The Women’s Indian Premier League (IPL) media rights auction in January 2023, while significant in its own right, has underscored the vast disparity in revenue compared to its male counterpart.
Viacom18, backed by Reliance, emerged as the victor in the auction, securing the exclusive media rights for the Women’s IPL for the next five years. Their winning bid came in at a substantial ₹951 crore, translating to a value of ₹7.09 crore per match for the inaugural season of the Women’s IPL.
Jay Shah, the Secretary of the Board of Control in Cricket in India (BCCI), lauded the historic implications of the media rights auction for the Women’s IPL. He emphasized that this marks a pivotal step forward for women’s cricket in India, facilitating broader participation across different age groups.
However, it’s impossible to overlook the glaring discrepancy between the Women’s IPL and its male counterpart in terms of revenue. The media rights auction for the men’s IPL covering the 2023-2027 period garnered a staggering ₹48,390 crore, nearly 50 times higher than the Women’s IPL rights. Viacom had previously secured the digital rights for the men’s IPL for ₹20,500 crore.
The next highly anticipated auction will center on the formation of teams for the Women’s IPL. It is anticipated that at least eight out of the ten IPL clubs from the men’s league will participate in what promises to be a competitive bidding process. The BCCI is scheduled to reveal the franchise owners and winning cities for the Women’s IPL on January 25 when they open the sealed bids.
Ajimon Francis, the Managing Director of Brand Finance India, expressed optimism regarding the ₹900-crore central pool generated from the media rights auction. He believes that this substantial sum will undoubtedly attract franchise owners who foresee significant returns on their investments. It’s worth noting that the broadcaster’s payment goes into the IPL central pool, which is subsequently distributed among the participating teams as revenue.
Francis also pointed out that Viacom18 struck an advantageous deal, especially considering the growing interest in the Women’s IPL. This surge in interest can be attributed to the success of Indian women cricketers on the international stage. He further emphasized that the Women’s IPL is just one component of Viacom18’s extensive entertainment portfolio. The company is strategically aligning itself with major entertainment properties that draw viewers, ensuring its continued relevance in the ever-evolving entertainment landscape.
In preparation for the Women’s IPL, the inaugural auction has categorized base prices into five tiers, ranging from ₹10 lakh to ₹50 lakh. Franchise registration for the auction will remain open until January 26, setting the stage for an exciting chapter in the development of women’s cricket in India.