Mumbai: Disney Star on Saturday announced that it has signed a four-year agreement with exclusive digital streaming and television rights for both men’s and women’s events through 2027.
In a press statement, Disney Star said, "We are delighted to be able to continue our association with the International Cricket Council (ICC). Under the new four-year agreement, Disney Star has retained the exclusive digital streaming and television rights for both men’s and women’s events through 2027. We look forward to strengthening our partnership with ICC in the years ahead.”
"Disney Star has played an important role over the last seven years in transforming ICC games into one of the biggest sporting spectacles in India and has expanded the viewer base of the property across geographies and demographics in the country," the statement added.
The ICC did not reveal the value of Disney Star's bid, but it is expected to be higher than the $1.44 billion benchmark set by the ICC for four years. Disney Star also owned the last set of ICC rights, which were worth approximately $2.1 billion. The bids had been opened on Friday and the ICC Board confirmed the winner on Saturday.
The extension of the ICC rights adds to Disney Star's strong portfolio of cricket properties, which also includes the television rights for IPL (2023-27), TV and digital rights to Cricket Australia (2024-31), BCCI broadcast rights through 2024, and Cricket South Africa (end of 2023-24 season), and bolsters their status as the go-to destination for the best sporting events in the country.
"Disney Star won following a single round sealed bid process which has yielded a significant uplift to the rights fee from the previous cycle, continuing the impressive growth and reach of cricket," an ICC release said.
ICC chairman Greg Barclay said, "We are delighted to continue to partner with Disney Star as the home of ICC cricket for the next four years, which has delivered an outstanding result for our members and will support our ambitious growth plans."
"Having a broadcast and digital partner for women's events in India is a significant step forward in our ambition to accelerate the growth of the women's game. Disney Star presented impressive plans for the promotion of women's cricket and they clearly share our vision, so I'm incredibly excited by the size of the opportunity ahead," he added.
Disney Star country manager and president K Madhavan said, “We are delighted at being able to continue our association with the International Cricket Council (ICC) and look forward to strengthening our partnership by growing the sport of cricket in the years ahead.
“With the acquisition of the ICC Digital and TV broadcast rights, Disney Star has further strengthened its status as the premier destination for marquee cricket events in the country.”
