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<ul><li>An IPL between September and early November has been made possible by the ICC's decision on Monday to postpone the <keyword id="44040" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="T20-World-Cup">T20 World Cup</keyword> in Australia, scheduled for October-November, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.</li><li>The IPL GC will meet within a week or 10 days and all decisions (including final schedule) will be taken there, Patel told PTI. </li><li>The franchisees had already been working on their plans for the IPL even before the ICC announcement.</li></ul> With the T20 World Cup's postponement clearing the decks for a full-fledged IPL, the glitzy event's Governing Council will meet in a week or 10 days' time to plan its next course of action, eyeing UAE as the host this year. An IPL between September and early November has been made possible by the ICC's decision on Monday to postpone the T20 World Cup in Australia, scheduled for October-November, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "The IPL GC will meet within a week or 10 days and all decisions (including final schedule) will be taken there. As of now, the plan is to have a full fledged IPL comprising 60 games and most likely in the UAE," Patel told PTI. Asked about the main challenges in conducting the event in current scenario, Patel added: "Just the operational side of it. Whether you do it here or outside, it doesn't matter (with no crowds)." The franchisees had already been working on their plans for the IPL even before the ICC announcement. With majority of the Indian players not having access to grounds amid the pandemic, teams will need at least three to four weeks to get them match ready. Foreign players will fly in directly to the UAE from their respective countries. "Our players will need at least three to four weeks of training, if not more. We will finalise all our plans once the BCCI announces the dates. It looks like the IPL will be in the UAE and we are ready for that," a team owner told PTI. Since India tour Australia for a four-Test series right after the IPL, training of the Test players is also an important issue. Test specialists like Cheteshwar Pujara and Hanuma Vihari, who are not part of the IPL, are likely to train for the eagerly-awaited series in a bio-secure environment at the newly-renovated Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad during the time of the IPL. A few fringe players are expected to join them at Motera along with the Indian team's support staff, which is free during the IPL. Work from home has become the norm amid the pandemic, therefore, there is a possibility that IPL commentary will happen from the comfort of the living room, a safer and cost effective-option considering the likes of Sunil Gavaskar, who is 71, are involved. The viewership is expected to be a record one with people craving for live cricket, something KXIP co-owner Ness Wadia has said. However, it remains to be seen how much the broadcasters and teams are able to attract from the sponsors in the current financial climate. More moot points and questions ahead of the IPL GC meeting: 1) More double headers expected (original schedule had only five double headers). 2) BCCI will need to provide a Standard Operating Procedure to IPL teams even though they will have their own SOPs in place. 4) Will the BCCI compensate teams for not being able to generate gate money this year? 7) Will there be virtual commentary from Star Sports? It was seen in the recent 3TC event in South Africa with the likes of Aakash Chopra, Deep Dasgupta and Irfan Pathan commentating from home. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/coovid-vaccine-from-oxford-serum-institute-and-astrazeneca-shows-promising-immune-response/articleshow/77069321.cms">The COVID-19 vaccine from Oxford and Astrazeneca shows 'promising' results in early human trials</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/from-intel-and-wipro-to-tcs-and-google-here-are-the-top-job-openings-in-the-multinational-companies/articleshow/77058769.cms">From Intel and Wipro to TCS and Google— Here are the top job openings in the multinational companies</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/checkout-upcoming-affordable-smartphone-oneplus-nord-launch-price-specifications-features/articleshow/77061620.cms">OnePlus Nord launch price, specs and more – Everything we know about the upcoming affordable OnePlus smartphone</a>

