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Tag: Women’s Premier League

  • IPL’s surging IPL valuation slides back as gambling ban and media merger collide

    IPL’s surging IPL valuation slides back as gambling ban and media merger collide

    MUMBAI: The Indian Premier League, the commercial behemoth that has redefined cricket economics, is experiencing something unprecedented: contraction. After years of relentless upward momentum, the IPL’s valuation has plummeted to Rs 76,100 crore in 2025—a staggering Rs 16,400 crore collapse over two years. The league that once seemed destined to become sport’s most valuable franchise now faces an altogether different reality: the era of exponential growth has ended.

    Two seismic forces have conspired to puncture cricket’s golden goose. First, India’s crackdown on real-money gaming has eviscerated the advertising market, stripping an estimated Rs 1,500–2,000 crore from annual sponsorship revenues. Second, the 2024 merger of Disney Star and Viacom18 into JioStar eliminated the competitive media rights bidding war that had inflated valuations for over a decade. Together, these shocks have shattered the financial architecture upon which the IPL’s boom was built.

    Fantasy and gaming platforms were the IPL’s most profligate sponsors, lavishing Rs 1,500–2,000 crore annually across league, franchise, and broadcaster deals. Dream11’s Rs 358 crore national jersey sponsorship exemplified this era: premium pricing underpinned by what amounted to speculative betting cash. Then the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act descended like a guillotine. The gaming sponsors evaporated overnight, leaving franchises scrambling to replace lost revenue with comparatively cheaper deals from fast-moving consumer goods, banking, and electric vehicle makers.

    The vacuum revealed an uncomfortable truth: gaming sponsorship wasn’t additional revenue flowing into cricket’s ecosystem. It was unsustainable froth, inflating numbers on spreadsheets rather than building durable commercial value. When it disappeared, so did the illusion of inexhaustible growth.

    For years, competing broadcasters—Star Sports, Sony, Amazon, others—bid ferociously for IPL rights, each convinced that exclusive access to India’s cricket audience justified premium prices. In 2023, with two strong bidders and whispers of global tech giants entering the fray, valuations soared to Rs 92,500 crore. But the promised tech invasion never materialised. Netflix, Amazon, and Apple pivoted away from sports streaming. Disney and Viacom18 merged, eliminating one bidder entirely. The competitive tension that had driven rights auctions simply evaporated.

    D&P Advisory managing partner Santosh N summarised the revised reality: media rights will no longer deliver the 40–50 per cent appreciation once confidently projected. The IPL’s “fundamentals remain strong,” he insisted, but “the pricing environment will remain under pressure.” Translation: viewers will watch, advertising inventory will sell, but sponsors will pay less.

    The Women’s Premier League, still in its formative years, has already buckled. Its ecosystem value fell 5.6 per cent to Rs 1,275 crore in a single year. Unlike the IPL’s entrenched commercial machinery, the WPL lacks pricing resilience. Dream11’s sponsorship withdrawal and the gaming ban have left the BCCI scrambling to secure title sponsors before the next season—a predicament that would have been unthinkable two years ago.

    Amidst the financial carnage, audience enthusiasm remains robust. The 2025 IPL season crossed a billion cumulative viewers, with digital viewership surpassing television for the first time. JioStar recorded 1.19 billion unique viewers and 514 billion minutes watched. Stadium attendance remained strong; travel searches spiked across Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Lucknow during matches. In short, Indians remain obsessed with cricket. They’re simply less willing—or able—to pay premium prices for the privilege.

    The road forward demands what the boom years never required: structural innovation. Subscription bundles, regional packages, commerce integrations, and renewed competitive tension from global streaming platforms must replace the twin engines of gaming sponsorship and auction-driven bidding wars. 

    If they don’t materialise, the IPL faces not terminal decline but permanent diminishment: a mature, cash-generative business rather than the exponential growth machine it once promised to be. For a league built on the premise that tomorrow would always dwarf today, that’s a bitter recalibration indeed.
     

