Week 16: Pro Kabaddi League media rights deal explained and other updates

After all the PKL media rights bid drama, Star Sports bag the INR 180 cr per season deal 

The much-hyped Pro Kabaddi League media rights auction has fired a massive blank with only one company entering the auction and that company is no other than Star Sports – The same company that owned the media rights before this auction! Star picked up the rights at the base price of Rs 900 crore. 

IPL records 9.7 billion minutes consumption on television for the 2021 opening game 

It has been reported that the Royal Challengers Bengaluru v Mumbai Indians match recorded a total watch time of 9.7 billion minutes.

According to Star Sports, nearly every third TV-owning household in India watched the opening match live.

After raising $400 million last month Dream Sports weighs in on a $1.5-billion US listing

Dream Sports, the parent company of Indian Premier League fantasy partner Dream11, is in talks with banks about a U.S. listing, which could raise roughly $1.5 billion, valuing the company at $6 billion.

Investment banks Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan and Citigroup are among those that made presentations to the company in the first week of April. No firm initial public offering (IPO) mandate has been given and neither has the quantum of fundraising or the timeline.

Puma show commitment to promoting new-age Cricket talent sign Washington Sundar and Devdutt Padikkal

Puma India signed a long-term partnership deal with cricketers Washington Sundar and Devdutt Padikkal.  

Sony Pictures Networks expand their football portfolio by acquiring rights for Copa America  

Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) has acquired the exclusive television and digital rights for the 2021 Copa America across the Indian sub-continent.

South America’s flagship national team soccer tournament will be broadcast in India live on SPN’s sports channels and live-streamed on SonyLIV, SPN’s over-the-top (OTT) streaming platform, from 14th June to 11th July. The broadcast territories will include India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.