IPL rights tender process from July 17

After the first attempt to auction the media rights of the Indian Premier League ( IPL) was thwarted by the Supreme Court-appointed Justice Lodha committee, originally scheduled for October 25 last year, the Board of Control for Cricket in India ( BCCI) has said that it will re-initiate the process on July 17.

The decision was taken at a meeting on Saturday evening where members of the IPL governing council (GC) and the SC-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) were present. It was decided that the tender process for the media rights — TV and digital — for the IPL will begin on July 17. It was also decided that the IPL title sponsorship Invitation to Tender will commence on May 31. Incidentally, Chinese smartphone manufacturer Vivo’s title sponsorship rights, broadcaster Sony Pictures Networks India’s (SPN) satellite rights, and Star India’s digital rights end with this edition of the tournament.

Going forward, all the rights will be awarded for the next five-year cycle. “I’m pleased that both the governing council and CoA members have finalised the timelines for the next rights period,” said Rajiv Shukla, chairman, IPL. “I’m confident about the process and would like to assure all prospective participants the highest level of transparency and accountability,” said Vinod Rai of the CoA. Decision was taken at a meeting attended by IPL governing council and SC-appointed committee.