According to reports, Disney Star has outspent Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) to acquire the media rights of Cricket Australia (CA) for the next seven years for around $280 million.

This includes television and digital rights, as well as clips and other footage, for the Indian subcontinent.

As per reports, The Australian cricket board is likely to make an official announcement this week.
According to reports, Cricket Australia has accepted Disney Star’s offer, which was around $270-280 million, much higher than the one offered by incumbent SPN. The deal will include four India tours, consisting of 26 matches over 70 days, two Ashes series, and one white ball series between the arch-rivals Australia and England – and bilateral matches with other boards.

The deal will also include Big Bash League, the homegrown T20 format league of Australia, as well as women’s tournaments.

In 2017, after winning the IPL media rights for the first time, the then Star India (later acquired by The Walt Disney Company as part of a global deal) had let go of rights of Cricket Australia and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

The development has come a month after Disney Star secured the TV rights of the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the next five years by bidding Rs. 57.5 crore per match, or Rs. 23,575 crore, as per reports.

Disney Star has rights to the International Cricket Council (ICC) properties, and the India matches of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) till 2023. It is also currently telecasting the first major esports tournament in India on a sports channel, BGMI Master Series.