Pakistan Television (PTV) has officially announced it has secured the domestic broadcast rights for all Asian Cricket Council (ACC) events from 2025 to 2027, ensuring that cricket fans in Pakistan will be able to watch key tournaments, including the Men’s Asia Cup 2025 and 2027, Women’s Asia Cup 2026, and the U19 and Emerging Asia Cup competitions. The broadcaster shared the news via Instagram, calling it a proud moment for national sports media.
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The announcement brings some relief to cricket fans who were facing uncertainty regarding live coverage, particularly of the much-anticipated Asia Cup, which has been plagued by logistical and political complications in recent months. Originally scheduled to be hosted by India, the Men’s Asia Cup 2025 was shifted to the UAE due to political tensions between India and Pakistan, as well as strained relations between India and Bangladesh.
Behind the scenes, negotiations were reportedly tense. Sources indicate that the Asia Cup’s official broadcaster, based in India, was demanding a steep price from Pakistan’s region — up to 25% of the total broadcasting rights value — despite Pakistan contributing only 10% to the regional broadcast worth. These terms were considered unusually high and significantly out of line with established benchmarks by both the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the ACC.
The inflated pricing forced Pakistani sports channels to weigh the option of forming a joint consortium or risk forfeiting the broadcasting rights altogether. With advertising revenues in Pakistan already down by more than 22% and corporate sponsorships tightening, the demand was viewed by many industry insiders as economically unfeasible.
Concerns deepened when it was revealed that digital rights for the Asia Cup had already been sold to a Pakistan-based consortium for around $4.3 million, putting additional pressure on television networks to act quickly. There were also fears that the flagship Pakistan vs. India match — historically the most-watched — might not even take place, making such a hefty investment even riskier.
Sources familiar with the negotiations described the situation as unstable, with broadcasters in India being “over-leveraged” and potentially gambling with the entire broadcasting ecosystem. A failure to secure stable and fair terms, they warned, could have ripple effects across the Asian cricket broadcast market.
PTV officials remained cautious even after the acquisition. Speaking on condition of anonymity, one insider confirmed that while negotiations with the Indian broadcaster had concluded positively for now, the process had been “tricky” and rife with uncertainty until the last moment. The official noted that there is still some ambiguity regarding the Asia Cup schedule, especially concerning any potential Pakistan-India encounters, which often act as the financial backbone of such tournaments.
Historically, Pakistan broadcasters have had to prepare for dual scenarios — whether or not India and Pakistan will clash in a given tournament — due to the volatile nature of cricket diplomacy in the region. This time, too, similar concerns loomed large, complicating the negotiation dynamics.
Ultimately, with PTV stepping in to acquire the rights, fans in Pakistan can now expect uninterrupted live coverage of all major ACC events over the next three years. The announcement also reflects PTV’s growing intent to reclaim its stature as a primary sports broadcaster in the country. However, the broader concerns over inflated pricing models, regional tension, and unstable broadcaster practices remain lingering issues for the future of cricket broadcasting in South Asia.
