Star India ties up with Times for IPL digital rights

Star India has inked a deal with Times Internet to webcast the upcoming Indian Premiere League on digital platform.

The agreement means that Star India will offer streaming and video on demand of the popular tournament on its portal StarSports.com and on mobile operator services powered by Star Sports which include IndiaTimes.

Times Internet will distribute IPL streaming and video on demand on its cricket destination on web and mobile, powered by a StarSports.com video player. While both the companies will market the joint proposition, and Star India will be solely responsible for monetisation, including advertising sales.

Uday Shankar CEO of Star India. Times Internet said, “We have a strong digital platform with over 28 million unique viewers and sports is driving it. We already have rights of many key cricket tournaments for this platform. The one thing which was missing was the IPL which is the third largest cricket property in the world as we did not have the rights for it. That is the key reason for this deal.”

Satyan Gajwani, chief executive officer of Times Internet, said, “We have been offering our users IPL for three years, and it continues to be a major driver in consumption and brand, recognized as one of the largest online video events worldwide with rapid growth. Our partnership with Star will enable an even larger reach for the property across digital devices.”

Times Internet Limited holds the IPL’s global internet, mobile and radio rights, along with the television rights for certain territories for four years (2011-2014) at an estimated Rs 261.6 crore.

Star India is boosting its presence in the cricket domain. It had last year bought the associate on ground sponsorship rights for the IPL.