, and PKL. They have roped in former Indian cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the face of the brand that has helped them garner consumers' attention effectively . The brand has expanded its wings with the launch of Fancode and DreamX.

    Good Deal

    Dream11 is already a sponsor to several IPL teams and has grown in leaps and bounds in the recent past.

    Lloyd Mathias, Business Strategist, who was closely involved with cricket sponsorship as the executive VP Marketing of PepsiCo defines the deal a great opportunity to cement itself as the clear leader in fantasy and online gaming. "They now establish themselves firmly on consumers' minds ahead of MyTeam11 and My 11circle and Howzat. This is an opportunity to come in as title sponsor at a 50% discount," mentions Mathias.

    Top of the Mind Recall

    There is no doubt that Dream11 has emerged as the torchbearer of this category in India and has grown in leaps and bounds. From a base of two million users in 2016, fantasy gaming platform has over 90 million users, according to a report by accounting firm KPMG published earlier this year. They have built a strong social media community. Several reports suggest that the brand clocked revenue of Rs 700 cr in FY19.

    The association with IPL will generate a massive reach and exposure of the brand not just across India but beyond the borders also.

    Dentsu One president Harjot Singh Narang defines that the BCCI and Dream 11 coming together is the best way to synergise each other’s reach to make IPL this year really come back with a bang and use this to fulfill marketing and monetisation goals in a market with a pent-up demand. 

    He further added, "For Dream 11 particularly this is their moment to make it big and target catapulting themselves to a national pastime contender with the fantasy sports world. Dream 11 needed a moment in the spotlight for this jump and have aptly invested behind the country’s passion to power that leap just like great brands like Pepsi, CocaCola, Crick Info, etc. 

    Cricket tournaments and IPL, in particular, is the single most visible platform for any brand to gain extensive reach and frequency of exposure with their potential audience in India and Dream 11 will definitely get a solid bang for its buck".

    Dream11’s association with sports has grown over the years and it is presently partnering a total of 19 sporting leagues along with 6 Indian Premier League Franchises.

    Due to the prevailing Covid2019 situation in India, the IPL is happening this year in UAE whereas other marquee global sporting events like the Olympics and Wimbledon have been pushed to 2021. Participating brands will see a huge jump in TV viewership given the total absence of live sporting entertainment in the market over the past 6 months. 

    Mathias mentions that IPL gives huge awareness and adoption. In a span of 50 days a brand can establish itself in consumer minds across a broad demographic. He adds, “They see cricket as the shortest route to grow exponentially – and outpace their competitors.”

    Future Partner

    The one thing which is still not clear is whether or not Vivo will be making a comeback next year? However, there are speculations that BCCI will opt for a fresh bid next year. Even if Vivo doesn’t return, BCCI has decided not to go with the same amount as it is comparatively lower. 

    Since the title sponsorship, this year has been awarded at half price; will this hurt the brand value of IPL in the long run when it will choose a new sponsor next year? 

    Mathias believes that  “as far as the IPL is concerned there is virtually no loss of brand value. The biggest chunk of IPL’s revenues accrues from the STAR TV network who guarantee US $2.55 billion to the BCCI as an official broadcaster – so about US $ 500 million (Rs 3800 cr) a season. The drop in the price of the title sponsorship by half -about Rs 220 cr – is tiny in comparison.”

    It has been widely reported that the educational platform Unacademy and Bjyus were also in the sponsorship race. Unacademy had bid Rs 210 crore while Byju's had bid Rs 125 crore for the same period. Byju’s is the current jersey sponsor of the Indian cricket team. Even Tata Sons too showed interest in bagging the sponsorship rights, but the deal couldn’t take place due to the lower bidding offer. The Indian startup ecosystem is very keen on sports marketing (mainly cricket).

    Havas Media Group MD– India Mohit Joshi states that ed-tech is a sunrise sector currently and has a huge untapped potential in India. “Indian start-up ecosystem has always been associated with impact driving properties – whether it was the jackets in publications or the sponsorships of big-ticket programming in yesteryears. This year, IPL association is one of the biggest impact driving opportunities available, and hence it’s but natural that the Indian start-up ecosystem will be keen to associate with it.”

    However, there is a section of people who have not taken the news of BCCI & Dream11 association in the positive light because the latter has investments from Tencent Holdings, a Chinese investment firm.

  • Dream 11 bags IPL title sponsorship rights

    Dream 11 bags IPL title sponsorship rights

    NEW DELHI: Fantasy sports platform Dream11 has bagged the title sponsorship rights of IPL 2020 for Rs 222 crore, as per PTI reports. The fantasy league platform has replaced the Chinese mobile phone brand Vivo for a four-and-a-half-month deal.

    Dream11 has been one of the IPL sponsors for a couple of years now. "Dream11 has won the rights with a bid of Rs 222 crore," IPL Chairman Brijesh Patel told news agencies.

    However, there has been no confirmation from Dream 11, at the time of filing this story.

    Companies like Tata Sons, Unacademy, and Bjyus participated in the bidding process. According to multiple media reports, Unacademy had bid Rs 210 crore, Tata Sons had bid Rs 180 crore and Byju's had bid Rs 125 crore.

    Vivo and BCCI postponed their partnership for one year due to the prevailing Sino-India border stand-off. Under the deal with Vivo, BCCI was receiving Rs 440 crore per year. The IPL will be held from September 19 to November 10 in the UAE this year.

    On August 10, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had sent out invitations to third parties to express their interest (EOI) in acquiring the title sponsorship rights for IPL 2020.