ITV News
Tata WPL 2026 smashes records on JioStar
Digital and TV audiences soar as Royal Challengers Bengaluru lift the trophy
MUMBAI: The 2026 edition of the Tata WPL has rewritten the record books, emerging as the most-watched season ever across digital and television platforms. Royal Challengers Bengaluru clinched their second title on 5 February, while fans tuned in in unprecedented numbers, proving women’s cricket is no longer just a summer fling for audiences.
Digital consumption skyrocketed with a 17 per cent growth in viewers over the 2025 season, and a staggering 69 per cent jump in content consumed. On Connected TV, reach climbed 37 per cent, while the final doubled its viewership compared with last year’s summit clash between Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals.
Linear TV ratings also hit new highs, up 29 per cent over the previous edition, with viewers clocking a record 34.5 billion minutes across all screens, marking an 11 per cent increase from last year. The showstopper final between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Delhi Capitals became the most-watched women’s T20 game ever, with a 60 per cent rise in consumption. On digital, it doubled its reach, and TV ratings surged by 74 per cent.
JioStar head of sales – sports Anup Govindan said, “Women’s cricket is evolving into a powerhouse of its own. The Tata WPL 2026 has taken this momentum to new heights, showing that fans are not just watching, they are fully invested. With the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup coming up, the sport is set to grow even further.”
Fans have more to look forward to this June as Harmanpreet Kaur’s Women in Blue tour England and Wales chasing India’s first T20 World Cup, following their multi-format series in Australia where they played three T20Is, three ODIs, and one Test.
The WPL has proven that women’s cricket is not just a highlight, it is the headline act.
ITV News
Deepak Bhojwani exits SonyLIV
Advertising executive closes chapter after working on marquee properties from UEFA Champions League to Kaun Banega Crorepati
MUMBAI: Deepak Bhojwani has moved on from SonyLIV, drawing the curtain on an 18-month run that placed him at the centre of some of India’s most powerful television and streaming properties.
Bhojwani served as manager, content partnerships and ad sales at the streaming platform, where he handled more than 45 key accounts and worked closely with agencies to structure advertising deals and brand integrations across major intellectual properties.
The role brought him into the commercial engine room of premium content—from global sporting events such as the UEFA Champions League and major tennis tournaments to flagship Indian entertainment shows including Kaun Banega Crorepati, MasterChef India and Shark Tank India.
During his tenure, Bhojwani also secured key advertisers across marquee events such as the French Open and the Asia Cup, winning the platform’s quarterly “Customer Champion” recognition for exceeding revenue targets.
Before joining SonyLIV, Bhojwani held senior ad-sales and partnership roles across the digital and sports media ecosystem, including stints at Viacom18 Sports, Airtel Digital, Paytm, and OYO. His career spans more than a decade across category building, strategic partnerships, and B2B account growth.
Bhojwani described the stint as a demanding but formative phase that deepened his understanding of the content ecosystem, particularly the fast-evolving non-fiction and sports landscape.
The next destination remains undisclosed. But in an industry where content, commerce and advertising increasingly collide, the next chapter is unlikely to stay unwritten for long.
