Zee Sony merger boost ahead of BCCI Media Rights Auction

The BCCI has received a shot in the arm for its media rights auction. The Indian Cricket Board had delayed the proceedings hoping for a Zee Sony merger, which was approved on Thursday. Though the two broadcast Giants will launch separate bids during the BCCI Media Rights Auction, they will merge adding to their spending power. While it is good news for BCCI, rivals Viacom 18 and Disney Star will vary of the increased competition.

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On Thursday, the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) authorized the merger plan between Culver Max Entertainment and Zee Entertainment Enterprises, an Indian entertainment firm (erstwhile Sony Pictures Networks India or SPNI). According to sources, the entire process is slated to be finished by mid-November. The timing of the same is favourable for the BCCI, with the bilateral cricket rights auction on August 31.

Highlights of BCCI Media Rights Tender:

• The new deal will be for 5 years as is the case for IPL.
• Both digital and TV rights will be separate as there has been an upward trend in digital.
• There will be an e-auction instead of a closed bidding process.
• BCCI has set a base price of Rs 45 crore per game for the upcoming cycle.
• The Tender includes 88 matches: 25 Tests, 27 ODIs, and 36 T20Is.
• In the new cycle, there will be more number T20s and less number of ODIs as there has been a lack of interest from the audience in ODIs.
• BCCI expect to bag at least Rs 60 Cr per match.

Both Zee and Sony will enter the auction as separate entities but with knowledge of a merger waiting in the wings. It is believed that with the resources of two broadcasting giants, the merged company will rival the likes of Viacom 18 and Disney Star at the e-auction. Sony had run Viacom 18 close for IPL digital rights last year. Now with Zee in tow, they could further go down the spending route.

Following the success of the IPL, India Cricket bilateral rights will be sold separately for TV and digital for the first time. That creates demands for both platforms. While BCCI Media Rights won’t fetch values close to IPL, BCCI is confident of crossing the Rs 10,000 Crore mark even though there will be fewer matches.

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