PCB Sells Broadcasting Rights for PKR 1.72 Billion Amid Revenue Challenges

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has sold broadcasting rights for its international home matches between August 2024 and December 2026 for PKR 1.72 billion, significantly less than the reserve price of PKR 3.2 billion. Despite securing more revenue than the previous cycle, the PCB faces difficulties attracting high-profile foreign broadcasters.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has sold broadcasting rights for its international home matches from August 2024 to December 2026 for PKR 1.72 billion. This amount is notably lower than the initial reserve price of PKR 3.2 billion set by the PCB.

According to PCB officials, the new deal is more than double the amount secured in the previous rights cycle, covering the years 2021 to 2024, although exact figures weren't disclosed.

The rights were awarded to a Pakistani consortium comprising ARY and Tower Sports. The bidding process was described as transparent, with several offers received.

The agreement includes broadcasting 11 Tests, 26 ODIs, and 24 T20Is, with the upcoming seasons featuring multiple tri-nation ODI series. Despite these fixtures, the PCB struggled to attract high-profile foreign broadcasters.

State-owned Pakistan Television (PTV) bid PKR 1.6 billion and later bought a sublicense from the consortium for PKR 500 million. Both the consortium and PTV benefited financially, but the PCB didn't achieve its revenue expectations.

The board is also encountering difficulties in securing a UK broadcaster for the Pakistan-England Test series scheduled for October-November, with Sky Sports uninterested. Nonetheless, the PCB remains hopeful about finding a broadcaster in time.

(With inputs from agencies.)