Viacom18 wins Indian Premier League women's cricket rights for $116m

Viacom18 has acquired the media rights for the inaugural seasons of the Women's Indian Premier League (WIPL) 2023- 2027, the Board of Cricket Control of India (BCCI) revealed on Monday.

The rights, which include worldwide television and digital rights, were acquired for $9.51 billion INR ($116.4 million) with each match valued at $868,000. Variety understands that the other bidder was Disney Star.

Men's IPL is one of the most lucrative properties in world sport. In June 2022, Viacom18, a TV and streaming group backed by billionaire industrialist Mukesh Ambani, paid $3 billion to win an online auction for two IPL men's cricket digital rights packages. Disney, which held the TV and digital rights to IPL for the past five seasons, only got the TV rights, but agreed to pay $3.01 billion for them.

Five urban team franchises for WIPL will be unveiled later this month. As with the men's edition, teams are expected to attract the best cricketers from around the world.

BCCI Chairman Roger Binny said: "Women's cricket has been on the rise for a few years and the recently concluded bilateral series against Australia is a great testament to the popularity of women's cricket in India. It was only fitting to have our own T20 women's league and give the fans more women's cricket." /p>

BCCI Honorary Secretary Jay Shah added: "I am really delighted that we have had such an encouraging experience. answer for a league that will revolutionize women's cricket not just in India but across the globe. It was a commitment I had made to the board and our cricketers and today we took a big step forward. Broadcasters play a key role in bringing the game to a wider audience and their active interest in the league is a clear indication that the Women's Indian Premier League is moving in the right direction."

Argus Partners was BCCI's legal counsel for the tender process.

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