The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has established a base price of USD 170 million for the media rights to the Asia Cup, which will be auctioned on November 1. The rights package covers global television, digital, and audio broadcasting for multiple ACC events, including the Men’s and Women’s Asia Cup, Men’s and Women’s Under-19 Asia Cup, and the Men’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup.
The rights are set for an eight-year period from 2024 to 2031, encompassing four editions of the Men’s Asia Cup, with the 2025 edition to be held in India (T20 format), followed by Bangladesh in 2027 (ODI format), Pakistan in 2029 (T20 format), and Sri Lanka hosting in 2031 (ODI format). Each edition will feature 13 matches, with the India-Pakistan rivalry being the primary draw for broadcasters.
Auction Process and Broadcaster Participation
The media rights auction will be conducted through an e-auction, which is regarded as a fair and transparent method. Interested parties must submit their technical bids in Dubai by October 30 before the e-auction takes place.
The primary question leading up to the auction is how many major broadcasters will participate. There is speculation about whether Reliance-backed Viacom18/Jio Cinema and Disney Star will submit individual bids or participate together due to their upcoming merger, which has received most regulatory approvals. The outcome of this participation could significantly impact the competition for media rights.
Women’s Asia Cup and Future Growth
The ACC’s rights package also includes three editions of the Women’s Asia Cup within the eight-year period, emphasizing the growing focus on women’s cricket. With the increasing popularity of women’s sports, these tournaments are expected to attract substantial attention from broadcasters and digital platforms.
The inclusion of the Women’s Under-19 Asia Cup and the Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup further highlights the ACC’s commitment to promoting cricket at all levels across the continent. Broadcasters see the India-Pakistan clashes in the men’s tournaments as the key to driving viewer engagement, but the growth of women’s cricket is also anticipated to be a significant factor in the rights bidding process.
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