NEW DELHI: JioHotstar has bagged the exclusive digital streaming rights for the highly anticipated five-Test series between India and England, which kicks off on June 20 in Leeds. The deal was finalized in the last 24 hours after nearly a month of prolonged negotiations between JioStar and Sony Entertainment Network, also known as Culver Max Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.
As per a Cricbuzz report, this landmark agreement allows JioHotstar to stream all five Test matches digitally, while Sony Sports Network will continue to hold and broadcast the television rights. The partnership marks a significant development in India’s sports media landscape, bringing two major players together for cricket’s oldest format.
Sony Retains TV Rights, JioHotstar Gets Digital Streaming
Sony had acquired rights for all England cricket content in India last year through an eight-year deal with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), valid until 2031. In the current arrangement, Sony has sub-licensed the digital rights to JioHotstar, while retaining its exclusive hold over the TV broadcast.
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The ECB reportedly played a key mediating role in making this digital rights deal possible, ensuring wider accessibility for Indian fans without disrupting Sony’s primary television partnership.
Full Schedule of IND vs ENG Test Series 2025
- 1st Test – Leeds, June 20
- 2nd Test – Birmingham, July 2
- 3rd Test – Lord’s, July 10
- 4th Test – Manchester, July 23
- 5th Test – The Oval, July 31
Deal Also Covers India’s 2026 White-Ball Tour of England
This strategic partnership goes beyond just this summer’s red-ball action. As part of the broader agreement, JioHotstar will also have exclusive digital streaming rights for India’s white-ball tour of England in 2026, which includes three One Day Internationals (ODIs) and five T20 Internationals (T20Is).
This ensures that JioHotstar maintains a strong presence in international cricket coverage for Indian audiences in the coming years.
JioHotstar Crosses 200 Million Paid Subscribers
The announcement comes at a high point for JioHotstar, which recently surpassed 200 million paid subscribers. This major milestone makes it the third-largest streaming platform globally, behind only Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
The platform’s rapid growth has been driven by affordable subscription plans and blockbuster streaming events such as the IPL 2025.
Vice Chairman Uday Shankar: “Aim Is to Reach Every Indian Viewer”
Speaking about the platform’s growth, JioStar Vice Chairman Uday Shankar said the company’s mission is to “reach every Indian viewer” and continue expanding its content offerings. The new cricket streaming deal is seen as a direct result of that strategy, especially following the Disney–Reliance media merger.
While official confirmation from Sony and JioStar is still pending, a formal announcement of the partnership is expected later today.