UAE might host Indian Premier League this year in September

<ul><li>While the <keyword id="6354312" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="IPL">IPL</keyword> Governing Council will meet next week to chalk out the final details and approve the schedule, it is understood that the <keyword id="6354756" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="bcci">BCCI</keyword> has informally intimated the franchises about the plan. </li><li>The IPL has been made possible by the ICC's decision to postpone the October-November <keyword id="44040" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="T20-World-Cup">T20 World Cup</keyword> in Australia owing to the <keyword id="8902449" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="covid-19-pandemic">COVID-19 pandemic</keyword> due to which the host country expressed its inability to conduct the event. </li><li>While there was speculation that the IPL will start from September 26, the BCCI decided to advance it by a week in order to ensure that the Indian team's tour of Australia is not jeopardised. </li></ul> The eagerly-awaited <keyword id="6354831" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="indian-premier-league">Indian Premier League</keyword> (IPL) will start on September 19 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with the final slated on November 8, well-placed BCCI sources have told . While the IPL Governing Council will meet next week to chalk out the final details and approve the schedule, it is understood that the BCCI has informally intimated the franchises about the plan. "IPL, in all likelihood, will start on September 19 (Saturday) and the final will be held on November 8 (Sunday). It is a 51-day window which will suit the franchises as well as the broadcasters and other stakeholders," a senior BCCI official told on conditions of anonymity on Thursday night. The IPL has been made possible by the ICC's decision to postpone the October-November T20 World Cup in Australia owing to the COVID-19 pandemic due to which the host country expressed its inability to conduct the event. While there was speculation that the IPL will start from September 26, the BCCI decided to advance it by a week in order to ensure that the Indian team's tour of Australia is not jeopardised. "The Indian team will have a mandatory quarantine of 14 days as per the Australian government rules. A delay would have sent the plans haywire," the official said. "The best part is that 51 days is not at all a curtailed period and there will be much less double headers. We could stick to original five double headers in seven week window," he added. The Indians are set to play a four-match Test series against Australia starting December 3 in Brisbane. It is expected that with each and every team needing at least a month's time to train, the IPL franchises will be leaving base by August 20 which gives them exactly four weeks time to prepare. The cash-rich event was originally scheduled to start at the end of March but the COVID-19 pandemic and the travel restrictions that were put in place to contain the virus, led to an indefinite postponement. However, BCCI President Sourav Ganguly maintained that the event will be held some time this year. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/coovid-vaccine-from-oxford-serum-institute-and-astrazeneca-shows-promising-immune-response/articleshow/77069321.cms">The COVID-19 vaccine from Oxford and AstraZeneca shows 'promising' results in early human trials</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/from-intel-and-wipro-to-tcs-and-google-here-are-the-top-job-openings-in-the-multinational-companies/articleshow/77058769.cms">From Intel and Wipro to TCS and Google— Here are the top job openings in the multinational companies</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/checkout-upcoming-affordable-smartphone-oneplus-nord-launch-price-specifications-features/articleshow/77061620.cms">OnePlus Nord launch price, specs and more – Everything we know about the upcoming affordable OnePlus smartphone</a>

IPL 2020 will start on September 20 and the final will be held on November 8

With the coronavirus outbreak bringing the world to a standstill, sporting events across the world have either been postponed or cancelled and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is now looking at the October-November window to host the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (<keyword id="6354312" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="IPL">IPL</keyword>). But the move can only be possible if the ICC decides to postpone the men's T20 World Cup that is to be held later in the year. Speaking to IANS, a BCCI official said that while there have been talks with regards to hosting the IPL in the October-November window, it will only be possible if the World T20 to be played in Australia from October 18 to November 15 is postponed. "At present, there is a lockdown of borders and while Australia has said it is a potential six-month lockdown, things can change with an improvement in the scenario. UK could follow the same pattern considering the spread of the pandemic. We are still to understand what the Indian government will decide with regards to closing the international borders. In such a scenario, the only window that looks safe is the October-November one. But again, that collides with the T20 World Cup. "So, if the ICC does go ahead and decides to postpone the T20 World Cup due to the current scenario, only then we can look at the October-November window because even if a six-month border closedown is ordered by every country from say now, it ends by the start of October. But again, for that, the spread of the coronavirus needs to be stopped and things must come under human control. In short, there will have to be a lot of maths," the official said. "Again, it would be the last step for the ICC to push the T20 World Cup from 2020 to 2022 because there is no window in 2021. So, at the moment, it is all a bit too far-fetched to be honest. But yes, the October-November window has been spoken about for the IPL, but a lot of external factors need to fall into place for that to become a reality." When contacted, an ICC official made it clear that the T20 World Cup is still on as planned and there have been no talks of a postponement. "There have been no talks of any postponement to the World T20 that is to be held in October and November this year," the official told IANS. Cricket Australia chief Kevin Roberts had earlier said that he was hoping that the T20 World Cup could be played as per schedule in normal circumstances.

