Source: entrackr.com
Dream Sports, the parent company behind fantasy gaming behemoth Dream11, is poised to acquire a 15% stake in popular cricket content platform Cricbuzz, currently owned by the digital arm of Times Group, to the tune of $50 million, in a significant move to strengthen its wants in the cricket ecosystem.
This investment deal is a strategic move by Dream Sports to surpass fantasy gaming and further establish its position in the wider cricket content network. Cricbuzz was started in 2004 by Pankaj Chhaparwal, Piyush Agrawal, and Pravin Hegde and is now one of the most visited cricket websites in India.Times Internet acquired a majority stake in Cricbuzz in 2014, and merged it with its GoCricket, consolidating its cricket content strategy.
Real-time scores, updates, match analysis and commentaries helped Cricbuzz build a loyal user base. In the first season of IPL 2025 season, the platform is likely to have 185 Million users and insiders say it can cross over 350 Million video views. Also, this is a lucrative opportunity for Dream Sports to reach out to a large audience for brand awareness and customer acquisition.
This investment would not only give Dream Sport equity in a leading cricket media platform but also high-quality advertisement and user engagement avenues. According to sources, Cricbuzz concluded FY25 with estimated revenues of around ₹400 crore, but these figures have not been independently verified.
This move demonstrates Dream Sport’s bigger ambition to make a combined digital sports ecosystem. The company has invested in content and commerce ventures before, involving a $50 million investment in FanCode, its in-house sports streaming and merchandise platform, via its investment arm, Dream Sports Investments (DSI). FanCode has since become a go-to destination for sports fans seeking live streaming, insights, and products.
By investing in Cricbuzz, Dream Sports is aiming to be a full-stack sports tech player—bringing together fantasy sports, live streaming, analytics and editorial content under a single roof.
We can look forward to the partnership to include cross-platform promotions, user engagement campaigns, and improved fan interaction on both platforms.
Dream Sports or Times Internet have not officially confirmed the investment deal so far. But if finalised, the move is expected to transform how fans in India consume cricket content and interact with fantasy sports platforms. With the ongoing IPL season boosting cricket consumption across the country, this strategic partnership could redefine the future of digital sports engagement in India.
