Sony bags Asia Cup rights for next 8 years

Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI), or Culver Max Entertainment Private Limited, has secured the media rights for all Asia Cup tournaments, from 2024 to 2031. The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) said it is delighted to announce the landmark deal which marks more than a 70 per cent increase in value from the previous rights cycle.

Sony was the lone bidder. When the technical bids were submitted last week in Dubai, Jio-Star (the merged version of Disney Star and Jio Cinema), was there along with Sony. But in the e-auction on Friday, Jio-Star did not participate. Sony, thus, walked away with the rights for the base price of $ 170 million.

The next edition of the Asia Cup will be held in India in 2025 (in T20 format). Bangladesh will host it in 2027 in ODI format, Pakistan will stage it in 2029 and finally Sri Lanka will host the tournament in the ODI format in 2031.

"The deal encompasses all editions of the Men's and Women's Asia Cups, Men's and Women's Under-19 Asia Cups, and the Men's and Women's Emerging Teams Asia Cups. This partnership ensures comprehensive and innovative coverage of Asian cricket's marquee tournaments across television, digital, and audio platforms," the ACC said in a statement.

"This Media Rights deal is a significant milestone for the Asian Cricket Council and cricket across the region. The Asia Cup continues to be a cornerstone of cricketing excellence, bringing together the best of the region's talent. With Sony Pictures Networks India as our new media partner, we are confident in their ability to deliver world-class coverage and an immersive viewing experience for fans worldwide," Jay Shah, the chairman of the ACC, said.