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IPL e-auction: Viacom18, Disney Star & Times Internet win media rights for 2023-27
Mumbai: The 2022 Indian Premier League (IPL) media rights auction has concluded. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has sold the rights at a combined value of Rs 48,390 crore. Disney Star has won the TV broadcast rights, Viacom18 has laid claim to the digital rights, including exclusive and non-exclusive games, and Times Internet has won the bid for international media rights.
“IPL is now the second most valued sporting league in the world in terms of per match value!” said BCCI secretary Jay Shah on Tuesday.
“The BCCI will utilize the revenue generated from IPL to strengthen our domestic cricket structure starting from grassroots, to boost infrastructure and spruce up facilities across India & enrich the overall cricket-watching experience.”
He further said, “Now, it’s time for our state associations, IPL franchises to work together with the IPL to enhance the fan experience and ensure that our biggest stakeholder – the cricket fan – is well looked after and enjoys high quality cricket in world-class facilities.”
The bidding for Package C and Package D concluded on Tuesday. Viacom18 and Times Internet shared Package D that included international media rights. Viacom18 won the rights to Australia, South Africa and the United Kingdom while Times Internet won the rights to the rest of the world that included the Middle East and Africa (MENA) & US. Package D was sold for Rs 1,058 crore for five years or Rs 2.58 crore per match for 410 matches.
Package A for TV broadcast rights was won by Disney Star at the value of Rs 23,575 crore for five years or Rs 57.50 crore per match for 410 matches. Package B for digital broadcast rights for exclusive matches was sold to Viacom18 at Rs 20,500 crore for five years or Rs 50 crore per match for 410 matches. Viacom18 also won the bid for Package C that included non-exclusive digital matches at a value of Rs 3257.52 crore for five years or Rs 33.24 crore per match for 98 games.
Sony Pictures Networks India MD and CEO NP Singh said, “I want to begin by congratulating and thanking BCCI for an extremely well-managed and transparent bidding process. Next, I want to congratulate the winners of the four IPL media rights packages. The IPL began with SPN and has since developed into one of the world’s most popular sporting leagues in its 15-year history. We’ve seen the league grow and would have liked to see it on the Sony Network again. In this regard, we made a reasonable bid, considering all the expected returns. We had to factor in the market’s anticipated expansion and potential economic and other concerns over the next five years. Fiscal prudence, in my opinion, is critical for strategic management.”
The highly anticipated auction was first announced on 29 March by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The contenders for broadcast rights included Disney Star, Sony Pictures Networks India and Viacom18. The bidders for digital rights include Zee Entertainment Enterprises, Disney+ Hotstar and Reliance Jio. Mjunction conducted the auction.
The IPL is the second most valuable sports property after the National Football League (NFL) in terms of broadcast price per match. The value of the media rights per match has reached almost Rs 114 crore leaving the Premier League behind which is valued at around Rs 81 crore per match. The action continues on Wednesday.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
