The Mega India Pakistan Semi Final cricket match is now less than 24 hours away. Literally, every person I am talking to is super excited about it. It so big that many corporates have even gone ahead and given a half day Holidays (and in some cases full day). Billions of people in India and across the world will be watching this match. There are no stadium tickets remaining even for VIPs, and the tickets are getting sold 25 to 50 times their original prices!
The remaining 2-3 CWC matches are literally a goldmine for broadcasters – ESPN Star Sports must be over the moon with the kind of TRP ratings and reach all the matches have been getting.
Take this – ESPN Star Sports had initially priced the matches at Rs 3-4 lakh per 10 seconds (which in itself is quite an amount). But, the way things have gone, this price has increased in multiples.
As per the current estimates, if an advertiser wants his ad to be shown in both Semi-Finals and Finals, the price is about Rs. 35 lakh for 10 seconds slot. If a single 10 second ad has to broadcast in both semi-finals, the pricing stands at 22 Lakh per 10 seconds. And, if it is for India Pakistan semi-final alone, the price stands at 18 lakh for 10 seconds. [source]
But the question is whether it is worth? According to me, if an advertiser is willing to pay that kind of money, I am sure it is. What better platform to announce a launch of a new product or even simply to spread brand awareness to millions of viewers. Literally, every 2nd Indian will have his eyes glued to the TV during the India Pakistan clash.
However, I have always had this question in my mind – During such high adrenaline games, does anyone even see or remember anything else other than the actual sport ? I tried thinking about any ad that I remember during the matches and I could not recollect any, except probably zoozoo Ads, and that too because zoozoo ads are very creative and you enjoy seeing them.
So what is your opinion ? Are such humongous Ad rates justified ?