ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Wednesday that the media rights for the upcoming 2024 and 2025 editions of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) saw a “massive increase” when their bidding took place this week.
The PSL is Pakistan’s premium men’s T20 cricket franchise founded by the PCB in 2015. A mix of local and foreign players take part in every edition of the league, which features six teams, each named after a Pakistani city.
Over the years, the PSL has grown to become arguably Pakistan’s most popular sports brand and is compared with other international cricket leagues such as the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Big Bash League (BBL).
The ninth edition of the PSL is set to kick off in February and will last till March 2024.
“HBL Pakistan Super League had yet another historic day on Tuesday, when its live-streaming and broadcast rights saw an increase of 113 and 45 percent for the 2024 and 2025 editions, respectively,” the PCB said in a statement.
The board said ARY Communications (Pvt) Limited submitted the highest bid, in response to a public tender process, to broadcast the 2024 and 2025 editions of the league in Pakistan.
It saw a “whopping increase” of 45 percent from the value for the last two years, the board added.
Bids were also received from the Independent Media Corporation Pvt. Ltd, the Pakistan Television Corporation Limited (PTVC) and Tower Sports (Ten Sports) to broadcast the PSL.
Pakistani influencer marketing platform Walee Technologies, meanwhile, won the highest bid to live-stream PSL 2024 and 2025 in Pakistan, which saw a huge increase of 113 percent from the value for the last two years, the PCB disclosed.
Other bids for live-streaming the league were received from the Consortium of ARY Communications (ARY, Myco, Daraz and Tamasha), TransGroup FZE, Independent Media Corporation Pvt. Ltd. (IMC) and Tower Sports (Ten Sports).
“HBL PSL is a huge brand and it has a massive fan following,” Zaka Ashraf, chairman of the PCB’s managing committee, said in a statement.
“It is an unprecedented moment as the prices for both of these rights are unmatched. This is a testament to the growth of the HBL PSL brand and we are all waiting for HBL PSL 9 to begin now.”
PCB announces ‘massive increase’ in premium cricket league’s media rights for 2024, 2025
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PCB announces ‘massive increase’ in premium cricket league’s media rights for 2024, 2025
- Pakistan Super League’s live-streaming, broadcast rights see increase of 113 and 45 percent respectively
- ARY Communications, Walee Technologies win rights to broadcast and live-stream league respectively
Planning minister says Pakistan to set up advanced technology centers to support economic growth
- Ahsan Iqbal says planned centers to focus on artificial intelligence, quantum computing and nanotechnology
- He also cites satellite technology as key tool for climate monitoring, early warning and disaster management
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan plans to set up technology Centers of Excellence, including facilities focused on quantum computing and nanotechnology, as it seeks to benefit from rapid advances in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, state media reported on Friday.
The announcement was made by Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal, who said the government aims to position Pakistan to compete in future technologies that are expected to drive economic growth and reshape global industries.
Quantum computing, which uses the principles of quantum mechanics to process information far more quickly than conventional computers, has applications ranging from complex data analysis and cryptography to climate modeling and materials science. Nanotechnology focuses on engineering materials at the molecular level and is widely used in energy storage, medicine and electronics.
Addressing a ceremony in Islamabad, Iqbal said countries that master artificial intelligence, robotics, quantum computing and space technologies would lead the global economy in the coming decades.
“During the address, the minister said Pakistan’s efforts to align itself with rapid advancements in artificial intelligence, robotics, space innovation and emerging technologies reflect the country’s ambition to participate confidently in shaping the future,” Radio Pakistan reported.
“Ahsan Iqbal further announced that the government plans to establish three Centers of Excellence, including a National Center for Quantum Computing and a National Center for Nanotechnology, aimed at upgrading the national economy,” it added.
He informed the ceremony that measures were underway to develop a new Silicon Valley in Pakistan “to promote cross-fertilization of ideas and innovation by bringing talent, research and industry together under one roof.”
The minister also highlighted the role of technology in tackling climate challenges, noting that satellite systems are increasingly used worldwide for disaster management, early warning systems and climate monitoring.
Pakistan, one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries, can benefit from satellite technology to track weather patterns, manage floods and improve disaster preparedness, he said, adding that more than 9,000 satellites currently orbit the Earth and are transforming how economies and governments operate.
Iqbal said the planned centers would support Pakistan’s broader “Uraan Pakistan” vision, which focuses on exports, digital development, energy and infrastructure, environmental resilience and social equity, Radio Pakistan reported.
