Amazon, Facebook vie for Indian Cricket League streaming rights

Wednesday, 19 October 2016 11:14

Amazon.com Inc., Facebook Inc. and Twitter Inc. have joined a bidding war for rights to stream Indian Premier League cricket matches, seeking to tap into the nation’s growing mobile internet audience. Indian Premier League received an "overwhelming response" from as many as 18 Indian and global media and technology companies, the Board of Control for Cricket in India said in a statement on Tuesday. Other bidders include BT Group Plc and Sky Plc as well as global media companies 21st-Century-Fox-owned Star India Pvt., Sony Pictures Networks India Pvt. and ESPN Digital Media (India) Pvt. The world’s second-most populous nation is on the brink of a digital-streaming boom. India will have 730 million internet users by 2020, according to a report in August by India’s IT industry body Nasscom and Akamai Technologies. “The hunger for cricket and the real possibility of consuming it live on a personal device makes for a hugely engaging combination, and that’s what the global companies are going for,” said Shabir Momin, managing director of Singapore-based ZengaTV.com, one of the largest over-the-top and digital video services in India.

More from Business

Disney settles suit over women's pay for $43 million

Walt Disney has agreed to pay $43.3 million to settle a lawsuit alleging that its female employees in California earned $150 million less than their male counterparts over an eight-year period, the plaintiffs' lawyers said in a statement on Monday.
Etihad Airways adds ten new destinations for 2025

UAE carrier Etihad Airways is set to introduce ten new destinations starting in 2025, expanding its global presence as it brings tens of thousands of new visitors to the capital.
Trump pledges new tariffs on Canada, Mexico, China

US President-elect Donald Trump on Monday pledged a 25 per cent tariff on all products from Mexico and Canada from his first day in office, and an additional 10 per cent tariff on goods from China, citing illegal immigration and the trade of illicit drugs.
UAE and Bahrain finalise ICV programmes procedures

The UAE and Bahrain have finalised the procedures required to implement an MoU, signed last January, that fosters cooperation between the National In-Country Value (ICV) Programme and Bahrain’s Value Programme in Industry, known as Takamul.