ICC and JioStar Deny Early End to Media Rights Deal

The International Cricket Council (ICC) and broadcaster JioStar jointly denied reports on Friday that their four-year media rights agreement for events in India would end prematurely, affirming that the partnership remains intact ahead of major tournaments including the 2026 Men's T20 World Cup.

The clarification addressed speculation that surfaced earlier this week, primarily from a report in The Economic Times, which claimed JioStar had informed the ICC of its intent to withdraw from the remaining two years of the deal due to significant financial losses. In a joint statement, the organizations stated: "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 organization. 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 Any suggestion that JioStar has withdrawn from the agreement is incorrect."

JioStar, formed in 2024 through the merger of Reliance Industries' media business and the Indian operations of Walt Disney Company, acquired...