The Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Media rights tender was first released in February, but since then has been postponed multiple times. Despite the extended timelines, changes in the ITT document, the media rights portfolio of SLC has failed to woo the global broadcasters. The SLC Media Rights deal with SPN – Ten / Sony ended in March 2020. The 7-year deal was valued at $34.87m – Minus the India tour of 2017 which was separately valued at $25.5m.
InsideSport the Indian website reported that the SLC tender has received a lukewarm response from the potential players in the market. The biggest holder of the cricket rights on the Indian Sub-Continent, Star India, has decided to stay away from the offered rights. Discovery’s D-Sports has also decided not to participate in the tender. The incumbent Sony Picture Network (SPN) will be the only noteworthy player other than the few sports marketing entities from the region.
The reason for such a low-key response is thought to be limited clarity on India’s scheduled tour of SriLanka in 2020. According to InsideSport, the first series in the ITT document is India’s tour of Sri Lanka in June-July. The 3 x T20 & 3 x ODI matches series is the most lucrative of the entire 3 year offering of SLC. Amid the Covid19 menace this series despite SLC’S claims to the contrary is certain to get postponed.
“The Cricket Boards of India and Bangladesh wanted time till May 15 to assess the situation and we have given them time till then,” the CEO of SLC Ashley De Silva was quoted in the SriLankan press.
“We have gone to the market and we have called for expressions of interest. We have also given them time for clarification and to respond to it. We have put a time frame and we have put time lines and we are working on it. Hopefully before June 15 we are trying to finalize it”, said De Silva.
John Stephenson
john@cricketinvestor.co.uk
