Some of the world’s biggest media firms are preparing to do battle over a major prize in the global streaming wars: Indian cricket matches.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India, the sport’s national governing body, plans this week to formally solicit bids for the next five years of broadcast and streaming rights for the Indian Premier League, the nation’s most popular cricket league.
Walt Disney Co.
,
Pictures Networks India and Viacom18—a joint venture between
ViacomCBS Inc.
and
Reliance Industries Ltd.
—are among companies planning to bid for the rights, said people involved in the bidding process. The monthlong auction is expected to conclude by late March, the people…
