JioStar and Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) today announced a partnership for India’s 2025 and 2026 cricket tours to England, which is a huge step forward for Indian cricket fans and the sports broadcasting industry.
JioStar will exclusively stream all of India’s Test, ODI, and T20 International matches throughout their tours to England on JioHotstar as part of the sharing agreement. For Sony Entertainment Television, SPNI will continue to own the television rights to these events.
According to the deal, JioHotstar will be the only platform to stream live coverage of the much awaited five-match Test series in England, which begins on June 20, 2025. Sony will maintain the linear broadcast rights for the series, which will also be shown on the Sony Sports Network.
This partnership ensures that Indian cricket fans have seamless access across many screens, reinforcing the emerging trend of collaborative innovation in sports content distribution.
In response to the agreement, Sanjog Gupta, CEO of JioStar Sports and Live Experiences, stated:
“This collaboration is a win-win for all stakeholders involved – especially Indian Cricket fans – and serves the broader sporting landscape.
The combination of JioHostar’s deep digital footprint with SPNI’s broadcast network will universalise access to India’s tours of England. As the habitual destination for Cricket viewing, JioHotstar is committed to offering millions of fans – inclusive, intuitive, interactive and immersive viewing experiences. We will continue to leverage the power of our story-telling, consumer-focussed product features and connectivity to unlock infinite possibilities of serving fans on our platforms.”
The series begins on June 20 with the first Test at Headingley, Leeds. Other games include Birmingham on July 2, Lord’s on July 10, Manchester on July 23, and The Oval on July 31. The 2026 white-ball series, which consists of three ODIs and five T20Is, is also included in the deal. It will take place during India’s next return trip of England.
“We are thrilled to bring this fantastic partnership to cricket fans for India’s tour to England! Backed by the power of the Sony TV network and the digital prowess of JioStar – This first of its kind partnership will hope to redefine cricket coverage. Our deep thanks to our partners in ECB for their support,” said Gaurav Banerjee, MD and CEO, Sony Pictures Networks India.
Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) won exclusive India rights to England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) properties from 2023 to 2031 with eight year new deal.
This announcement signifies a new era in Indian sports broadcasting where two of the biggest names in the space will create a synergy and scale to offers unparalleled cricketing experiences to cricket fans across digital and linear platforms.
