India tour brings huge money - New Zealand get $35 million in broadcast rights

India’s ongoing tour of New Zealand is set to give a huge financial boost to the cricketing body with broadcasting rights for the series set to bring in more than $35 million making it the biggest money-spinner in any sport in the country.

It is also believed that India will be touring the country again in 2019 under the new bilateral series agreements being worked out as per the ICC regulations.

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) chief executive David White has confirmed to ‘Fairfax Media’ that broadcast rights for the present Indian tour were worth more than the then record $25m that NZC banked from the Indians’ last visit in 2009. Although White would not provide a figure, Fairfax has been told that it is more than $35 million.

“That also surpasses the $25 million profit reaped by the New Zealand Rugby Union for all revenues including broadcasting, attendance and sponsorship from the 2005 British and Irish Lions tour and makes the NZC deal the biggest broadcast windfall ever achieved by a national sport organisation,” the Fairfax report said.

“Our current tour contract is worth more than that of 2009. It’s very lucrative,” White said.

The tour in 2019 was scheduled under the ICC’s Future Tours Programme, which the Indian board had refused to sign in the past.

“But New Zealand’s apparent support of the Indian-led ICC takeover now looks to have been a bargaining chip designed to secure a 2019 touring commitment along with bi-lateral agreements with Australia and England to visit here,” the report stated.

New Zealand blanked India 4-0 in the 5-match ODI series with the other game being tied. The series win saw New Zealand climb up one spot to 7th place in the ICC ODI rankings. Coupled with the monetary gain from the tour, the series has been a win-win for the Kiwis.