Google reportedly eyeing IPL

Google is the latest major western player that has reportedly become interested in making a play for the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket rights.

The rights are currently held by Disney Hotstar but are up for renewal and a number of parties ranging from established Indian media forces to US tech giants are said to be interested.

The latest one of the latter is Google, with Bloomberg reporting that the Android maker is mulling whether to bid for the rights.

The report notes that Google has ‘purchased the bid-related documents from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCC)’, with it possible that the company could consider the IPL for YouTube. Such an acquisition would serve as a major boost for parent company Alphabet’s advertising revenues.

Other interested parties at present are said to be Supersport, Amazon, Disney, Reliance Industries., Sony Group., Zee Entertainment Enterprises and fantasy-sports platform Dream11. Each of these companies has also purchased the documents from the BCCI, but they are not obliged to make an offer.

Bidding for the 2023-2027 rights cycle will begin June 12, with Bloomberg adding that the BCCI wants US$7 billion for the rights. The IPL is said to be the third-most-valuable sports league in the world behind the English Premier League and National Football League.