IPL can be held in October but only if T20 World Cup is postponed says official

<ul><li>BCCI has postponed the <keyword id="7463791" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="ipl-2020">IPL 2020</keyword> to April 15 due to the coronavirus outbreak.</li><li>Franchise owners are expected to meet BCCI officials on Saturday.</li></ul>The Indian Premier League 2020, one of the biggest sporting events in India, is April 15, due to the coronavirus outbreak. The IPL 2020 was slated to begin on March 29 however visa restrictions by the government which will keep foreign players away, forcing them to make this decision. "The BCCI is concerned and sensitive about all its stakeholders, and public health in general, and it is taking all necessary steps to ensure that, all people related to IPL including fans have a safe cricketing experience," the release said. The IPL 2020 is not the only major sporting event affected by the coronavirus. The UEFA Champions League, the NBA and the La Liga have also been suspended due the deadly pandemic. Overseas players may be able to join As per reports, franchise owners are against playing without their overseas players. This delay will allow overseas players to join the IPL 2020 as the visa restrictions will end on April 15. However, the government is expected to reassess the situation in the coming weeks and may relax or extend the visa restrictions based on the gravity of the situation. Franchise owners want to play games behind closed doors Even when the IPL 2020 begins on April 15, its matches may still have to be played only for TV without live audience. The Maharashtra government was the first to <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/sports/covid-19-maharashtra-to-allow-ipl-matches-only-in-empty-stadiums/articleshow/74589767.cms">announce</a> it will allow IPL only if it is played behind closed doors, to discourage public gatherings. The Delhi government quickly followed suit. The franchise owners will reportedly make this same request to ask BCCI officials on Saturday in order to keep up with the schedule of games and cities. A franchise official in a statement to IANS said that playing games in closed doors is better than postponement as it will allow foreign players to join the teams. “If we get to the business end without our foreign recruits, then it again becomes a domestic tournament just like say Mushtaq Ali or Vijay Hazare Trophy. To keep the charisma alive, you need foreign players,” he added. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/news/mumbai-indians-chennai-super-kings-and-royal-challengers-will-be-worst-hit-if-ipl-is-played-behind-closed-doors/articleshow/74595197.cms">Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore will be worst hit if IPL is played behind closed doors</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/news/ipl-has-to-be-played-behind-closed-doors-amid-coronavirus-outbreak-says-govt/articleshow/74591684.cms">IPL has to be played behind closed doors amid coronavirus outbreak, says Govt</a>

IPL 2020 postponed to April 15 as the game will have no ‘charisma’ without foreign players