  • Solitario Diamonds ink partnership with Gujarat Giants for WPL

    Solitario Diamonds ink partnership with Gujarat Giants for WPL

    MUMBAI: Solitario Diamonds has officially partnered with Gujarat Giants in the Women’s Premier League (WPL), becoming the first lab-grown diamond brand to align with the world’s biggest women’s cricket tournament. As the third most-watched cricket event globally, following the IPL and ICC T20 World Cup, the WPL presents an unmatched opportunity for Solitario to engage with millions across India.

    With Gujarat—the diamond capital of India—at the heart of this collaboration, the synergy between Solitario and the WPL is seamless. The partnership goes beyond sport, celebrating the resilience, brilliance, and achievements of women in all fields.

    Solitario Diamonds CEO & co-founder Ricky Vasandani expressed his enthusiasm for the association, stating, “We are incredibly proud to be associated with the Women’s Premier League, a tournament that is not just revolutionising women’s cricket but also inspiring millions across the country. As a brand dedicated to brilliance and resilience, we see this partnership as a tribute to women who shine in every field. Just like our diamonds, these athletes embody strength, perseverance, and excellence.”

    To mark this alliance, Solitario Diamonds will host the entire WPL team in Bengaluru on 25 February. During a special ceremony, Vasandani will present each team member with a stunning tennis bracelet—a symbol of strength and elegance, much like the athletes themselves.

    Solitario Diamonds is rolling out a power-packed marketing campaign that ensures maximum visibility throughout India. The brand is making bold moves with:

    ●    Digital promotions and social media blitz – High-impact campaigns across live-streaming platforms and social media to keep the buzz alive throughout the tournament.

    ●    Out-of-home (OOH) advertising – Strategic placements in key cities, including Mumbai, Bengaluru, Lucknow, and Baroda.

    ●    Bus branding – Extensive branding on public transport in cricket-loving regions.

    ●    Stadium branding & in-game digital activations – Front-and-centre presence at WPL venues, ensuring strong brand recall.

    With stadium branding, live-streaming integrations, and high-impact activations, Solitario Diamonds is ensuring that its presence is as dazzling as its creations. As the WPL takes centre stage, the brand is set to knock it out of the park, positioning itself as a game-changer in the world of luxury diamonds.

    This strategic collaboration underscores Solitario’s dedication to empowering women, drawing a compelling parallel between the brilliance of diamonds and the rising success of Indian women in sports and beyond. Cricket, revered as a religion in India, offers the perfect stage for Solitario to inspire and connect with audiences on an unparalleled scale.

    With this partnership, Solitario Diamonds is championing a movement that celebrates women’s achievements, resilience, and brilliance, both on and off the field.

  • RCB Skipper Mandhana advocates multi-city WPL for Women’s Cricket boost

    RCB Skipper Mandhana advocates multi-city WPL for Women’s Cricket boost

    Mumbai: RCB women’s team captain and Indian women’s cricket team vice-captain Smriti Mandhana shared her perspectives on the potential impact of a multi-city format for the Women’s Premier League (WPL) while speaking at the RCB Innovation Lab’s Leaders Meet India in Bengaluru last week.

    While reflecting on the success of the WPL, Smriti Mandhana expressed enthusiasm for the prospect of adopting a multi-city format at the first-of-its-kind summit that brought together influential leaders from various industries to delve into the future of sports. “It would be great to have WPL in the multi-city format. I think that might be the next step and I am sure the people right here would look into it and make it happen. As an RCB fan, I would love to play in Chinnaswamy where people are chanting ‘RCB RCB’ and just to be in that environment. That is something which is one step ahead for us that it (multi-city format) can reach to places where women’s cricket hasn’t reached and to get new audience going into women’s cricket,” Mandhana commented.

    The 27-year-old believes that the RCB Innovation Lab’s Leaders Meet India was a much-needed platform to understand how different business people look at sports as a platform to generate digital numbers and feels the event should happen more often to interact with other sports icons and business top brass.

