Indian Premier League Stands Alone at the Top as Asia Pacific Sports Rights Growth Slows, Media Partners Asia Finds

India dominates the Asia Pacific sports rights sector, leading with more than half of the increase in fees since 2021. The Indian Premier League (IPL) secures about $12.4 million per match, matching the revenue of the Premier League. In comparison, Korea's KBO baseball league generates roughly $100,000 per match. India now accounts for over 64% of all sports rights fees in the region.

The media rights category is the largest, worth $6.1 billion, followed by sponsorship ($4.7 billion), ticketing and hospitality ($3.9 billion), and merchandise ($1.5 billion). From 2021 to 2026, rights fees in the region are expected to grow at a slower rate of 1%-2% annually, down from about 10% per year throughout the previous decade.

Streaming services now account for 50% of rights fees, up from 36% in 2021. Sponsorship pricing based on audience data is projected to grow at a rate of 6%-7% per year through 2030. The sports economy in Asia Pacific is projected to reach $19.5 billion by 2030, up from $16.2 billion in 2026. To bridge the gap between the region's $4 in commercial sports revenue per person and the $200 per person seen in North America, sponsorship spending on audience data could play a significant role.

Markets like China, India, Korea, and Southeast Asia currently lag behind in sponsorship spending as a percentage of GDP. By leveraging their local stars and women's sports, the region could potentially generate an additional $5.4 billion annually.