The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently successfully wrapped up the thirteenth edition of the Indian Premier League. This season was the third occasion when the Board shifted the league out of India. Now, the next season of the cash-rich league is four months away if it goes ahead on time. According to reports, BCCI is planning to add one more franchise to the competition ahead of the 2021 edition.
If BCCI and IPL add one more franchise, the league would have 16 more matches, taking the total to 76 matches for the tournament. There is also an unlikely case where the board is planning to replicate the format of the 2011 edition by adding two more franchises. If the board decides to add two more teams, then the total number will go up to 94 matches.
In that scenario, Star India would need to pay extra Rs 800 crores to the BCCI for additional matches. The extra matches would mean extra afternoon games and extra advertisement revenues, but next year’s T20 World Cup can cut down the advertisement rates.
While talking to Top Five News, a BCCI insider said, “As per our contract with Star India, the BCCI can increase the number of teams as per its discretion and the rights holder will have to pay pro-rata basis for the extra matches.”
Star India had signed a five-year media deal with IPL in 2018 for Rs 16,347.5 crores. As per BCCI, Star’s winning bid was a front-loaded one, with the payout for the first year at Rs 4333 crores to be followed by Rs 3,003 crores each for the rest of four years.
For the 14th edition of the IPL, Star India has to pay Rs 50.05 crores per game. Hence, for the additional 16 matches, the broadcaster would need to pay extra Rs 800.8 crores ( Rs 900.9 crores, if they add two more franchises) to the BCCI.
Earlier this week, the BCCI revealed the financial figures of the IPL 2020 during the global pandemic. BCCI treasurer Arun Dhumal told Indian Express that IPL 2020 helped the cricket board to earn close to ₹4000 crores in revenue.