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JioHotstar to continue as official broadcaster for T20 World Cup 2026; ICC confirms

Akshita Patel

ICC clears air after JioStar media deal chaos [Source: @HereToTroll72/X.com]ICC clears air after JioStar media deal chaos [Source: @HereToTroll72/X.com]

In a major clarification that puts an end to days of speculation, the ICC and JioStar have confirmed that their massive four-year, $3 billion media rights deal is fully intact. 

Rumours had been swirling that JioStar was considering pulling out of the agreement, but both organisations have now issued strong statements denying any such development. 

ICC-JioStar partnership to complete tenure

The confusion began when reports claimed that JioStar, one of India’s biggest digital and broadcast networks, was planning to walk away from the deal due to financial concerns.

JioStar reportedly felt that the deal was overvalued after suffering from losses during the T20 World Cup 2024 and Champions Trophy 2025. 

Social media buzzed with questions over whether fans would lose access to ICC events starting next year, especially with the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup approaching. 

The rumours gained enough traction that the ICC and JioStar were forced to address them directly. 

In a joint statement released on December 12, both parties made it clear that the partnership of $3 billion is strong and ongoing. 

JioStar said that it is fully committed to honouring its contractual obligations in letter and spirit, adding that the company is focused on bringing uninterrupted, world-class ICC event coverage to millions of Indian viewers.

"The International Cricket Council (ICC) and JioStar have noted recent media reports concerning the status of the ICC’s media rights agreement in India. These reports do not reflect the position of either organisation. The existing agreement between the ICC and JioStar remains fully in force, and JioStar continues as the ICC’s official media rights partner in India. Any suggestion that JioStar has withdrawn from the agreement is incorrect," both parties said in an ICC release.

The ICC echoed this message, stating that recent reports do not reflect the position of either organisation. Officials clarified that the agreement, which runs until 2027, remains fully in force, and any talk of JioStar withdrawing is incorrect and misleading.

All about ICC’s media rights deal with JioStar

ICC sold its broadcasting rights to JioStar for a four‑year cycle from 2024 to 2027. This rights deal is huge, worth roughly USD 3 billion (about ₹2.6 lakh crore). 

That makes it one of the most expensive cricket broadcast deals in the world, especially for a single country’s rights.

Also, India accounts for nearly 80 % of ICC’s revenue, so selling rights here for such a price is a sign of how important the Indian market is to world cricket.

Despite the big price tag, JioStar has reported heavy financial losses from the deal. In its financial filings, it showed provisions for losses from long‑term sports contracts rose from around ₹12,319 crore to ₹25,760 crore in one year, more than double, largely because of the ICC rights commitments.