There is a very valid reason why star/disney is airing IPL on Star Sports 2, Star Sports First, Star Gold and Star Gold 2. Ofcourse aim is to maximise revenue, this is the last yr of current IPL rights cycle and that too now its is business end of the tournament, not only star/disney does not want to make losses for current cycle incase they do not win next bidding rights but even if they do win rights they would not like to carry forward losses but infact would love to have max revenue / profit whatever possible. We know it well star under disney will not overspend on rights as Star under Fox did
Having IPL or BCCI rights is catch 22 situation, more so in former case... They do give broadcaster great viewership but come at extremely high cost thereby needing tailor made content/scheduling / strategy to recover investment or make profits.... On other side broadcaster can skip these and invest a wide sports portfolio, even managing to generate average profits by mix matching things but this does not give big viewership like India Cricket does. You must have read same in recent articles posted why sony wants to get IPL or BCCI rights back bcoz ad spend for same is almost 80 percent (if i remember right) of all sports