<ul><li><keyword id="397085" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Broadcast-Audience-Research-Council">Broadcast Audience Research Council</keyword>, (<keyword id="65298" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="BARC">BARC</keyword>) India launched the third edition of its yearbook titled The Year After Two Thousand &amp; Nineteen.</li><li>It revealed that TV viewership grew by 9% in India in 2020.</li><li>Non-Prime Time (NPT) Viewership for General Entertainment Channels (GEC), News and Kids, grew by 16%, 26% and 31% respectively in 2020 compared to 2019.</li></ul>Broadcast Audience Research Council, (BARC) India in the third edition of its yearbook titled The Year After Two Thousand &amp; Nineteen revealed that the total TV viewership in India grew by 9% in 2020. It also revealed that ad volumes grew by 34% in the 2nd half of the year compared to the 1st half. The Yearbook offers insights and data on 'What India Watched' in 2020 along with trends across the pandemic struck months with a special focus on four distinct phases, viz., Pre-COVID, COVID: During Lockdown, COVID: Unlock, and Year Ender. COVID-19 forced people to stay confined to their homes starting March 25, 2020. The lockdown made viewers turn to their favourite mode of entertainment and news – Television. TV played a significant role in keeping people connected with the outside world during the lockdown. Consequently, TV Viewership witnessed a growth of 23% during Mid-March to June (Week 11-26) as compared to the January to early March period (Week 1-10). Commenting on the launch of the YEARBOOK, <keyword id="217320" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sunil-Lulla">Sunil Lulla</keyword>, Chief Executive Officer, <keyword id="2801660" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="BARC-India">BARC India</keyword>, says, “The year was a consolidation and reaffirmation year for television in India. It was marked by a substantial increase in TV viewership with total TV growing by 9% and Ad Volumes experiencing a staggering growth of 34% in the second half. 2020 reaffirmed the strength of television as a medium in India amongst both viewers and advertisers, proving TV is indeed the screen of choice for the household. TV continues to grow with regional markets gaining prominence. BARC India will continue to work towards our vision, to always be the trusted source of authentic measurement and reporting of “What India Watches’”. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Highlights from What India Watched in 'The Year After Two Thousand &amp; Nineteen'" text="Highlights from What India Watched in 'The Year After Two Thousand &amp; Nineteen'">Highlights from What India Watched in 'The Year After Two Thousand &amp; Nineteen'</cmsannotation> <ul><li> Non-Prime Time (NPT) Viewership for General Entertainment Channels (GEC), News and Kids, grew by 16%, 26% and 31% respectively in 2020 compared to 2019.</li><li> Ad Volumes grew by 34% in 2nd half of 2020 compared to 1st half of 2020.</li><li> Top 10 Advertising sectors contributed 80% to Total Ad Volumes in 2020</li><li> Communication by the Government was on an upsurge during lockdown. Ad volumes for government messaging grew by 184% (2.7 times) during Apr-June 2020 compared to same period in 2019.</li><li> Mythological Classics like <keyword id="6373819" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="ramayan">Ramayan</keyword> &amp; <keyword id="6366669" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="mahabharat">Mahabharat</keyword> made a comeback on our TV screens, Week 13, 2020 onwards. Ramayana now holds the record of the most watched TV program in the world!</li><li> Driven by the classics, advertisers placed their bets on DD’s GECs during lockdown. Ad Volumes for DD’s GECs grew by 62% in Apr-June quarter of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019.</li><li> IPL-13 viewership grew by 23% compared to IPL-12 with 400 billion Total Viewing Minutes.</li><li> The Opening match between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings at Abu Dhabi, was the most viewed with 11.2 billion viewing minutes.</li></ul>

