As global cricket prepares for its biggest tournaments, clarity around broadcasting rights has taken centre stage. On Friday, leading media company JioStar confirmed that it remains fully committed to its media rights agreement with the International Cricket Council (ICC), putting an end to recent speculation.
The clarification came after reports claimed that JioStar was planning to step away from its high-value contract, estimated at around USD 3 billion, ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2026. JioStar addressed these claims directly, stating that it intends to honour the agreement in full, both in principle and in practice.
JioStar was formed after the merger of Reliance’s media business with the Indian operations of global entertainment giant Walt Disney. As part of this partnership, the company holds the ICC’s media rights in India and plays a central role in bringing major international cricket events to viewers across the country.
In its statement, JioStar said that it is working closely with the ICC to deliver uninterrupted and high-quality coverage of upcoming ICC tournaments, including the men’s T20 World Cup, one of the most anticipated events in world cricket. It added that preparations are progressing smoothly and that there will be no disruption for viewers, advertisers or industry partners.
The company also highlighted its long-standing relationship with the ICC, noting that both sides remain in regular contact on operational, commercial and strategic matters, with a shared focus on growing the sport.
The ICC echoed these sentiments in a separate statement. The governing body confirmed that the media rights agreement with JioStar remains fully active and that the broadcaster continues as its official partner in India. It stressed that suggestions of a withdrawal do not reflect the position of either party.
Earlier reports had suggested that financial concerns could lead JioStar to exit the final two years of its four-year deal, prompting talk of new bidders for future rights cycles. Both the ICC and JioStar have now firmly denied those claims, reaffirming their commitment to the existing agreement and to cricket fans across India.
