Pro Kabaddi League owner Star India will likely earn $54.3M in revenue from the sixth edition of the tournament, which began this weekend, according to ASIA SPONSORSHIP NEWS. The figure includes sponsorships "as well as gate receipts." Star India, "which has already sold 80% of ad inventory," is expected to make $27.1M from TV advertising, top media buyers in India’s advertising agencies said. Star is selling ad spots at the rate of $1,400-$2,800 per 10-second slot during the Pro Kabaddi League. Wavemaker India National Dir, Sports & Entertainment Partnerships Jigar Rambhia said, "The advertiser response is as good as it was last year. The league falls in the peak festival season and will benefit in terms of advertising. While majority inventory will be dominated by sponsors, I expect a rush in spot buying by multiple brands by the end of the week." Meanwhile, the 12 teams are expected to collectively earn between $8.1M and $10.9M from sponsorships. Teams like Patna Pirates and Haryana Steelers "are expected to bring in higher revenue," between $679,000 and $814,000 each, while Dabang Delhi will earn between $408,000 and $543,000 due to "differences in performance and spectator interest," media buyers said (ASN, 10/5).
