Supreme TV buys local LPL TV broadcast rights

Supreme TV, a local TV channel, has acquired the exclusive rights to broadcast the Lanka Premier League (LPL) in Sri Lanka, from the IPG Group, the official franchise and broadcast holder.

The multi-year agreement, positioned as one of the biggest broadcast deals so far in the Island nation will help LPL penetrate deep into every nook and corner of the country.  Supreme TV is committed to play an integral part in the television and digital transmission of the LPL starting from the second season.

Supreme TV is a Sinhala Language channel with a special focus on sports and entertainment.

“For a cricket loving nation, which is slowly disengaging from the pandemic at this moment, opportunity to enjoy the high quality second season from home is   probably the best year end gift,” RM Manivannan, Chairman Supreme TV said in a statement.

Anil Mohan, Founder and CEO of Dubai-based production giant IPG, the official promoter of LPL said, “It gives me immense pleasure to welcome on board Supreme TV as our broadcast partner of the prestigious Lanka Premier League and I can confidently say that this association is a great testament to the brand LPL. In the first edition, from Sri Lanka alone we garnered a total viewership of 1.9 million which is quite significant. Our first season was big success and with the addition of Supreme TV, we will only grow bigger.”

The inaugural edition of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) which was played in a bio-secure bubble at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in Hambantota from November 26 till December 16, 2020, reached a cumulative audience of 557 million people through TV, digital-social space, and traditional media outlets. Sponsors enjoyed a media evaluation (visibility) of $54.5m and title sponsor MY11CIRCLE enjoyed a ROI of 9.85x. Winner of the first edition of LPL, Jaffna Kings tops the valuation chart with $3.98m, followed by Galle Gladiators ($3.82m), Dambulla Vikings - now Dambulla Giants, ($3.54m), Colombo Kings ($3.44m), and Kandy Tuskers ($3.19m).

The LPL matches which were telecast live by Sky Sports, Sony Sports Network, Geo, PTV, and Willow TV, ITN in Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, UK, US, Canada, Ireland, and New Zealand saw 155 million people tuning in to catch live action. On social media, it achieved a reach of 218 million and LPL found 133,478 mentions as the League came alive with each and every match with some scintillating performances on the ground.