Reliance planning entry into sports broadcasting, may bid for IPL rights

IPL 2021 – Reliance Industries Sports Broadcasting: The phase 2 of IPL 2021 is round the corner, but the sports broadcasting industry is abuzz with some other big development around IPL. As the BCCI gears up for the tender for the IPL media rights by the end of this year, one new entrant is set to hot up the IPL Media rights race. According to a report, Reliance Industries is all set to venture into sports broadcasting through Network18 Group and Reliance Jio. The report by E4M claims that IPL Media rights will be first on target for the venture next year & company has already started preparing for the same.

Also: IPL 2021 PHASE 2: Big rule change to be introduced in

IPL 2021: Reliance planning big entry into sports-broadcasting, all set to bid for IPL rights: Report

IPL 2021 – Reliance Industries Sports Broadcasting: The BCCI – Disney Star India will expire in 2022 & according to the information available, the Indian board will be coming out with tender for the new media rights cycle before the end of this year. Along with regular broadcasters i.e Disney Star, Sony Pictures Network – Amazon India is likely to throw their hat in the ring for the next cycle rights. Now along with them Reliance Jio & Network 18 promoted sports network will also be seen in action as per the report.

The report by E4M further claims that various executives from the rival networks have already been offered roles for the new sports channel. As reported recently by InsideSport.co, Disney+ Hotstar SVP & Head of Advertising, Gulshan Verma has joined JioAds as CEO.

It is worth noting that Viacom 18 in which Network18’s broadcasting subsidiary TV18 owns a majority stake had recently also acquired the rights of LaLiga. One of the world’s top league La Liga this season will be broadcasted & Live Streamed on Viacom promoted MTV & VOOT respectively.

Reliance interests in Sports:

It is worth noting that slowly and gradually Reliance has emerged as one of the key player in the Indian Sports industry & with talks of their entry into Sports Broadcasting, they may rule the roost in the future –

– Reliance owns IPL team Mumbai Indians

– Reliance owned entity owns Indian Super League (ISL)

– Reliance also had a Joint Venture in India with Global Sports Marketing giants IMG. The entity is now 100% owned by the Indian promoters and is called RISE

– Reliance promoted – Reliance JIO has weaved in partnerships with various sports rights including BCCI Rights to be streamed on their platform.

– Reliance Jio also had placed direct bids for both IPL Rights & BCCI digital rights in past.

The report by E4M says, for the upcoming IPL media rights auction, Jio is likely to place a consolidated bid for both TV and digital.

IPL Media Rights Tender – Last Cycle: STAR India won the Indian Premier League (IPL) global media rights from 2018-2022 with a consolidated bid of Rs 16,347.5 crore. Initially, 24 companies picked up rights papers to contest for the several rights up for grabs in the auction organised by the BCCI.

Several big companies like Facebook, Amazon, Twitter, Yahoo, Reliance Jio, STAR India, Sony Pictures, Discovery, Sky, British Telecom and ESPN Digital Media purchased the bid but only few ended up bidding for the rights.

Reliance Jio at that point of time had placed a bid for 3075 Crores just for the digital rights but that too wasn’t enough for them to outbid Star Network.

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