MEDIA RIGHTS
India are scheduled to host Australia for eight white-ball games this year before returning in 2027. © BCCI
Broadcasters seeking to acquire the media rights for India’s bilateral matches will find encouragement in the fact that almost half of these games will be contested against two formidable opponents – Australia and England. Out of the 88 games that India are scheduled to play at home in the upcoming broadcast cycle, 39 matches will be against these two powerhouses of world Cricket. This constitutes a proportion close to 45 percent, if not exactly 50 percent, of the total games.
According to the details outlined in the Invitation to Tender (ITT) document, the broadcast cycle is structured with a front and back-loaded approach. The cycle commences with eight matches against Australia – three ODIs in September and five T20Is in November – sandwiching the World Cup scheduled for October and November. Australia are also featured at the other end of the 2023-28 cycle with five Tests in January-March 2027, as well as three ODIs and five T20Is in November-December of that year.
The England games are similarly front and back loaded in the cycle, with five Tests at the beginning (January-March 2024). They make a return appearance 12 months later to participate in eight white ball matches – three ODIs and five T20Is in January and February of 2025. The broadcast cycle concludes with five Tests in January and March of 2028.
“A significant portion of the games against Australia and England is a positive aspect, and their distribution throughout the cycle is well-managed. However, the challenge arises with the timing of the eight Australia games, which are positioned just before or immediately after the World Cup. Monetizing these matches might prove challenging, as corporates typically allocate funds for the World Cup or might have already exhausted their budgets. That’s the tricky part,” explains a broadcaster involved in the bidding process.
Among other nations, Sri Lanka, who frequently tour India, will have only one series at home during this cycle – in December 2026, consisting of three ODIs and an equal number of T20Is. No home Tests are scheduled against them in this cycle. Afghanistan are slated to play one Test and three ODIs in June 2026. This marks their second visit to India within the cycle, following three T20Is in January 2024, the dates of which have already been confirmed, January 11, 14, and 17 in Mohali, Indore, and Bengaluru.
South Africa feature only once in this cycle, engaging in a full-fledged series comprising two Tests, three ODIs, and five T20Is in November and December 2025. New Zealand’s involvement includes three Tests and eight white ball matches in the latter half of 2024 and early 2026, respectively.
As previously reported, the upcoming broadcast cycle encompasses a total of 25 Tests, 27 ODIs, and 36 T20Is. The domestic cricket programme, as highlighted in the ITT, is predominantly fixed, with potential additions to the schedule but limited cancellations except in cases of force majeure.
An industry insider comments on the package, stating, “This is a robust offering, with 60 out of the 88 games featuring competition against top-tier teams. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is not aiming for excessively high value. The relatively modest base prices (Rs 20 crore for India TV and Rs 25 crore for digital and global packages) provide the rationale for this.”
BCCI reduces base price for Title Rights
In the meantime, the BCCI is seeking a base price of Rs 2.4 crore for the title rights of their home international series. The previous title rights holder, Mastercard, which had been sub-licensed by Paytm in July 2022, had been offering Rs 3.8 crore per game. The ITT for the title rights specifies the BCCI’s search for a title sponsor for home series over the next three years, encompassing 56 games. The rights are anticipated to be awarded later this month.
Home games in broadcast cycle – September 2023 to March 2028
September 2023:3 ODIs vs Australia
November 2023:5 T20Is vs Australia
January 2024: 3 T20Is vs Afghanistan
January-March 2024: 5 Tests vs England
September-October 2024: 2 Tests, 3 T20Is vs Bangladesh
October-November 2024: 3 Tests vs New Zealand
January-February 2025: 3 ODIs, 5 T20Is vs England
October 2025: 2 Tests vs West Indies
November-December 2025: 2 Tests, 3 ODIs, 5 T20Is
January 2026:3 ODIs, 5 T20Is vs New Zealand
June 2026:1 Test, 3 ODIs vs Afghanistan
September-October 2026: 3 ODIs, 5 T20Is vs West Indies
December 2026: 3 ODIs, 3 T20Is vs Sri Lanka
January-March 2027:5 Tests vs Australia
November-December 2027: 3 ODIs, 5 T20Is vs Australia
January-March 2028: 5 Tests vs England
© Cricbuzz
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