PKL franchises seek an open market auction for media rights.

There is still a question mark on the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) season this year. A complete fix for PKL owners Mashal Sports, as the franchises of PKL demand for Media Rights auctions to be in the open market. Franchises don’t want Star Sports to have a free access to its Media rights.

Star India has been instrumental in building PKL what it is today and also owns a majority of share in the Mashal Sports. Back in 2014 when Star India came on board and the broadcasted the first season of PKL, Kabaddi became the second most watched sport in the country. Star networks have undoubtedly invested in the sport like no one else and is one of the main reasons why kabaddi got elevated in the country.

Franchises in unison are pushing Mashal Sports to conduct an open auction where Star Sports along with other potential media partners like Sony Pictures Network, Jio Network can bid for the rights. Franchises feel that passing the rights to Star India directly are undervaluing the property and that an open market auction will bring out the best deals for the rights.

Mashal Sports currently own PKL and have Star as their majority shareholder. Reportedly, Star India owns more than 84% shares in the company. Until now, Mashal Sports used to conduct the league and Star India was their broadcast partner. In lieu of the same, Star India was paying a certain amount of money as media rights fee to Mashal Sports. This Media Rights fee is said to be distributed among the franchises.

Some of the franchises also feel that it is a clear case of Conflict of Interest as Star India is the majority owner in the company’s shares. Franchises seek for a transparent eco-system through which the media rights of PKL can be auctioned and the fair price for the rights can be discovered.