PKL 8: Pro Kabaddi League invites tender for Media Rights for five-year deal

By
Chandra Moulee
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Pro Kabaddi League invites tender for new media rights- The upcoming season of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL 8) could see a broadcaster and live streaming partner other than Star Sports and Disney+ Hotstar on the board. After the initiation of PKL franchises, Mashal Sports- the promoter of Pro Kabaddi league has opened up tender for new media rights partnership.

Pro Kabaddi League Media Rights Tender Timelines: 
Last Date to Purchase the ITT Document – 12th March
Last Dates for Submission of Bid Docs – 2nd April
Date of Online Auction – 5th April
Star India, which also owns a 74% stake in Mashal Sports, has been the official broadcaster of the tournament and has built the property from scratch. But conflict of interest and increased pressure from the team franchises for a better pay structure from the broadcaster has pushed Mashal Sports to open the media rights to other companies.
This is the first time the tender process for the media rights of Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) have been initiated ever since the inception of the league since 2014.
The rights will be awarded for five years, from Seasons 8 to 12, or until 2025, whichever is earlier.
The online auction process is slated to be held on 6 April. The PKL media invitation to tender will be issued on 25 February. Interested parties can bid for four packages—television, digital, gaming and consolidated (combination of all three), the company said.

“We are also encouraging bidder consortiums to go for the package deal, under which they will be allowed to sub-licence gaming rights. We will offer flexibility to bidders to work with PKL in accordance with their appetite,” said Anupam Goswami, league commissioner, PKL, and chief executive of Mashal Sports.

The eighth season, which was postponed last year due to covid-19, is expected to be held in June.“We are going to the market in consensus with PKL franchises and we will ensure real-time transparency among all bidders. Star India has been a responsible majority owner of the league and that continues. The network has built PKL into a modern spectacle on TV and other screens and we wish to maintain a similar relationship with our incoming media partners,” Goswami added.
The shortlisted, eligible bidders can subsequently place bids for one or more of the following media rights packages, through an e-auction process:

Package A: This consists of Global Television Rights; Rest of the World Digital Rights; Sponsorship Rights – On-air and On-ground (including Title Sponsorship); Audio Rights; Film Rights; Fixed Media Rights; Clip Rights; Footage Rights and Public Exhibition Rights. Package A rights holder will also have the obligation to produce the world feed.

Package B: This consists of India Digital Rights; Mobile Activation Rights; Inflight/On-Board Rights and Virtual Reality Rights.

Package C: This consists of Gaming Rights which includes rights to operate a fantasy league; create, produce or offer mobile, computer or console games, e-sport and other kabaddi games.

Package D: This is the Consolidated Rights Package i.e. all media rights offered under Packages A, B and C.

The details regarding the media rights packages, terms and conditions governing the submission, evaluation of bids including eligibility requirements and performance obligations in respect to each media rights package are contained in the ITT available on the Tender Portal.

Furthermore, bids will only be accepted from entities that purchase the ITT or from entities within the same group as the entity that purchases the ITT, or from a consortium including at least one member that purchases the ITT.

Mashal also clarified that mere registration on the Tender Portal and/or purchase of the ITT does not qualify or entitle the party to participate in the online e-auction. The eligibility of any participant to participate in the auction shall be governed by the ITT and shall be at the sole discretion of Mashal.

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