Blenheim Chalcot

Emerging Media, formerly known as Investors in Cricket, is delighted to have won one of the eight Indian Premier League (IPL) 20-20 franchises. In the ‘headline grabbing’ bid process in Mumbai on Thursday, Emerging Media were the only international company to win a franchise, securing Jaipur for $67m. The IPL has raised $1.1billion for its broadcast television rights, and now supplemented that with $724m from the eight franchise awards completed this week. The league is scheduled to launch on April 18th.

Emerging Media, has been a significant and long standing investor in cricket through its subsidiary – Investors in Cricket (IIC). The group is focused on developing properties for the Indian sub-continent. The group has a commercial partnership with Leicestershire County Cricket Club, and staged the first ever international club 20-20 championship in 2006. In India, the company is best known for launching the largest ever talent hunt reality show ‘Cricket Star’ on Doordarshan (the national channel) and Zee ( a satellite channel) last year.

Emerging Media had targeted the Jaipur franchise, given its world class facilities, and especially the academy, which is where Cricket Star 2020 (the next series) will be based. There is also a significant Rajasthani diaspora outside of India (the Marwari community), which the company hopes to reach.

Manoj Badale, chairman of Emerging Media, said ‘we are delighted by the award, and we recognise that the hard work begins now. The IPL is probably the most significant and historic development in domestic cricket globally.’

Fraser Castellino, CEO of Emerging Media, said ‘our experience with Cricket Star 2020 has given us great insights into the undiscovered talent in India. We now have a platform to display this talent through the Jaipur franchise.’

About Emerging Media

Emerging Media is a media group focused on the Indian Subcontinent. Through our subsidiary, Investors in Cricket, Emerging Media launched India’s first Cricket talent hunt and reality show (Cricket Star), after developing a partnership with Leicestershire county cricket club, and staging the first international club 20-20 championship.

Contact
Lily Ahluwalia - IPAN