TV viewership in India grew by 9% in 2020: BARC

<ul><li><keyword id="2048958" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Cricbuzz">Cricbuzz</keyword> launches a rap song called '<keyword id="9979525" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="ab-cricket-buzzega">Ab Cricket Buzzega</keyword>.'</li><li>The campaign is released in association with WATConsult.</li></ul>Cricbuzz has launched a new campaign celebrating the start of the much-delayed <keyword id="7463791" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="ipl-2020">IPL 2020</keyword>. The film “Ab Cricket Buzzega” comes with a catchy rap song that highlights how this short form extravaganza will be a welcome relief to cricket fans during the <keyword id="8902449" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="covid-19-pandemic">COVID-19 pandemic</keyword>. The brand in association with WATConsult, the hybrid digital agency from the house of <keyword id="6368370" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="dentsu-aegis-network">Dentsu Aegis Network</keyword> (DAN) India, released the film on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3xmrJtDkmE&amp;t=17s&amp;ab_channel=Cricbuzz">digital platforms</a>. Through the campaign, Cricbuzz announces the return of the much-loved tournament that comes just in time to rescue fans from the boredom caused by the COVID-19 restrictions that had put a halt on all cricket globally. The first half of the film presents a slice-of-life in the day of a bored cricket fan. In the second half, Cricbuzz promises the excitement that comes every year with the IPL - live scores, ball by ball commentary, analysis (Cricbuzz Live), interesting match facts and news. Cricbuzz CEO, Pankaj Chhaparwal, said, “This IPL season is probably the most important, as it happens after a long hiatus and in the middle of a global crisis. Ab Cricket Buzzega is quite refreshing and I hope it will raise the spirits of our audience during these difficult times. Through the campaign, our priority is to keep up the excitement for our users who cannot be at the ground to cheer their teams” Commenting on the campaign, <keyword id="2705388" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Heeru-Dingra">Heeru Dingra</keyword>, CEO, WATConsult, says, “IPL is one of the most awaited Cricket tournaments in our country that indeed binds cricket and entertainment together. #AbCricketBuzzega creatively words the emotions of every cricket fan that is eagerly waiting to switch on their TV and cherish every moment of the sport, especially amidst the current pandemic. The charged-up rap and catchy chorus of the video makes it highly engaging, enumerating the several ways Cricbuzz makes the cricket season even more exhilarating and buzzworthy.” For an Indian cricket fan, Cricket is finally coming back with IPL 2020. Given that this year the tournament will be played behind closed doors in the UAE, ardent cricket fans will turn to television and mobile apps to seek all cricket related entertainment and news. Cricbuzz has planned an “allrounder” strategy for users to explore and have fun with content. <div type="Youtube" id="i3xmrJtDkmE" title="#AbCricketBuzzega" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/i3xmrJtDkmE/mqdefault.jpg"></div>

Cricbuzz celebrates the start of IPL 2020 with a catchy rap

<ul><li>The two-part film series uses wit and humor to communicate <keyword id="202404" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="ESPNcricinfo">ESPNcricinfo</keyword>’s core value proposition of being a comprehensive cricket destination for fans.</li><li>The campaign has been conceptualized by <keyword id="188613" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Dentsu-India">Dentsu India</keyword>.</li></ul>With the announcement of IPL 2020 in UAE, cricket fans finally have a reason to rejoice. ESPNcricinfo joins the celebration with the launch of its latest campaign 'SCORES SE LOT MORE.' The new integrated campaign reinforces ESPNcricinfo's core value proposition of delivering wholesome cricket news and information and compelling match coverage and surround content; all beyond just scores for the fans. The campaign comprises a two-part film series and has been conceptualised by <keyword id="180259" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Dentsu">Dentsu</keyword> India. With 'SCORES SE LOT MORE,' ESPNcricinfo aims to connect with the ardent fans of the game for whom cricket is more than just a sport, it is a way of life. For these true fans, cricket is in their DNA and part of their identity. It is much more than just the 22 yards or the grit of the players battling it out on the field; it's about getting a ring side view into the game. It can be as basic as the toss, or the pitch report, the team selection, wicket or the shot, turning point in a game, or an in-depth pre and post-analysis of the match. <div type="Youtube" id="XHVS0CV0OwM" title="ESPNcricinfo | Scores Se Lot More | Commentary" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XHVS0CV0OwM/mqdefault.jpg"></div> Commenting on the campaign, Gaurav Thakur, Director of Marketing and Business Development at ESPNcricinfo, says, "At ESPNcricinfo we have always believed in empowering our fans with insight and reasoning. This campaign reinforces our commitment to providing an astute experience for the curious fans who love to immerse themselves in the game irrespective of where they are. These fans want to know more than just the score. They want to understand the 'what, why and how of the game.' For them, an explanation is as important as the information." Gaurav adds, "I am glad that we partnered with Dentsu India. They understood what we were looking for and created quirky yet sharp films to convey ESPNcricinfo's core value proposition. I am sure the fans will be able to relate to these films." Talking about the campaign Indrajeet Mookherjee, President, Dentsu India says, "We are delighted to partner with ESPNcricinfo, arguably the last word when it comes to cricket. The communication task was to appeal to a younger audience and use the product strength to create a cool user persona. Young fans want to be knowledgeable but also want to be entertained. Our campaign attempts to make being knowledgeable cool in the garb of irreverence and humor and underline the brand message of separating the score seekers and the true cricket fans." The two-part film series uses wit and humor to strike a chord with the younger audience of 15-25-year-olds, the target audience for the campaign. The films bring alive two unique offerings of ESPNcricinfo – expert views and in-depth analysis through a situation using two cricket fans - an ESPNcricinfo fan who understands and seeks the finer details of every match, every ball and every run and a non-user. The ESPNcricinfo fan eventually bowls over the non-user with his knowledge and passion. <div type="Youtube" id="Zusnw2tK8tY" title="ESPNcricinfo | Scores Se Lot More | Analysis" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Zusnw2tK8tY/mqdefault.jpg"></div> Krishna Mani, Executive Creative Director, Dentsu India believes, "There are a few times in one's career where you get to work on a product or a brand that you really love - ESPNcricinfo is just one such brand. I have been a big fan of their witty commentary and amazing articles since the platform's inception. The challenge of this project was not coming up with the idea but to stop oneself from writing more and more."

