In a move set to reshape the future of cricket media, Dream Sports—the parent company of Dream11—has, in a joint statement with Times Internet, announced a $50 million strategic minority investment in Cricbuzz and Willow TV, two major cricket content and broadcast platforms owned by Times Internet.
The deal pairs Dream Sports’ massive 250 million user base and digital sports ecosystem with Cricbuzz’s reach of over 185 million monthly active users and Willow TV’s dominance in live cricket broadcasting across the US, Canada, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.
“Cricbuzz and Willow sit at the heart of how hundreds of millions of fans follow cricket every day,” said Satyan Gajwani, Vice Chairman, Times Internet.
“We’re excited to work with Dream Sports to reimagine and develop new ways to collaboratively create new experiences for cricket fans across the planet.”
Elevating fan experience with AI, interactivity, and commerce
The investment is more than a capital infusion—it signals a deep collaboration between media, technology, and sport aimed at delivering next-generation fan experiences. Dream Sports and Times Internet plan to integrate:
- Real-time stats and predictive analytics
- Interactive match streams and content personalization
- Seamless e-commerce features for fans
With a growing trend toward immersive and digital-first consumption, the deal is positioned at the intersection of sport, media, and technology—offering cricket fans deeper engagement across platforms.
“Dream Sports’ mission is to ‘Make Sports Better’ for Indian sports fans,” said Harsh Jain, Co-Founder and CEO of Dream Sports.
“Cricbuzz and Dream11 have worked together for over a decade, and with this investment, all cricket fans can expect much more fan engagement, interactive streams, and integrated commerce experiences that will bring them closer to the action and to each other.”
Willow TV’s expanding broadcast footprint
Willow TV has long been the go-to destination for live cricket in North America, streaming over 1,500 matches annually. Its importance only grew in 2023 when it secured exclusive ICC media rights for the US and Canada through 2027, covering high-profile events like the Men’s and Women’s World Cups and U-19 tournaments.
Already the largest cricket broadcaster in North America, Willow TV has extended its reach into emerging cricket markets in the Middle East and Southeast Asia, positioning itself as a global cricket media powerhouse.
Cricbuzz is a major cricket media desination
Cricbuzz continues to perform as a destination for cricket scores, commentary, analysis, and now increasingly rich, interactive content. The platform’s massive reach—185 million+ monthly users in over 150 countries—offers a prime canvas for Dream Sports to roll out innovative, AI-led experiences.
The collaboration is expected to bring fans closer to live action while building a monetizable ecosystem through data-driven commerce features.
Dream Sports expands globally while deepening Indian roots
This investment marks another milestone in Dream Sports’ international expansion. Earlier this year, the company joined the ownership consortium of English football club Salford City FC, aligning with sporting legends like David Beckham and Gary Neville, alongside business heavyweights Declan Kelly and Lord Mervyn Davies.
Back home, the company recently executed a reverse merger to redomicile from the US to India, becoming one of the first tech firms to utilize the Indian government’s fast-track cross-border route.
Despite regulatory hurdles in the online gaming space—including an INR 28,000 Cr GST notice—Dream Sports continues to grow. During IPL 2024, the platform recorded 1.1 million new users on day one and 15 million concurrent users, showcasing its continued grip on India’s sports engagement market.
“During IPL 2024, Dream Sports added 1.1 Mn users on the very first day and recorded 15 Mn concurrent users,” Harsh Jain said on X.
Avendus Capital advises on landmark sportstech deal
Avendus Capital acted as the exclusive financial advisor on the transaction, which is seen as a significant moment in the convergence of sports, media, and tech. With this investment, Dream Sports not only fortifies its content and distribution capabilities but also sets a blueprint for how data, interactivity, and commerce can transform cricket engagement on a global scale.
