As NRL footballers snub the brands and the media Companies who pay them tens of millions a year in Australia, India’s cricket governing body is trying to lure global giants Apple, Amazon.com and Alphabet the owners of Google to bid for rights as several global brands pull the plug on sports investments.
Amid waning interest from firms who had recently competed fiercely for the wildly successful Indian Premier League due to a lack of return on investment questions are now being asked as to why brands such invest in sport and players who like Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins is bringing politics and personal opinions into the game resulting in brands pulling the plug on codes.
Cricket Australia’s major sponsor dealt with the issue quickly, by ditching their multimillion-dollar investment in cricket following a storm over Pat Cummins raising “ethical objections” over the provider’s partnership.
The relationship between Alinta and Cricket Australia soured the minute Cummins opened his mouth to pass a personal opinion about Alinta’s climate impact before the company signed a new contract.
Recently NRL footballers refused to appear on Fox Sports shows an action that appears to have little impact if the ratings are anything to go by.
The proposed starting date of the Indian auction process for the media rights of the so-called bilateral series, played by the Indian team against other countries, for the next five years has been postponed as the Board of Control for Cricket in India reaches out to more firms in what appears to be a desperate effort to get big brands on board.
The lukewarm response by media firms ahead of the auction highlights the struggle to make money amid weak advertising revenues, politics entering the sports arena and the lack of sales due to recession conditions in several Countries.
