Jio and Star Unite for Major Broadcasting Shift Ahead of England Tour
With the formal completion of the high-profile merger between Jio and Star, the two sports broadcasting giants have officially begun operating as a unified entity. The first significant signs of this collaboration will be evident next month during England's tour of India for an eight-match white-ball series, marking a new chapter in India’s sports broadcasting landscape.
Cross-promotion of properties between the companies has already started, and from next month, this integration will extend to shared broadcasting across platforms. The England series, a JioCinema property, will be part of this agreement, despite Viacom18 (parent company of JioCinema) securing exclusive media rights from the BCCI last September for a massive Rs 5,963 crore deal covering five years.
Star announced on Monday that the eight matches scheduled between January 22 and February 12 will be broadcast live on Star Sports and Disney+ Hotstar. This doesn't exclude the original platforms, Sports18 and JioCinema, which will also stream and broadcast the games. However, it appears that Star's platforms will be the primary broadcasters for the series. Star Sports confirmed this through an official announcement on its social media channels, signaling a shift in how cricket and other major sports will be consumed by Indian viewers.
Sources within the integrated company suggested that while this series will be mainly broadcast on Star’s platforms, future events, like the Champions Trophy (an ICC property secured by Disney Star), could also be made available on JioCinema and Sports18. This merger brings the promise of greater synergy, with a wider range of sports content being accessible on multiple platforms, creating a seamless experience for fans across different devices.
The deal represents a significant shift in the media rights market, which is expected to continue evolving. Viacom18’s acquisition of IPL and India home games was seen as a challenge to Star’s dominance, but the new merger provides a robust response. It allows Jio and Star to strengthen their combined presence and compete effectively in the increasingly fragmented market.
This merger between Star and Jio was formally completed last month when Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) announced the deal. On November 14, RIL, Viacom18, and The Walt Disney Company confirmed that the merger of Viacom18's media and JioCinema businesses into Star India Private Limited (SIPL) was effective. RIL also announced an investment of Rs 11,500 crore into the JV for its growth. The transaction, valued at INR 70.352 crore (USD 8.5 billion), is controlled by RIL, with ownership stakes split as 16.34% for RIL, 46.82% for Viacom18, and 36.84% for Disney.
Historically, Star Sports has dominated the Indian sports broadcasting landscape, holding exclusive rights for key cricket properties, including India’s home matches, the ICC events (like the World Cup), and the IPL. However, the rise of competitors like Sports18 and JioCinema in recent years forced Star to share the IPL and concede broadcasting rights for India’s home games. Despite this, Star retained control of the ICC rights, which remain a valuable asset.
The merger strengthens the combined entity’s position in India’s media sector, especially in the digital space, where JioCinema has been gaining considerable ground with its user-friendly platform and extensive content offerings. By integrating Star’s traditional broadcasting expertise with Jio’s digital dominance, this unified entity is set to redefine how sports are consumed in India and pave the way for more innovative broadcasting models in the future.
As the world’s largest cricket market continues to evolve, this strategic merger positions Jio and Star to offer a superior, multi-platform viewing experience, ensuring that fans have more ways to watch their favorite sports. Whether it’s through cable TV, satellite, or streaming, fans can look forward to a more integrated and engaging sports entertainment journey.
