The International Cricket Council’s (ICC) media rights have caught the attention of American e-commerce giant Amazon. Reports state that one event per year is appropriate for the company’s business plan under the ICC media rights tender. They had intended to offer annual subscriptions, and they have now been given the go-ahead to submit a bid for the rights.
The ICC rights are for the cycle 2024–31, and during the past month or two, Amazon has spoken with the cricket governing body many times. After gatherings in the United States (US), India, and the United Arab Emirates, the most recent one was held in the UK in June (UAE).
According to Cricbuzz, it has been reported that the US company wants to partner with a broadcaster so they may submit a composite offer.
The e-commerce firm has been establishing a presence in the sports media sector, and most recently, Prime Videos in the UK obtained the rights to the Champions League, the top club football competition in Europe. Beginning with the 2024–25 season, BT Group and it will split the media rights. The US Open tennis tournament and the English Premier League, one of the most well-known football leagues in the world, have already started to be streamed.
Reports: Possible relationship with Sony and Zee
Despite representatives from the two TV firms dismissing any possibility, the reports state that a partnership with Zee or Sony has not been completely ruled out. In the meantime, following a meeting of the Apex Council in Mumbai, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially ended a 16-year dispute with the Zee group.
It was “RESOLVED THAT BCCI shall enter into a memorandum of settlement with Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (“Zee”) with respect to the ongoing dispute arising out of the Agreement dated April 12, 2006 entered between BCCI and Zee and currently pending before the Madras High Court and Bombay High Court,” according to a statement.
The statement went on to say that “any claims, counterclaims and/or disputes of whatever sort between BCCI and Zee arising under the Agreement dated 12 April 2006 shall stand satisfied” in accordance with the memorandum of settlement.
Amazon plans to purchase ICC media rights for the cycle 2024–31
