Pay only for IPL matches played so far: Star tells sponsors, advertisers

Star Sports has told advertisers who had bought airtime on the now-suspended 14th edition of the popular Indian Premier Leage (IPL) cricket tournament to pay only for the matches that have been played, sources said.

Star Sports has bagged the IPL’s television and digital rights for 2018-2022 for Rs 16,348 crore, agreeing to pay about Rs 54.5 crore per game in a 60-match season. Only 29 games were played before the pandemic halted this year’s IPL.

It had sold slots during the match to advertisers for the season.

The broadcast major has approached its title sponsors and advertisers, which had bought airtime, informing them to pay for the played matches and an option to continue the deals when BCCI decides to resume the tournament for this season at a later stage.