After Disney Star secured the exclusive television rights package for the 2023-2027 Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket seasons, the company said that it was pleased to extend its association with the lucrative league.
Issuing a statement, the company said: “We are pleased to extend our association with the Indian Premier League and look forward to offering the next five seasons across our portfolio of television channels. We made disciplined bids with a focus on long-term value. We chose not to proceed with the digital rights given the price required to secure that package. IPL is an important component of our portfolio of television channels in India, providing an incredible opportunity for us to showcase The Walt Disney Company’s powerful global brands and iconic storytelling, as well as Disney Star’s impressive collection of local original content, to millions of viewers in India.”
“We will be exploring other multiplatform cricket rights, including future rights for International Cricket Council (ICC) and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which we currently hold through the 2023 and 2024 seasons, respectively. Additionally, we hold Pro Kabaddi League rights, Indian Super League football rights, as well as various international sports rights, including the Wimbledon Championships and the English Premier League,” it added.
The company further said: “At the same time, we are focused on growing our robust slate of original entertainment content for Disney+ Hotstar and our television channels in the region. Our vast portfolio of more than 70 television channels in India cuts across general entertainment, films, sports, infotainment, kids, and lifestyle content, reaching 90% of pay cable and satellite TV homes in the region.”
Notably, STAR INDIA won India TV rights of the IPL with their bid of Rs 23,575 crore, while Viacom18 bagged digital rights with its winning bid of Rs 23,758 crore.