Reliance on top after Viacom's media rights purchase in IPL e-auction

In a first, broadcaster is subsidiary of team owner; experts say these are mutually exclusive franchises

The e-auction for the media rights of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has thrown up an interesting picture: Reliance Industries (RIL), which owns Viacom18 along with Paramount Global and Bodhi Tree Systems, will be the digital streaming partner of the tournament. At the same time, the conglomerate also owns the Mumbai Indians franchise.

In fact, this is the first time in the history of the IPL that one group is both a broadcaster and team owner, some experts said.

From a global perspective, too, there appears to be no precedent of a single company being both a broadcaster and team