JioStar has acquired the exclusive linear and digital broadcasting rights for the men's and women's editions of The Hundred 2026 in India from Sony Pictures Networks India, further strengthening its live sports portfolio. The tournament gets underway on July 21 with a double-header at The Oval and culminates with the finals at Lord's on August 16. Across the season, 68 live matches will be streamed on JioHotstar and televised on the Star Sports Network, extending premium cricket programming through the English summer.
Premium Content, Premium Audiences
The men's competition brings together international stars including Jos Buttler, Jofra Archer, Rashid Khan, Heinrich Klaasen, Phil Salt, Tim David, David Miller and Harry Brook, while the women's tournament features leading Indian names such as Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh, Jemimah Rodrigues, Kiran Navgire, Shweta Sehrawat, Asha Sobhana and Nandani Sharma.
For advertisers, the acquisition creates fresh inventory beyond traditional bilateral cricket and franchise leagues. The Hundred's fast-paced 100-ball format, combined with simultaneous men's and women's competitions, offers brands diversified audience segments and sustained engagement across television and streaming.
The Strategic Play
The acquisition reflects the growing importance of year-round sports programming in India's increasingly competitive streaming landscape. As media companies compete on audience retention rather than seasonal spikes, continuous premium sports rights are becoming a long-term platform strategy instead of isolated content acquisitions.
The Last Word
In India's streaming wars, owning marquee cricket is no longer enough—the winners will be those who control the cricket calendar, not just the biggest tournaments.