Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) has entered into an eight-year broadcasting agreement for cricket rights with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).

This agreement covers all versions of the Men’s and Women’s Asia Cups, as well as the Men’s and Women’s Under-19 Asia Cups and the Men’s and Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cups.

The contract was finalized following a bidding process, with the winning offer reflecting a 70% increase in rights value, as stated by the ACC, though the specific bid amount was not disclosed. According to unnamed sources, various Indian media outlets reported the contract’s value to be around $170 million.

The significant rise in rights value “will allow the ACC to invest considerable resources into grassroots initiatives, infrastructure enhancements, and talent development, particularly for associate nations,” the organization indicated.

“Congratulations to the ACC for executing a fair and transparent bidding process for the rights to the ACC tournaments! We are thrilled to present these exciting tournaments, which will feature matches between India and Pakistan, to our audience for the next eight years,” remarked SPNI’s Managing Director & CEO, Gaurav Banerjee.

Sony had been aiming to grow its television and streaming operations in India via a merger with Zee Entertainment Enterprises, but that deal fell through in January after over two years of negotiations. Consequently, mid-sized TV operators in India are exploring new avenues for expansion.

Cricket broadcasting rights are particularly vital for TV networks and streaming services due to their ability to attract large audiences and facilitate advertising and subscriber growth.

This year, India’s antitrust regulator raised concerns about the concentration of cricket rights among Reliance Industries (Viacom18, Jio) and Disney. Despite these concerns, both companies received regulatory approval for a merger. Indian media reports indicated that Jio and Disney did not place bids for the ACC rights.

Earlier in the year, SPNI secured the TV and digital rights for all men’s and women’s cricket matches based in New Zealand for the next seven years. This agreement, effective from May 1, 2024, to April 30, 2031, includes India’s tours of New Zealand during the summers of 2026-27 and 2030-31, along with all other bilateral Tests, ODIs, and T20Is played in New Zealand during the period. All matches will be aired on SPNI’s sports channels and streamed on SonyLIV.

Person

Gaurav Banerjee

Company Names

Sony Pictures Networks India, Asian Cricket Council, Zee Entertainment Enterprises, Reliance Industries, Viacom18, Jio, Disney, SPNI, SonyLIV

Titles

Men’s Asia Cup, Women’s Asia Cup, Men’s Under-19 Asia Cup, Women’s Under-19 Asia Cup, Men’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup, Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup

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