SPNI acquire broadcast and live-streaming rights for New Zealand Cricket and other news

Story 1

Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) has acquired the television and digital rights to broadcast and stream all New Zealand-based BLACKCAPS and WHITE FERNS matches in India for the next seven years in a deal estimated to be in the range of $90- 100 million.

• The deal includes India’s tours of New Zealand in the 2026-27 and 2030-31 summers, as well as all other bilateral Tests, ODIs, and T20Is played in New Zealand during the designated period.

• All matches will be telecast and streamed live across SPNI’s sports channels and will be livestreamed on Sony LIV.

• SPNI’s digital rights in India will be co-exclusive with Amazon Prime for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons.

Story 2

RISE Worldwide, a sports management company owned by Reliance Industries, has achieved remarkable success in securing team partnerships for the ongoing season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The company has closed deals worth approximately 300 crore rupees, including five front-of-jersey partnerships, capturing about 50% of the coveted inventory for IPL 2024. Additionally, RISE Worldwide has secured over fifty brand partnerships ahead of this season. 

Story 3

The recent merger of Reliance’s Viacom18 and Walt Disney’s Star India, valued a US $ 8.5 billion, has created India’s largest media entity and monopolizes the sports broadcasting industry, particularly cricket and now experts are predicting that ad rates for cricket intellectual properties (IPs) will increase significantly, making it affordable only for the biggest advertisers, while emerging sports like football and kabaddi may benefit from the situation.

In India cricket currently enjoys an 87% share of the sports industry’s overall spending, emerging sports account for only 13%.  The increasing popularity of non-cricket sports and the high cost of IPL advertising could increase ad revenue for emerging sports, attracting smaller advertisers who cannot afford cricket’s premium rates.

Story 4

 This story is a non-sports-related one but a very important one. India has achieved a significant milestone in internet adoption, surpassing the 800 million user mark, according to the latest ‘Internet in India Report 2023’ by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) and KANTAR.

• Rural India is leading the charge in internet penetration, with over 442 million users residing in rural areas, accounting for more than half of the total internet user base in the country.

• The number of female internet users has also witnessed a remarkable rise, increasing from 29% in 2015 to 46% in 2023, narrowing the gender gap in internet usage.

• Online entertainment has emerged as the most popular activity among Indian netizens, with over 707 million users engaging in Over-the-Top audio and video streaming services across various devices, including smart TVs, smart speakers, and gaming consoles.

• The gaming industry in India is experiencing rapid growth, with an estimated market size of INR388 billion by 2026, driven by improved internet connectivity, affordable data plans, and the increasing availability of budget-friendly smartphones.

Story 5

Hyundai Motor India Foundation and GoSports Foundation Collaborate to Launch Samarth Para-Sports Programme, aiming to create a platform for para-athletes and contribute to the development of Indian para-sports.

• The programme will identify and support 20 para-athletes over the next three years, providing them with financial aid, expert sports science guidance, access to sports and livelihood devices, soft skill development assistance, and mentorship from coaches and experts.

The Samarth Para-Sports Programme will focus on six key sports: Para-athletics, Para-swimming, Para-badminton, Wheelchair tennis, Para-archery, and Para-cycling, and will support both emerging athletes (aged 13-20) and elite athletes (aged 16 and above).

• Through this collaboration, HMIF and GoSports Foundation aim to promote inclusivity, empower para-athletes, and enhance India’s standing in the global athletic arena, inspiring future generations to pursue excellence in sports.

service.