    Ahead of the WPL auction and the second season of the tournament, RCB’s captain Mandhana revealed the importance of a conducive environment that the franchise has prepared and she will prioritise the time she spends with the team. “A lot of thoughts have gone into what kind of combinations we need in terms of releases or retention. So we are looking forward to the WPL auctions and hopefully, we get the players who we are looking forward to getting,” added Mandhana.

    Speaking on the growth of women’s sports in India, Mandhana highlighted the remarkable achievements of women athletes in recent years. She emphasized the cultural shift, saying, “Women in India are doing amazing stuff in the last five to 10 years not only in women’s cricket but in women’s sport in general. If you see the last Olympics or Commonwealth or Asian Games, the kind of medals women’s athletes have gone and got for the country is a big inspiration for a lot of smaller city girls out there to pursue their passion. I think women’s sports in general should be treated separately and by doing that they can definitely sell a lot of things in terms of the ticketing or the digital rights.”

    When asked about the areas women’s cricket needs in terms of further investment or further focus to keep propelling forward, Mandhana suggested focusing on the grassroots level.

    “The only thing that we could invest in is the grassroots level of women’s sport in general because a lot of interest is developed with the Indian Women’s team or the WPL tournament. Invest more so that we get a lot more cricketers women cricketers,” she remarked.

    Drawing inspiration from women athletes in international sports, Mandhana revealed her admiration for Alex Morgan in women’s FIFA and acknowledged Serena Williams’ monumental achievements in tennis as her source of motivation.

  • U.P. Warriorz and global visionaries craft transformative women’s cricket docuseries

    U.P. Warriorz and global visionaries craft transformative women’s cricket docuseries

    Mumbai: Following the overwhelming success of the inaugural Women’s Premier League (WPL) season earlier this year, Capri Sports-owned U.P. Warriorz, is poised to bring forth the narrative of women’s cricket with a novel docuseries that showcases the squad in an up-close and real manner, highlighting the magical moments, triumphs of the season, formidable challenges, breakthroughs, and inspiring journeys from the heart of UP and realities of women’s sports from the heartland of India and internationally.

    In an era where women’s sports is on the rise, the U.P. Warriorz franchise seeks to lead the charge in breaking gender barriers, not just in cricket but across the entire spectrum of sports.

    This docuseries, co-produced by ART&M and Victory Sports Media, will be a cultural milestone that stands to inspire sportswomen and women in general across all spheres in their ongoing journeys of striving toward social and economic change. Capri Sports envisions an extensive and diverse viewership, encompassing cricket enthusiasts, sports aficionados, aspiring young female cricketers, and anyone eager to delve into the compelling narrative of women in sports.

    Award-winning filmmaker Arlene Nelson, ASC DGA,  director and executive producer of the series, is a consummate storyteller instrumental in building and showcasing compelling narratives. Represented by United Talent Agency (UTA), she will be directing the U.P. Warriorz docuseries, leveraging her ability to explore the deepest corners of the human psyche, conveying the full power and passion of the world we live in, thus enhancing the impact of this cinematic venture.

    “In the current zeitgeist, a global groundswell is propelling female protagonists to the forefront. The docuseries embraces this momentum and allows me to weave a rich narrative where resilient women athletes emerge as trailblazers. I’m honored to be entrusted with the telling of this universal story that I believe is destined to captivate audiences worldwide,” said Arlene Nelson.

    ART&M  co-founder and producer/showrunner Arnab Chakraborty, expressed the company’s commitment to impactful storytelling, emphasizing the docuseries’ role in taking cricket to a larger global audience and inspiring young girls around the world to take up sports.

    Victory Sports Media CEO Jai Khanna, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of sharing the U.P. Warriorz story globally, celebrating achievements, shattering glass ceilings, and inspiring future generations.