ESPNcricinfo's campaign reinforces core value proposition of delivering wholesome cricket news and information

<ul><li>Sports Ministry has informed BCCI that <keyword id="6354312" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="IPL">IPL</keyword> will have to be played behind closed doors.</li><li>Foreign players may not be able to join their teams till April 15.</li></ul>The Indian Premier League (IPL), the biggest sporting event in the country may be shadowed by the coronavirus outbreak. Soon after the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak as a global pandemic, the Indian government announced that apart from a few exceptions, foreigners will not be allowed in India till April 15. "The foreign players who play in the IPL come under the Business Visa category. As per the government's directive, they can't come till April 15," a BCCI source told on conditions of anonymity to PTI. Last week, BCCI president Sourav Ganguly confirmed to <a href="https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/28844037/ipl-go-ahead-all-precautions-coronavirus">ESPNCricinfo</a> that the IPL will go ahead as scheduled. He <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/news/ipl-will-go-on-says-bcci-president-sourav-ganguly-even-as-coronavirus-threat-looms-large/articleshow/74506036.cms">said</a> that the IPL was “on schedule” and measures are being taken to tackle the coronavirus threat. No fresh communication has come in from BCCI after that. The Sports Ministry <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/news/ipl-has-to-be-played-behind-closed-doors-amid-coronavirus-outbreak-says-govt/articleshow/74591684.cms">informed</a> BCCI that if the IPL cannot be postponed, it has to be held behind closed doors. IPL franchises are likely to take a big hit Further, the Maharashtra government banned IPL ticket sales after reporting three positive cases. It virtually forces IPL to organize its games in Mumbai in front of empty stands, and only for TV. If more states take the route, IPL franchises may end up taking a big hit in terms of revenue. Ticket sales are a major source of their revenue and this decision will completely remove gate fees. The top teams that will be hit include Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore due to the huge crowds that they draw. This is only one part of the slim picking from India’s largest sporting event. The BCCI also decided to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/news/bcci-cuts-ipl-prize-money-by-half-to-10-crore-as-a-part-of-cost-cutting-measures/articleshow/74469351.cms">cut</a> the IPL prize money by ₹25 crore. According to a <a href="https://punemirror.indiatimes.com/sport/cricket/upset-franchise-owners-to-lodge-protest-over-fee-cut/articleshow/74500261.cms">report</a>, all the eight franchises have decided to lodge a protest with the BCCI. Now, they have to protest about. IPL may follow other sports leagues and play games in empty stadiums The opening match of the IPL 2020 edition is scheduled between Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede stadium on March 29. At the moment, it looks like the two teams may have to play in empty stadiums. The iconic Bundesliga and La Liga are currently being played behind closed doors due to the coronavirus outbreak and the IPL 2020 may face the same fate. Additionally, the foreign players may not be able to join the league during its initial days - making it less exciting. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/news/ipl-will-go-on-says-bcci-president-sourav-ganguly-even-as-coronavirus-threat-looms-large/articleshow/74506036.cms">IPL will go on says BCCI president Sourav Ganguly even as coronavirus threat looms large</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/news/ipl-in-trouble-after-india-restricts-visas-that-will-keep-foreign-players-away/articleshow/74589474.cms">IPL in trouble after India restricts visas that will keep foreign players away</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/coronavirus-india-suspends-all-tourist-visas-till-april-15/articleshow/74582720.cms">Coronavirus: India suspends all tourist visas till April 15</a>

Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore will be worst hit if IPL is played behind closed doors

<ul><li>As IPL’s bio bubble breaches and two players Varun Chakravarthy, Sandeep Warrier test positive for COVID-19, BCCI has suspended IPL for this season. </li><li>Experts tell us about the impact cancellation of India’s biggest sporting tournament and advertising extravaganza can have on our brands and the media industry.</li></ul>Indian Premier League (IPL), one of the most keenly awaited events in India, has also felt the heat of Coronavirus. Over the last two days, several players from three IPL teams have tested COVID positive. This includes Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) Varun Chakravarthy and Sandeep Warrier, Delhi Capitals’ (DC) Amit Mishra and now, SRH’s Wriddhiman Saha. After much criticism, BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla has finally announced today that IPL has been suspended for this season. While the recent spike in COVID cases has brought our country to a grinding halt and forced every sporting activity to be either postponed indefinitely or cancelled, IPL continued, becoming an escape from the grim reality for many. It was acting as a bandaid on our wounds -- temporary yet effective. IPL is also one of the biggest advertising carnivals and this year, reports indicate that more brands have invested in the tournament. According to TAM Sports, average ad volumes during the first 22 matches of IPL 14 grew by 2% compared to IPL 13. Tally of categories grew by 10%, whereas count of advertisers and brands decreased by 3% and 9% respectively in IPL 14 than IPL 13. When brands started buying ad spots on IPL and bidding on the sponsorship deals, the COVID cases in India were going down and the economy was improving. Advertising agencies usually work on their IPL pitches for at least two months and spend many sleepless nights executing their ideas. Media planning and buying agencies also wait for IPL to buy the best deal for their clients. However, the situation is getting severe with each passing day. Given the gravity of the pandemic in India, there has been an ongoing debate on whether IPL should be pulled down. Now, after a few players have tested positive and the bio bubble has been breached, BCCI has decided to suspend IPL. We reached out to experts to understand how cancellation of IPL can impact brands. Vani Gupta Dandia, Founder, CherryPeachPlum Growth said cancellation might add to consumers' anxiety. "I understand there are a lot of us in dire circumstances but canceling IPL doesn't help people get well. It's a welcome distraction from the otherwise grim news we're inundated with. Cancellation will also cause further anxiety and fear - we need some markers of normality. Lives, livelihoods, and mental wellness are all important in equal measure," said she. Lloyd Mathias, Business Strategist and former Marketing Head of PepsiCo, Motorola and HP APAC said, “The continuation of the IPL amidst the pandemic is questionable now, given that the secure bio bubbles have been breached. But even aside from this breach, the continuation points to a certain disregard for the suffering and misery millions of Indians are facing.” A Duff &amp; Phelps’ report had recently said that the value of the IPL Ecosystem was estimated to be impacted by nearly $1 billion only due to cancellation and without capturing the impact of the economic slowdown that might follow. Last year too, the pandemic had made a dent on the league. The IPL Ecosystem’s value plunged by 3.6% to Rs 45,800 crore during season 13 from Rs 47,500 crore IPL 2019. The report further said that this was largely due to Vivo pulling out of the title sponsorship deal, additional costs involved to create a secure bio-bubble environment, lack of gate receipts, etc. The individual franchisees also saw a reduction in their brand values in 2020 compared to 2019, largely due to reduced franchisee-related sponsorship revenue, loss of gate receipts, reduced food and beverage (F&amp;B) revenue, and certain teams’ on-field performances and off-the-field issues. The new sponsor, Dream11, had entered at a steep discount, and the IPL had to take a hit of Rs 218 crores in sponsorship revenues in 2020. However, Mathias reminded us that BCCI insures IPL. “If the IPL does get called off at this stage it will certainly hurt financially, but remember the BCCI is a very rich body, and this financial loss is an insignificant price to pay in comparison to