Mumbai: JioStar has announced that TATA IPL 2026 has emerged as the biggest edition in the tournament’s history, setting new benchmarks across platforms and audience demographics. Cumulative reach across digital and linear television has surpassed 1.06 billion screens — a 7% increase over the previous season — reaffirming the unmatched scale of India’s most-watched sporting property.
The season’s growth has been reflected at the match level as well, with average match reach climbing to 277 million, marking a 6% increase over the previous season. Fans across the country continue to tune in across 20+ feeds and 12 languages, underscoring the tournament’s broad and diverse appeal.
A defining trend this season has been the rapid ascent of Connected TV (CTV), now the fastest-growing platform with a 26% increase in reach and 20% growth in consumption year-on-year. In a striking indicator of the platform’s momentum, last year’s total CTV reach was matched by Game 45 alone — highlighting the accelerating shift toward large-screen digital viewing.
Complementing the live action is JioStar’s “Champions Wali Feed”, featuring cricket legends and analysts including Ravichandran Ashwin, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Virender Sehwag, and Irfan Pathan, offering fans deeper insights, untold stories, and expert commentary alongside the on-field action.
On linear television, reach at a comparable stage of the tournament is already in line with last year and well on track to cross 500 million — reinforcing TATA IPL’s position as the biggest event on Indian television and proving linear TV to be the single largest driver of reach.
The season has also seen a significant expansion in advertiser participation. On digital, 22 sponsors have partnered with JioHotstar, while 16 have come on board the Star Sports Network for linear TV. The advertiser mix spans legacy Indian brands and new-age, technology-led platforms, with as many as 125 new advertisers compared to last season — underlining TATA IPL’s growing relevance as a platform that delivers both national scale and category-wide impact.
Anup Govindan, Head of Sales, JioStar – Sports, said, “TATA IPL 2026 is not just building on last year’s momentum, it is redefining it. The scale we are witnessing today is unprecedented, with over a billion screens already engaged. What stands out is not just the growth in reach, but the depth of engagement across platforms, especially the rapid acceleration of Connected TV. This season is a clear testament to how the biggest sporting property in the country continues to get even bigger, delivering unmatched value for fans and partners alike. As the tournament progresses, we are confident of setting even higher benchmarks and continuing to push the boundaries of what live sports can achieve in India.”
As the race to the playoffs intensifies, TATA IPL 2026 continues to captivate fans with thrilling contests, standout performances, and emerging stars making their mark alongside the league’s biggest icons — keeping excitement levels at an all-time high.
The continued surge in viewership and engagement reaffirms JioStar’s position as the definitive home of sports, as TATA IPL 2026 marches towards becoming the biggest season in the league’s history.
