Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, June 10: Two of the world’s richest men, Jeff Bezos and Mukesh Ambani, are about to clash again. This time, the battle is over media rights to cricket’s Super Bowl, one of the fastest-growing sporting events in the world, with 600 million spectators and a brand worth of about $6 billion.
The billionaires’ companies are expected to be the top two bidders at an Indian Premier League auction on June 12th, which is expected to attract a number of bidders for separate five-year telecasting and internet streaming rights in various geographies.
According to those acquainted with the situation, the tycoons are drafting aggressive game plans to assure victory. Walt Disney Co., which had the rights until last year’s just-ended season, and Sony Group Corp. are two other formidable competitors.
For the two first-timers, there’s a lot more on the line than just becoming the most powerful media player in a country of 1.4 billion people. In the former British colony, the English sport has a cult-like following. Both Ambani’s Reliance Industries Ltd. and Bezos’s Amazon.com Inc. are wagering that the game will help them achieve their ultimate goal: dominating an increasingly online Indian consumer market.
