Giants Facebook and Google in race for Indian cricket's digital-rights
Social networking giant Facebook and the world's biggest search engine Google, are in the race to acquire Indian cricket's digital rights. According to reports, the BCCI is selling the media rights for the next five years (2018-2023). The US giants will face a tough competition from Star's Hotstar and Mukesh Ambani-helmed Reliance Jio. Here is what lies ahead.
Media rights will be sold via e-auction
The Invitation to Tender was floated on February 20 for acquiring the rights for the period between April 2018 to May 2023. Initially, the e-auction was supposed to be held on March 27, but the BCCI postponed it to April 3. The reason, behind the same, was to provide necessary clarifications to the parties, which had picked up the tender documents.
E-auction: Packages on offer
For the first year, the base price is Rs. 8 crore per match. For next four years it's Rs. 7 crore per match. Here are the packages: 1) Global Television Rights plus Rest-Of-World Digital Rights, 2) Indian Sub-continent Digital Rights and 3) Global Consolidated Rights.
Big players in the market for internet and TV rights
The report states that Facebook, Google, Reliance Jio and Hotstar "could have bigger plans than merely bidding for Internet rights." Indian cricket seems like an important piece for these giants and they are launching new initiatives to engage with the fans. For example, Jio recently launched an interactive Cricket Channel. For television rights, Star TV and Sony Pictures Network are in fray.
Will Facebook get lucky?
Facebook had bid Rs. 3,900 crore for the IPL's digital rights last year. But they were trumped by Star India. This time, we expect them to give others a tough fight, especially when they are looking to make a mark with their 'Facebook TV'.
