MONEY GAMES

IPL is worth $4.5 billion: BCCI

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1,543,655 spectators went to watch the 2016 IPL matches on the ground © Cricbuzz

The Board of Control for Cricket in India has claimed that brand IPL is worth $4.5 billion, or INR 27,000 crore. In its annual report for 2015-16, the board has mentioned that this staggering figure for 'cricket's biggest brand' was calculated by valuation appraisal firm Duff & Phelps.

"According to the Broadcast Audience Research Council of India, the total TV viewership of IPL 2016 calculated by impressions stood at 102 crores. A report by management consultancy firm KPMG puts the total impact of IPL 2015 on the Indian economy at Rs 1,150 crore, more than 0.6 % of the country's GDP," states the report.

The BCCI has just floated an open tender for the T20 league's global media rights (TV and digital) for a period of 10 years, with the digital rights available for half that period. The battle for these rights may see leading sports broadcasters like Sony Pictures Network India (SPNI) and Star Sports spend more than $4 billion to pocket them.

"The IPL's been a sure-shot hit on the field and off it too. On the field it has given the talented players a stage and a platform to exhibit their skills. It has brought the cultures of cricketing countries together and gives youngsters a unique opportunity to see the greatness in front of their eyes and learn from them. It has been the fastest-growing league in the world, and it has also changed the landscape of domestic sport in the country. After the IPL was launched in 2008, many other sports have started such leagues. Numbers prove that the IPL has set a benchmark, and at the BCCI, we're extremely proud of this," BCCI president Anurag Thakur told TOI on Thursday (September 22).

"In a short span of nine years, the IPL has created a legacy of its own and changed the dynamics of cricket. It has been the catalyst to revive the culture of domestic sports in India, and many other sports have followed in its footsteps," Thakur added.

"The IPL is growing by 20% every year. It is a broadcasters' delight, and a preferred platform for all the advertisers. Look at how Vivo (mobile company) has become a house-hold name after becoming the title sponsor of the league. Expect the digital rights of the event to soar exponentially in the coming years, which is why they've been sold for only five years," said another BCCI official. Vivo, it is estimated, paid around INR 100 cr to buy the title sponsorship earlier this year.

According to a survey carried out by the board, the 2016 IPL was a superhit. 52% of the TV viewing households watched the tournament, with the league's cumulative TV reach being 361 million viewers. 1,543,655 spectators went to watch the matches on the ground, while 4,40,000 people paid a visit to the 'fanparks,' an initiative taken by the BCCI to popularise the league in tier-2 cities.

The BCCI has claimed that the net viewership of the league has hit the 100 million mark. The `Summer Slam' is leading the charts on the social media too, as per the survey. At 300%, its growth on Twitter is the fastest among all the top sporting leagues of the world since 2014 - the UEFA Champions League is next with 239%, with NFL (125%), NBA (99%) and MSL (75%) following it. According to it, at 300%, the Kolkata Knight Riders, in the past two years, is recording a faster growth on Twitter than even Manchester United (204%) -- one of the most popular football clubs of the world.

© TNN