    With the Women’s Premier League (WPL) currently valued at $150 million and the Capri Sports-owned U.P. Warriorz franchise contributing significantly to this valuation, the docuseries serves not only as a testament to the prowess of women in sports but also as a strategic investment in the burgeoning landscape of women’s cricket.

    Scheduled to be shot from November 2023 to April 2024, the docuseries aims to capture the entirety of the team’s journey, from the intense preparation phase to the heart of the tournament. The timing ensures an immersive experience for viewers, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the evolution and dedication of the U.P. Warriorz.

    Captain Alyssa Healy, expressing her enthusiasm, stated, “I believe this docuseries marks a revolutionary moment for women’s sports, offering a fresh perspective that could reshape public perception of women’s cricket.” Jinisha Sharma, U.P Warriorz team owner & director – Capri Sports, concluded, “Our docuseries isn’t just capturing the heart of cricket; it’s amplifying the voices of women who are catalysts for change. U.P. Warriorz is proud to showcase not just their athletic prowess but their ability to impact society and business positively—a milestone that reverberates far beyond the field. 

  • Viacom18 opts to knock-out rogue websites from infringing its media rights for BCCI events

    Viacom18 opts to knock-out rogue websites from infringing its media rights for BCCI events

    Mumbai: Viacom18 has secured a broad dynamic injunction from the Delhi High Court for the Indian cricket team’s bilateral matches.

    Recently, to strengthen its hold in the sports broadcasting industry, Viacom18 had bagged the BCCI linear and digital right in a three-way bidding war between Viacom18, Sony and Star. As a result, for the next five years i.e., from September 2023 till March 2028, all bilateral games involving the Indian cricket team that will be played in India along with domestic cricket, shall now be broadcasted/streamed by Viacom18 on its television and OTT properties. With this Viacom18 has also become the prominent sports destination as it already has the digital rights for the Indian Premier League (IPL), Women’s Premier League (WPL) and other major sporting events like the Olympics 2024, MotoGP 2023, La Liga, Diamond League etc.

    The new sports broadcasting leader, Viacom18 Media Private Ltd, had approached the Delhi High Court seeking an ad-interim dynamic injunction to protect its Media Rights in relation to the BCCI Events against various rogue and pirate websites as well as John Does/Ashok Kumars/Unknown Defendants. The Court while expressing its concerns regarding the unending menace of piracy noted that the courts have become inundated with suits pertaining to such issues and suggested the importance of a robust anti-piracy policy to curb the issues. The Court observed that a prima facie case for interim injunction was made out and further held that the grant of an injunction would be necessary to avoid irreparable loss/injury from being caused to Viacom18.

    The court further ordered that Viacom18 shall not be bound to initiate any fresh proceedings in relation to any new alphanumeric/redirect/mirror websites that are expected to mushroom during the course of the BCCI events. Access to such websites shall be blocked by the Internet Service Providers (IPSs) upon being informed about the same by Viacom18 on an affidavit. This dynamic injunction provides Viacom18 to swiftly act against pirates and rogue websites infringing and making available the BCCI matches without due permissions. With this effective dynamic injunction Order from the Delhi High Court, Viacom18 has set the field to ensure a smooth exploitation of its rights and bowl-out any infringing and pirated content.  

    Such dynamic injunction orders re-affirm and assure the owner/licensee/assignee of IP rights that the humongous capitals invested in relation to such rights shall be protected against pirates and infringers. With such orders being passed by the courts, it has also become possible to unearth the identities of those hiding behind the cloak of anonymity on the internet and book them for their illegal actions.

    Viacom18 Media Pvt. Ltd. general counsel Anil Lale said, “We at Viacom18 are proud to be the exclusive digital and television broadcaster for Indian cricket. Viacom18 has always been at the forefront in the fight against piracy. I am sure this is a welcome step for all the cricket fans as also for bona fide broadcasters like us who spend huge sums to get these rights..  

    While we are proud to say that we have won several battles against these pirate websites, we understand that the war against piracy is a continuing one and we are committed towards winning it.”