Overview
- Houlihan Lokey’s 2026 Brand Valuation Study, released Wednesday, July 29, places the Indian Premier League’s enterprise value at $20.6 billion, an 11.4% year‑on‑year increase driven by two high‑value team sales.
- Two landmark transactions reset franchise benchmarks: Royal Challengers Bengaluru sold for $1.78 billion in March and Rajasthan Royals sold for $1.65 billion in May, deals that together added roughly $3.4 billion of realized value.
- The report says the IPL’s standalone brand value rose 10.3% to $4.3 billion and that RCB became the first cricket franchise to surpass $300 million in brand value at $312 million.
- Audience habits shifted strongly toward digital in 2026, with JioStar data cited in the study showing total reach of 1.06 billion screens, Connected TV reach up about 26% and linear TV ratings down roughly 18.8%, contributing to more than $1.8 billion in season revenue.
- Houlihan Lokey projects large growth for the 2028–32 media‑rights cycle while Media Partners Asia expects a flat auction outcome, leaving future rights values and revenue upside contested and important to watch for investors and bidders.