After an intense bidding process to determine who would be granted the full rights to televise and digitally showcase the next four-year window of all ICC men’s and women’s events, Disney Star bolted to the finish line as the outright winner.
Sources at ESPNCricinfo confirmed that the Disney Star had already won the media rights arm-wrestle well within the first round of bidding last Friday, however ratification was required from the ICC Board, which occurred on Saturday.
It means that Disney Star will retain the full rights to broadcast all ICC men’s and women’s events from 2024 to 2027 to the Indian market, with their deal incorporating both the television and digital rights.
Disney Star, previously known as just Star Network, also held the rights to showcase ICC events in the last broadcasting cycle; however that was for an eight-year period and the cricketing landscape was vastly different then.
The deal Star held previously was for global rights rather than purely for the Indian market and it incorporated both television and digital coverage.
With the digital streaming landscape evolving at rapid pace and more ICC events packed into this cycle than previous years, Disney Star had developed a highly innovative plan that focused on broadcasting and promoting the women’s game in a bid to retain full media rights for television and digital coverage.
ICC Chairman Greg Barclay stated that the Board was highly impressed with Disney Star’s blueprint and broadcasting plan to televise and digitally cover women’s cricket, mentioning that it will play a key role in the growth and globalisation of the game.
Barclay stated that "we are delighted to continue to partner with Disney Star as the home of ICC cricket for the next four years, which has delivered an outstanding result for our Members and will support our ambitious growth plans. They will play a crucial role in the future of our sport and connecting and engaging with more fans than ever before.”
Barclay went on further to say "having a broadcast and digital partner for women's events in India is a significant step forward in our ambition to accelerate the growth of the women's game. Disney Star presented impressive plans for the promotion of women's cricket, and they clearly share our vision, so I'm incredibly excited by the size of the opportunity ahead."
