• Loading stock data...
Tuesday, July 8, 2025

IPL Games Will Stream for Free Under $2.7B Rights Deal

  • Viacom18 is reportedly set to offer IPL games for free.
  • The venture purchased streaming rights for $2.7 billion last year.
A batter for the Kolkata Knight Riders hits the ball against the Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League.
IPL

Viacom18 is banking on advertising sales to bring in revenue as it streams the “Super Bowl of Cricket” for free. 

The joint venture between Paramount Global and Mukesh Ambani’s conglomerate Reliance Industries beat out Disney and Sony to purchase Indian Premier League rights for $2.7 billion last year. 

Disney, which won the IPL’s TV rights for $3 billion over the next five years, previously carried TV and streaming rights through Disney+ Hotstar. The Board of Control for Cricket in India sold the rights separately for the first time in 2022. 

Viacom18’s move to stream games for free — any amount of games for any length of time — hasn’t been announced. Bloomberg reported that the company is trying to offer games to as many people as possible to generate advertising sales.

Company executives have predicted that more than 550 million people will tune into the IPL games, which start on March 31 and last nearly eight weeks.

Women’s Competition 

Viacom18 also recently purchased media rights to the new Women’s Premier League for $117 million over the next five years — before the new league’s teams were even announced.

The BCCI generated roughly $572.7 million from sales of the teams.

“I believe that with a record media valuation earlier and now these high bids, the league will be a commercially independent and self-sustaining property,” said cricket board secretary Jay Shah.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

A helmt is seen during the Texas Tech football team's spring game, Saturday, April 19, 2025, at Jones AT&T Stadium.

CFB’s Revenue-Sharing Era Muddles Future of NIL, Adds PE Questions

Athletic departments can pay college athletes a combined $20.5 million this year.
Jul 3, 2022; London, United Kingdom; Jannik Sinner (ITA) returns a shot during his match against Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) on day seven at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.

Wimbledon’s Expansion Battle Looms Over Star-Studded Quarterfinals

The expansion’s loudest opposition is Save Wimbledon Park.
Nov 16, 2024; New York, NY, USA; President-elect Donald Trump speaks with Dana White (left) during UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden.

UFC Confirms Talks to Bring Fight to White House Grounds

Discussions are underway to bring a UFC event to the White House grounds.

Featured Today

American Celebs Want to Be Sports Owners. Soccer Is Where They Start

As U.S. team prices climb, investors set their sights abroad.
July 5, 2025

Baseball’s Celebrity Row: Behind MLB’s First-Pitch Ritual

Often planned, sometimes spontaneous, the ritual throw is baseball’s celebrity row.
July 4, 2025

3,000 Hot Dogs, $20K in Prizes: Behind the Nathan’s Eating Contest

Nathan’s serves up thousands of hot dogs and $20,000 in prize money.
July 3, 2025

Geoffrey Esper Can’t Catch a Break at Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

“Hot dogs is not one of my favorite competitions of the year.”
Jul 6, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Mexico forward Marcel Ruiz (14) heads the ball in front of United States midfielder Brenden Aaronson (11) in the second half during the 2025 Gold Cup Final at NRG Stadium.

USMNT Struggles Still Produce Big Gold Cup Ratings for Fox

The U.S. team’s recent issues culminated in a loss to Mexico.
Leo Messi
June 27, 2025

TNT, Club World Cup Ride Messi to Surprisingly Solid Debut Ratings

TNT Sports carries about a third of matches in the U.S.
July 2, 2025

Paramount Settles Trump Suit Ahead of NFL Season, Skydance Merger

The deal likely allows the much larger Skydance merger deal to proceed.
Sponsored

Hottest Matchups Following NFL Schedule Release

The NFL released the 2025 regular-season schedule, and anticipation is already building in the ticket marketplace with four months to go.
June 24, 2025

Fever vs. Aces Draws 5th-Largest TV Audience of 2025 WNBA Season

ESPN will carry seven more Indiana Fever games this year.
June 23, 2025

NBA Finals Game 7 Is Most-Watched Since 2019, but Series Drops 9%

Game 7 drew 16.35 million viewers, the most-watched NBA game since 2019.
June 19, 2025

Pacers Force Game 7, Could Spark Big Ratings Boost for NBA Finals

Game 7 could boost NBA Finals ratings after a slow start this year.
June 17, 2025

Stanley Cup Final Delivers Drama but Struggles for Eyeballs in U.S.

U.S. viewership fell while Canadian audiences for the event rose slightly.