IPL to be telecasted in 6 languages
The 2018 Indian Premier League is set for a major revamp after 10 long years. Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings are set to make a comeback and players will earn more money. But, it is not just the revenue model and more pay, the new broadcaster has several new plans including broadcasting IPL 2018 in 6 regional languages. Here's more.
IPL to have multilingual broadcast
For the first time in IPL's history, we have a new broadcaster. Star India snatched the rights from Sony Television by shelling out Rs. 16,000 cr for the next 5 years. Star TV, which boats a network of regional channels, is trying to localise the league and will broadcast it in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Bengali along with English and Hindi.
Targets 700 million viewers for IPL 11
Sanjay Gupta, Managing Director of Star India, believes that the IPL is the biggest property of television industry today. The broadcasters are expecting a viewership of 700 million for the coming edition of the IPL, which would mean a rise of 250 million from the previous edition. The regional channels are an important part of the strategy to increase the viewership.
Year round coverage
Unlike the earlier broadcaster, Star India will not restrict the coverage to just the two month period of the tournament. Sanjay Gupta has promised year round coverage with the intention of connecting with the viewers. The IPL coverage will begin as early as 4th of January when the player retention takes place, followed by the IPL auctions on 27th and 28th January.
Star to air IPL on 10 channels, in 6 languages
After shelling out a massive Rs. 16,000 cr for the next 5 years, Star now expects the advertising revenue to rise from Rs. 1,300 cr during last edition by at least Rs. 100-150 cr. IPL was earlier telecasted on 4 channels, but Star will take that number to 10. They are confident that the total viewing minutes will cross the 350 billion mark.
