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TV ad rates sky-rocket ahead of India, Pakistan CT 2017 final
NEW DELHI/MUMBAI: “India vs Pakistan Final… !! All TV execs around the world are now cracking a nice bottle open to celebrate,” tweeted former England captain Michael Vaughan after Thursday’s victory of India over Bangladesh in Champions Trophy 2017 semi-final. He wasn’t off the mark as television advertising rates on Star Sports for June 18 cricket final between India and Pakistan are almost 10 times the normal price, according to a media report.
A 30-second spot during the final to be broadcast by Star Sports is expected to cost nearly Rs. 10 million ($155,267), far higher than the Rs. 1 million that advertisers pay on average for most Indian shows, a Reuters report said basing its observations on inputs from people involved in buying ads.
An earlier India-Pakistan clash on a cricket field was ranked amongst the six most-watched sporting events with billions of fans watching the game on TV, OTT platforms and in the stadium.
Pakistan, the lowest-ranked team at the Champions Trophy 2017 tournament, upset host and favourites England to set up a final clash with defending champions India, feeding frenzy for a game that commands a fanatical following in the Indian sub-continent and among its diaspora spread across the globe.
Most of the TV spots for the final, to be played in London, were pre-booked with firms such as Nissan Motor, Intel Corp, Emirates, Chinese mobile maker Oppo and Indian tyre-maker MRF signed up as commercial partners for the tournament, the Reuters report stated. Quoting broadcast industry people familiar with such developments, the report added fewer than 10 per cent of the slots are left for the final.
Companies still wanting to air their ads will be paying a higher rate than those who pre-booked, said the person, who did not want to be named, citing business confidentiality, according to the wire agency report.
Before the Champions Trophy, the last time India and Pakistan played a one-day international was during the 2015 World Cup. That game, won by India, was one of the top-six most viewed sporting events, along with the soccer World Cup final and Usain Bolt’s 100-metre sprint at the 2012 Olympic Games, the sports broadcasting industry source told Reuters.
India and Pakistan have already met during the tournament’s group stage, with India winning easily. More than 200 million people watched that game, according to Indian media, citing BARC India. For Sunday’s final, viewership is expected to be 30-40 percent higher.
However, not everybody is as optimistic on TV advertising rates sky-rocketing just because it’s an India-Pakistan match.
Contacted by Indiantelevision.com, Dentsu Aegis Network South Asia chairman and CEO Ashish Bhasin admitted that the final will have a high viewership, but wasn’t sure whether TV ad rates would increase. “I don’t think (the match) will make any significant impact (on ad rates) because anybody who has put advertising revenue would have already put it up,” he explained, adding most of the advertising budget for tournaments like these would have already been spent.
Echoing somewhat similar sentiments Madison Media Omega COO Dinesh Rathore said ad rates admittedly will be higher but “people would have bought it in advance.”
Pointing out that he wasn’t sure if Star had kept in reserve some ad inventory to be sold at a premium later, Rathore, however, explained that Sony always kept some inventory (about 100 seconds) in reserve for IPL matches to be sold later at a higher price. Still, he maintained that if Star has some reserved inventory, the premium could be three to four times higher than the normal rates.
It is also not clear whether pubcaster Doordarshan that also will air the final is equipped to cash in on the situation by doing some aggressive marketing over the weekend.
An analysis of BARC data done by Indiantelevision.com highlighted that Champions Trophy 2017 helped Star Sports 1, Star Sports Hindi and Doordarshan National to enter the list of Top 10 channels across all genres (all-India; rural and urban) in Week 23 of 2017 (Saturday, 3 June 2017 to Friday, 9 June 2017). CT 2017 broadcast rights holder Star shares a clean feed of the matches with pubcaster DD under government-mandated regulations.
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Worldwide Travel Insurance for Indian Travellers: How to Find a Plan Without Geographic Gaps in Your Protection
Travelling to more than one country can make insurance selection more complex, because a policy that looks broad at first may still leave certain destinations, transit points, or regions outside its scope. For Indian travellers, this can lead to gaps in cover during a medical emergency or travel disruption abroad.
Here’s a guide to understanding how worldwide coverage works, which plan types to review, and how to check for geographic exclusions before choosing a policy.
Why Geographic Coverage Matters in Travel Insurance
When travellers look for the best travel insurance, medical cover and premium often get early attention, but geographic scope matters just as much. A policy may appear broad while still limiting cover in certain countries, regions, or travel routes.
This can affect hospital access, emergency support, evacuation terms, and non-medical benefits. For Indian travellers visiting more than one destination, checking where the policy applies is an important way to avoid gaps in protection.
Types of Worldwide Travel Insurance Plans Available to Indians
Worldwide travel insurance may be available in different formats, and each one should be reviewed based on the route, trip pattern, and list of destinations.
Single-Trip Travel Insurance
This type of policy is generally chosen for one overseas journey with fixed departure and return dates. It may suit travellers visiting one country or more than one destination during the same trip. The policy still needs to be checked carefully to confirm whether every destination on the itinerary is covered during the full travel period.
Multi-Trip Annual Insurance
This type of plan may be suitable for travellers who visit different countries several times a year. It can be useful only when the policy’s covered regions match the countries included across those trips. Before choosing it, travellers should check trip duration limits, region-wise exclusions, and whether all intended destinations are covered under the annual plan.
Region-Specific Plans
Some policies are built for selected regions rather than for the whole world. These plans may be arranged by destination groups such as Asia, Europe, or broader international zones. They may be suitable in some cases, but they should be reviewed carefully if the journey includes stopovers, connecting countries, or travel beyond the listed region.
Comprehensive Worldwide Plans
These plans are usually reviewed by travellers who want broader international cover across multiple destinations. However, a plan described as worldwide may still have country-wise limits, separate terms for certain regions, or limits on healthcare access and emergency services. The wording should therefore be checked in detail before relying on the description alone.
Key Coverage Areas That Ensure Global Protection
A worldwide policy should be reviewed for the coverage points that matter when travel includes more than one country or a wider international route. These areas help show whether the plan is suitable for broader overseas travel and not limited to only a few listed destinations.
● Cover that applies to all countries listed in the itinerary, not only the main destination.
● Cover for transit stops and connecting countries that are part of the planned journey.
● Clear mention of excluded countries, restricted regions, or destinations not covered under the policy.
● Emergency medical and assistance support that remains available while travelling across different countries.
● Evacuation and repatriation terms that continue to apply during multi-country travel.
How to Check for Geographic Exclusions Before Buying
Geographic exclusions are often found in the detailed wording rather than in the headline promise of the plan. A careful review before purchase can help travellers understand whether the policy matches their travel route.
● Check the destination list in the policy schedule.
● Read whether excluded countries, sanctioned regions, or restricted zones are mentioned in the wording.
● Review whether transit stops and connecting destinations are mentioned as covered travel locations.
● Check if medical network access differs across countries even when the policy appears globally valid.
● Read whether adventure activities, cruises, or remote locations have separate geographic conditions.
● Review assistance and claim support terms to see if they apply equally across all covered destinations.
Conclusion
A travel insurance plan cannot be judged only by premium, destination label, or the word worldwide term alone. For Indian travellers, geographic scope needs close attention because exclusions and regional limits may affect how the policy works during the journey. A careful review of plan type, covered locations, medical support, and destination-specific terms may help reduce avoidable gaps.
