The Business of the IPL
The Women's Premier League
The WPL, launched in 2023, shows how media rights and franchise sales can grow women's cricket.
The IPL model has been extended to women’s cricket.
Launch
The Women’s Premier League began in 2023 with five teams.
Franchise sales
Teams were sold for large sums, and media rights were sold to Viacom18 for several hundred crore rupees.
Impact
Player pay rose, visibility improved and more girls took up the game.
Challenges
Crowds, sponsorship depth and grassroots facilities still lag behind the men’s game.
Growth in visibility
Matches on television and streaming reach audiences that never watched women's cricket before.
Assuming pay is now equal
Big gaps remain.
Key takeaways
- The WPL began in 2023.
- Media rights and franchise fees fund it.
- Player pay and visibility rose.
- Gaps remain.
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