Picture Credit: BCCI/IPL
Indian Premier League has delivered some exciting rivalries between franchises and players over the years. While the stage is all set for the 15th edition of the tournament, fresh reports have suggested that an interesting rivalry is going to take place off the field. Reportedly, Amazon.com Inc and Reliance Industries Ltd (RELI.NS) are expected to cross swords with the Indian units of Sony Group Corp (6758.T) and Walt Disney Co (DIS.N) for telecast right of IPL.
Reports have claimed that Amazon's rival in India, Reliance industries will also bid for the broadcasting rights of Indian Premier League for the next five years. Notably, Amazon has been quite active in hosting sports and in live streaming of games. However, as per reports, their rival Reliance is also geared up to better their chance to secure the bid for a high-stake tournament. Reportedly, Anton Rublievskyi, head of Parimatch, has been quoted sharing brief about the development. According to the market expert, India is a hotspot in terms of sports, and cricket is a money-making business in the country. "Cricket is the second most followed sport globally with two-and-a-half billion fans, and IPL is its Super Bowl," said Anton, whose company Parimatch advertised at the IPL last year.
Star India quite recently live-streamed the IPL 2022 mega auction in Bengaluru on February 12 & 13. Meanwhile, Amazon is reportedly in talks with Sony India to secure them as their Television partner, which they will be needed to broadcast IPL. Star India, who won the last bidding for IPL telecast rights, have paid 163.48 billion rupees for the digital & television rights until 2022, and they were repaid the faith with 350 million viewers in the first phase of IPL 2021 alone. The IPL in 2008 kicked off with Sony Television winning the telecast right in the inaugural edition, and the Star network continued the winning bid until the 2017 edition despite Disney Hotstar winning the streaming rights from 2015 to 2017.