Indian Premier League versus the English Premier League: A comparative study

Abstract

Cricket and football are among two of the well-known and popular sports in India. The two biggest tournaments in these two sports (apart from the respective World cups) are the English Premier League (EPL) and the remarkably younger Indian Premier league (IPL). On one hand is the IPL, which within a span of 6 years, has achieved success and popularity with more than 184 million TV audiences. It is estimated to have a brand valuation of more than 3 billion USD (iii). The league has essentially become like an annual festival, where come May June, cricket loving fans all round the world switch on their television sets to watch the IPL. The business model of IPL has created a blend of entertainment, glamour, marketing, pricing, and hard-hitting cricket. However, the recent couple of seasons indicate a decreasing trend in TV Ratings, reduced audience, fall in advertising rates and a withdrawal of franchises. On the other is the EPL, which is promoted as “The Greatest Show on Earth”, is broadcast to over 600 million+ people in over 200 countries worldwide. EPL has stood the test of time and is one of the most popular brands around the world with no signs of slowing down. The objective of this report is to analyse and compare the business models of the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the English Premier League (EPL), to gain valuable insights into the factors driving the two Leagues.