The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has finally opened the bids for the broadcast and digital media rights of all international and domestic cricket matches to be played in India till March 2023. All the rights will be granted for a period of five years, starting from April 1.

At the moment, Star India owns the broadcast and digital rights for all cricketing activities in India. In 2012, they bought right rights by paying a whopping money of ₹3,851. The deal gave it exclusive media rights to BCCI-organised matches until 2018. The rights cover all international matches in India and domestic tournaments, including the Ranji Trophy and the Irani Cup other domestic tournaments.

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In a tender notice, the Indian Cricket Board has clarified the fact that the rights will be awarded through an online auction. Interested parties could bid for three packages — global television rights plus rest of the world digital rights, digital rights for the Indian subcontinent and a global consolidated rights bid.

Recently, Star India also bagged the media rights for the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the next five editions for ₹16,347.50 crore, through the combined global bid in September, last year.

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Initial cost of the media rights

The tender notice stated that interested bidders could pick up ITT documents from the BCCI headquarters starting Tuesday upon payment of ₹6,80,000 or $10,000 (non-refundable and non-adjustable) by demand draft or pay order (both payable in Mumbai). The last date for submission of bids is on March 27. BCCI will start the online auction at 2 pm, the same day.

The BCCI added that it holds the right to cancel or make any required changes in the entire bidding process at any stage and to reject any and all bids without providing any reason. Simply buying the ITT does not entitle the buyer to bid. In order to bid the buyer must buy the ITT in the name of the company or group aspiring to bid.