JioHotstar Exit: Key Reasons Behind Leaving ICC India Rights for T20 World Cup

The International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are facing criticism ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup. Until now, JioHotstar has held the digital streaming rights for India’s international matches. However, new reports suggest that the platform has decided to withdraw from its broadcasting agreement with ICC India earlier than expected.

With the T20 World Cup 2026 approaching, ICC is now searching for a new digital partner. According to industry sources, several key factors influenced JioHotstar’s decision to step away from the deal. Jio has been spending nearly ?138 crore per match, which is even higher than the cost of broadcasting an IPL game (around ?114 crore).

Despite this heavy investment, India features in only 28 out of the 179 ICC fixtures, limiting viewership impact. Matches involving other countries generate significantly lower audience engagement and reduced advertising income.

With no major competitors actively bidding, Jio is believed to be planning to renegotiate the prices and reacquire the rights at a more favorable rate.