the larger catastrophe all around. Also, insurance may help cover part of the damages, suffered by the teams, the sponsors, and the broadcaster,” said he. Star Sports has roped in 18 sponsors and over 100 advertisers across multiple brand categories and many small businesses have invested a large amount of their marketing budget on IPL this year. BCCI has also gone all out in its bid to host IPL this year. According to media reports, BCCI is slated to earn Rs 3,500 crore in advertising revenue from the 2021 season. Star charged around Rs 8 to 10 lakh for a 10 seconder last year. Star has previously charged brands Rs 25 lakh for 10-second slots during the India vs Pakistan ICC World Cup match and between Rs 16 to 18 lakh for other World Cup matches. In comparison, the IPL ad charges are still reasonable but the rates are among the costliest for a programme in the country. So, how badly will this hurt Indian brands? Karthik Srinivasan, Social Media Expert and Independent Brand Consultant, answered, “I don't think the brands, per se, would be impacted, not at least in terms of branding. They are already hugely affected in terms of demand, and sales, because the 2nd wave has washed over everything else.” Three days before IPL began, the number of positive cases in India had crossed 1,25,89,067, and the death toll stood at 165K -- and it was growing with each passing day. Harish Bijoor, Brand Guru and Founder, Harish Bijoor Consults Inc said that brands would have analysed every situation before the tournament began. Bijoor said, “The pandemic is all about uncertainty. IPL and its fixtures are part of this uncertainty. Yes, brands will have their plans tampered with, especially with IPL money outlays kept in mind. However, the important point is that health comes before everything else. The bubble has burst to an extent. The bubble format of IPL has been breached with yesterday's incident. Brands have to grin and bear it. In reality, nothing is a surprise anymore. Brands have visualised this possibility, and it has been factored into plans for sure.” Vani Gupta Dandia, on the other hand, shared how months of hardwork will go down the drain if IPL is canceled. "After 2020 a lot of pent up demand was expected to manifest in 2021. After a disappointing 2020, advertisers were betting big on IPL. Spots were booked early this year, when there was hope of the COVID pandemic ending in 2021. IPL in particular brings the house together- everyone loves cricket. Annual plans and quarterly targets are constructed around the spurt in demand expected from the advertising spends on IPL. So cancellation at this stage will mean desperate scrambling to rework the media plan, besides losing time." <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Alternative strategy" text="Alternative strategy">Alternative strategy</cmsannotation> Experts we spoke to said whether IPL continues or not, brands should reconsider advertising during what is possibly one of the worst calamities we have faced in recent times. Srinivasan highlighted how ad spend will be a smaller wound but rebuilding reputation might take eons. “The brands continuing to advertise happy, nice things to buy would, at one point, seem utterly insensitive and out of touch. So, in a way, IPL being cancelled is perhaps for the best for these brands, despite the money being invested. After all, reputation is more important than money in the long run, and the brands being presumed to be insensitive and out of touch with the horrendous reality unfolding in our country, is far worse for them,” said Srinivasan. Mathias also said that functional advertising can wait. “It would be wonderful if the IPL uses its reach and financial muscle to amplify and help people. Teams, sponsors, cricket stars can come together and pledge part of their incomes to support this humanitarian disaster. This will also help reduce the valid feeling of the IPL’s tone-deafness, to the misery all around. And yes, for brands the best thing to do in the present circumstance is to help with relief in any way possible – from financial, procuring much needed medical supplies, to using their media assets to amplify SOS and help messages,” said Mathias. *Article updated at 1:15* <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="82294452" title="Experts share the ideal ways in which brands can advertise during the second Covid-19 wave in India" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>

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