Early TAM results for IPL 2

TAM has measured TRP of opening matches of IPL 2 and compared it against the TRP from first edition. The TRP has declined substantially. Is it the vindication of analysis in my earlier post Television Viewership? Hardly! It is still early days. Who knows; Aamir Khan's Tata Sky ads are doing the trick? Seriously, TAM results are from only 2 matches. We need more data to arrive at a conclusion. I still think the TRP will decline in next 2-3 years before stabilizing.

Television viewership

IPL 1 was a huge success as measured by its TV ratings. Would IPL 2 be as successful? can it better the record set in 2008?
There have been some discussions about the TV viewership of IPL 2 will be better than its first season. In 2008 IPL sold worldwide broadcasting rights for a USD 1.1b for a period of 10 years. This year the deal was renegotiated and the rights were resold for remaining 9 years for USD 1.63b. The figures suggest that broadcasters are thinking that TV ratings would improve further. Moreover, it is generally thoght that, IPL 2 is being help outside the country so viewers will clamour to TV to catch the action; they do not have any other choice.
Whether the TV rating will improve, deteriorate or remain same is the moot question. In my opinion, the ratings will deterirorate for next 2-3 years before stabilizing. There was a huge curiosity about T20 in early 2008; especially after India became T20 world champions in 2007. There was a novelty aroung the tournanment and people just couldn't get enough of it. The city loyalty was just begining to take shape and there was no definite allegiance. This year the euphoria will diminish and people would stick to watching matches of their own team.
Only time will tell if prognosis and prediction are correct but one thing is for sure the city loyalty will slowly increase which is good for IPL.

Player Exchange - Ashish Nehra and Shikhar Dhawan

There was an exchange of few players before IPL season 2 started; a la European football clubs. The player exchange and transfer gives great opportunity to franchises improve their team strengths. At the same time players get a chance to improve their financial standing.
The news about exchange of Ashish Nehra and Shikhar Dhawan between Mumbai Indian and Delhi Daredevils go me interested. In last season, Daredevils' middle order performed poorly. Daredevils won matches when their top 3, including Shikhar Dhawan, performed and lost when 2 of the top 3 collectively had an off day. It looked, at first sight, a bit strange that Delhi Daredevils will forego Shikhar Dhawan who was a consistent performer especially when no-one else in middle order was performing. It is true that bringing Ashish Nehra will bolster bowling attack but in the last season Daredevils lost matches because of middle order and not because of bowling.
Analysing closely, I think, Delhi Daredevils management made the right choice. During last season middle order was rusty but it had quality batsmen. Now also the team has outstanding batsmen, both Indian and foreign imports. Now only if they can give credence to their name and put a few runs behind their back. It is not for nothing that Delhi Daredevils start as tournament favourites.