• Loading stock data...
Sunday, February 16, 2025

Viacom18 Secures ‘Historic’ Rights Deal for Women’s Cricket

  • The deal has a per-game value of roughly $1 million.
  • It’s the second-largest deal for women’s sports rights behind the WNBA’s, per Ampere Analysis.
IPL

Another major media company has invested in a sport with more than 2.5 billion fans. 

Viacom18 — a joint venture between Paramount Global and Mumbai-based Network18 — has reportedly secured a five-year, $116 million media rights deal with the new women’s Indian Premier League. The inaugural women’s Twenty20 tournament will begin play in March. 

“After pay equity, today’s bidding for media rights for women’s IPL marks another historic mandate,” tweeted BCCI secretary Jay Shah. “It’s a big and decisive step for empowerment of women’s cricket in India.”

  • The deal has a per-game value of roughly $1 million.  
  • It’s the second-largest deal for women’s sports rights behind the WNBA’s, per Ampere Analysis.
  • Viacom18 outbid Disney Star, Sony, and Zee Entertainment Enterprises
  • Its parent company Network18 is owned by Mumbai Indians owner Mukesh Ambani — the world’s richest sports team owner with a net worth of $88.8 billion, per Forbes.

In June 2022, Viacom18 landed a five-year, $2.6 billion deal for streaming rights to the men’s Indian Premier League. That same month, Disney Star reportedly acquired Indian TV rights for $3 billion over five years. The network previously paid $2.1 billion for eight years.

IPL

Disney, Viacom18 Secure Coveted IPL Rights

Viacom18 secured IPL streaming rights as part of a five-year, $2.6 billion…
June 13, 2022

Global Frenzy  

Earlier this month, Cricket Australia extended its domestic media rights deal with pay-TV operator Foxtel and free-to-air TV broadcaster Seven Network for $1 billion.

The pact — which covers all home men’s and women’s international matches — runs from 2024 through the end of the 2030-31 season.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Teammates embrace during matchup in The Hundred cricket league

Google, Microsoft, Adobe CEOs Buy Stakes in Cricket League

The England and Wales Cricket Board raised £520m by selling team stakes.
Formula-1-cars-USA-Grand-Prix

ESPN Reportedly Losing F1 Rights; NBC and Netflix in Talks

The network has broadcast the sport in the U.S. since 2018.

Notre Dame Latest CFB Team to Hire GM From NFL

Notre Dame has hired a Lions front office executive.
exclusive

Shaquille O’Neal, TNT Agree to Extension Worth Over $15M/Year

Shaq’s Inside the NBA will be licensed to ESPN next season.

Featured Today

Feb 15, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team United States forward Matthew Tkachuk (19) and Team Canada forward brandon Hagel (38) fight in the first period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at the Bell Centre.

Inside the Push for the NHL’s Next Era of International Competition

Players have been clamoring, and the league is all in.
Aug 11, 2024; Paris, France; Medals are carried out on Louis Vuitton trays after the women's volleyball gold medal match during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at South Paris Arena
February 16, 2025

LVMH’s New Push: World’s Most Powerful Luxury Group Is Coming for Sports

LVMH is making long-term deals—and they’re not done.
Feb 18, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Eastern Conference guard Damian Lillard (0) of the Milwaukee Bucks reacts after a play during the second half of the 73rd NBA All Star game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
February 15, 2025

The NBA’s Latest Attempt To Solve the All-Star Game Conundrum

A new mini-tournament on a lame-duck network may not solve the problem.
Jan 9, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (97) checks Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) during the third period at PPG Paints Arena
February 11, 2025

‘Important’ 4 Nations Face-Off Can Be NHL’s All-Star Antidote

“The stars have been lobbying the league for an event like this.”
Jul 30, 2022; Pasadena California, USA; Juventus forward forward Dusan Vlahovic (9) and Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jose Paixao (20) battle for the ball in the first half during an international friendly at the Rose Bowl.

‘Make Juventus Great Again’: Crypto Firm Tether Buys Stake in Soccer Club

Tether is just one of many crypto firms making sports investments.
December 4, 2024

U.S. Firm Makes $310M Bet on Soccer by Forming Superagency

The U.S.-based investment company makes a significant play in international soccer.
exclusive
December 5, 2024

Talor Gooch Using LIV Golf Fortune to Start Building Sports Empire

The golfer has made more than $43 million individually from LIV.
Sponsored

How UBS Crafts Impactful Partnerships Across Sports, Arts, and Culture

As UBS continues to expand its impressive array of sports and entertainment partnerships, the company solidifies its position as a leader in wealth management.
November 13, 2024

Why Liberty Media Spun Off Assets, Shook Up Leadership

Longtime CEO Greg Maffei is stepping down at the end of the year.
Oct 27, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) passes against the Seattle Seahawks during the second quarter at Lumen Field.
October 30, 2024

Buffalo Bills in Talks to Sell Stake to PE Firm Arctos: Report

Arctos already has a slice of Paris Saint-Germain and the PGA Tour, among other assets.
Jul 7, 2021; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik hoists the Stanley Cup after the Lightning defeated the Montreal Canadiens 1-0 in game five to win the 2021 Stanley Cup Final at Amalie Arena.
October 25, 2024

Lightning Sell at $1.8B Valuation, Nearly Double Prior NHL Record

The Lightning unveiled a multistep and multiyear sale process.
May 24, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban celebrates after defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves in game two of the western conference finals for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Target Center.
October 9, 2024

Why Mark Cuban Sold the Dallas Mavericks When He Did

Cuban sold his majority stake to the Adelson family in December 2023.