HBL PSL gains in stature and wealth

F.P. Report

LAHORE: The HBL Pakistan Super League had yet another historic day on Wednesday when its live-streaming and broadcast rights saw an increase of 113 and 45 per cent for the 2024 and 2025 editions, respectively.

The ARY Communications (Pvt) Limited submitted the highest bid, pursuant to a public tender process, to broadcast HBL Pakistan Super League 2024 and 2025 in Pakistan, which saw a whopping increase of 45 per cent from the value for the last two years.

A public, transparent and merit-based tender process was followed for awarding the Pakistan region PSL TV Broadcast media rights for 2024-2025.

Bids were received from Independent Media Corporation Pvt. Ltd (IMC – the parent company of Geo Entertainment Television Pvt Ltd), ARY Communications (Pvt) Limited (ARY), Pakistan Television Corporation Limited (PTVC) and Tower Sports (Ten Sports).

Meanwhile, Walee Technologies submitted the highest bid, pursuant to a public tender process, to live-stream HBL Pakistan Super League 2024 and 2025 in Pakistan, which sees a huge increase of 113 per cent from the value for the last two years.

The PCB received bids from five parties – Consortium of ARY Communications (ARY, Myco, Daraz and Tamasha), Walee Technologies, TransGroup FZE, Independent Media Corporation Pvt. Ltd (IMC – the parent company of GEO Entertainment Television Pvt Ltd) and Tower Sports (Ten Sports).

The PCB Bid Committee has recommended the highest bids submitted by ARY and Walee Technologies to the competent authority for approval.

Chairman PCB Management Committee Zaka Ashraf: “I want to congratulate ARY, Walee Technologies, the Pakistan Cricket Board, its management committee and the franchises on this historic moment. HBL PSL is a huge brand and it has a massive fan following.

“It is an unprecedented moment as the prices for both of these rights are unmatched. This is a testament to the growth of the HBL PSL brand and we are all waiting for HBL PSL 9 to begin now.”

ARY Digital Founder and CEO, Salman Iqbal: “I am delighted that ARY has once again come out as the highest financial bidder for HBL Pakistan Super League and that fans will be able to watch HBL PSL again on A Sports for the next two seasons.

“My team and I have always prioritised Pakistan and this bid process is another indication of the same where we have gone almost 50 per cent above the value we bid successfully in the previous cycle.

“Together with the Pakistan Cricket Board, ARY will work to further amplify the PSL brand in the next two seasons.”

Walee Technologies CEO and co-founder, Ahsan Tahir: “We are honoured to have won the bid for HBL PSL ninth and tenth editions live-streaming media rights. Walee Technologies looks forward to taking the HBL PSL digital experience to the next level.

“We are in a position to make an investment of this magnitude because patriotic data-literate advertisers recognise that we are the only platform with the highest trust media touchpoints that attracts Gen Z and Gen Alpha customer segments.” (APP)