JioStar FY26 Results: Revenue Surges to ₹36,248 Crore on IPL 2026 Viewership Boom

JioStar posted a sharp rise in revenue and digital engagement in FY26, crossing ₹36,248 crore in annual revenue while drawing more than 515 million viewers during the opening phase of IPL 2026. The surge, driven by strong sports programming and expanding digital reach, highlights the growing commercial power of cricket broadcasting in India.

The company reported quarterly gross revenue of ₹9,784 crore and a profit after tax of ₹419 crore for the March quarter, underscoring the continued momentum of sports-led media growth.

JioStar FY26 financial results: Revenue, profit and EBITDA explained

JioStar's financial performance in FY26 reflects sustained expansion across both digital and television platforms.

Annual gross revenue stood at ₹36,248 crore for FY26, marking one of the strongest performances since the formation of the joint venture between Reliance's media business and Disney's India operations.

For the March quarter alone, revenue from operations reached ₹8,372 crore, while EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation) stood at ₹827 crore. The company reported an EBITDA margin of 28.1 per cent for the quarter-an indicator of strong operational efficiency.

Across the full financial year, EBITDA reached ₹4,885 crore, maintaining what the company described as industry-leading profitability despite challenging macroeconomic conditions.
IPL 2026 viewership numbers: Digital growth drives new records

The ongoing IPL 2026 season has emerged as a major catalyst behind JioStar's growth. The tournament opened with record engagement levels, reaching over 515 million viewers across linear television and digital platforms during the opening weekend alone.

Digital performance has been particularly strong, with the platform recording a 15 per cent increase in digital reach compared to IPL 2025. Connected TV (CTV) consumption also surged significantly, growing by 27 per cent year-on-year.

These gains reflect shifting audience habits, with viewers increasingly consuming live sports through digital devices rather than traditional television broadcasts.

IPL Digital advertising revenue hits all-time high

One of the most significant financial drivers for JioStar in FY26 has been digital advertising revenue.
Ad income across sports and entertainment content reached record levels, supported by rising CTV adoption and improved monetisation strategies around premium content. Sports programming, particularly cricket, remained the central revenue engine behind this growth.

However, traditional television advertising faced some pressure during the year. Spending cuts from FMCG brands-historically among the biggest TV advertisers-contributed to softer performance in TV entertainment ad revenue.

Despite this, digital-led monetisation helped offset the slowdown in conventional advertising streams.
Record concurrency and monthly user growth

JioStar also strong beyond IPL viewership.

The platform averaged around 500 million monthly active users (MAUs) during the March quarter, indicating sustained demand across sports and entertainment content.

A major highlight came during the Men's T20 Cricket World Cup final, which recorded a peak concurrency of 72.5 million viewers-the highest-ever simultaneous audience recorded globally for a single broadcast property.

Such milestones reinforce the growing dominance of live cricket as one of the most valuable broadcast properties in global sports media.

TV entertainment share remains strong despite market pressures

While digital growth led the charge, JioStar maintained its leadership in traditional television markets as well.

The network reported a TV entertainment viewership share of 34.2 per cent during the quarter, reaching more than 810 million viewers across India.

For FY26, the company's linear TV share rose slightly by 0.8 per cent year-on-year to 34.7 per cent-placing it close to the combined share of its next three competitors.

This balance between television strength and digital expansion has allowed the company to sustain growth across multiple viewing platforms.

Why IPL remains central to sports broadcasting revenue growth

The strong financial performance highlights the IPL's role as the backbone of India's sports media economy. Major tournaments like IPL consistently drive spikes in viewership, subscription revenue and advertising demand.

With sports content forming the core of its programming strategy, JioStar continues to leverage marquee events to attract advertisers and subscribers.

As IPL audiences expand across digital ecosystems, future revenue growth is expected to rely heavily on streaming platforms, targeted advertising and immersive viewing experiences.

What JioStar's FY26 growth signals for sports media

JioStar's FY26 results underline a broader shift in the media landscape-one where digital-first consumption is becoming the dominant force.

With record-breaking IPL viewership, growing digital advertising revenue and strong user engagement metrics, the company's performance reflects the increasing commercial value of live sports content.

If current trends continue, tournaments like the IPL are likely to remain among the most powerful drivers of revenue growth in the Indian media and entertainment industry.