BCCI Strikes Whopping Deal with Viacom18 for Telecast and Streaming Rights of India’s Home Matches

In a major development that is set to reshape the landscape of cricket broadcasting, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a groundbreaking five-year deal with Viacom18 for the exclusive TV and live streaming rights of India’s home cricket matches. The agreement ensures that cricket enthusiasts across the nation will be able to catch every thrilling moment of the Indian team’s matches through the Sports18 TV channels and the JioCinema online streaming platform until the culmination of the 2027 home season.

BCCI will get a whopping 67 crores per match

The intense battle for these coveted rights saw Viacom18, a prominent player in the Indian entertainment industry, emerging victorious amidst a three-way bidding war that included industry giants Disney, Star, and Sony Pictures Sports Network. The highly anticipated bidding event unfolded on Thursday, August 31, resulting in Viacom18 clinching the rights for a staggering ₹67.8 crore per match.

Notably, this monumental sum surpasses the previous cycle’s fees of ₹60 crore per match paid by Star Sports. According to a Cricbuzz report, Viacom18’s substantial commitment will amount to a total of ₹5966.4 crore over the span of five years, solidifying their role as the exclusive platform for telecasting India’s home matches.

Where will India’s home matches be streamed on television?

Under the ambit of this transformative five-year alliance, Viacom18 has secured the broadcast rights for 88 matches featuring the esteemed Indian men’s cricket team. Furthermore, the package also encompasses the home matches of the Indian women’s cricket team. Cricket enthusiasts can eagerly anticipate the upcoming India vs Australia men’s series, set to be the inaugural set of matches broadcasted and streamed by Viacom18 as part of this groundbreaking partnership.

The Viacom18 portfolio boasts three dedicated sports channels: Sports18 1, Sports18 1 HD, and Sports18 Khel. While Sports18 1 and Sports18 1 HD cater to English-speaking audiences, Sports18 Khel stands out as a free-to-air Hindi sports channel. With this monumental deal in place, cricket aficionados can anticipate the launch of a high-definition Hindi sports channel under the Viacom18 banner, ensuring an enhanced viewing experience for the ever-loyal fan base.

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