iWorld
Disney Star to broadcast Australian cricket in India from 2024-25
Mumbai: Disney Star has inked a seven-year deal with Cricket Australia (CA) to broadcast all men’s and women’s international cricket as well as the Big Bash League (BBL) and Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) throughout India & the rest of Asia.
The deal estimated at $250 million will begin during the 2023-24 cycle. Cricket Australia is the national governing body for cricket in Australia.
Earlier, Disney Star held CA’s broadcast rights after which Sony Pictures Networks (SPN) India took over the rights. India is set to play a five-test series in Australia starting December & January (2024-25). It will be the first time India has played a five-test series in Australia since 1991-92. Disney Star will also hold the rights to Australia’s next home Ashes series in the summer of 2025-26.
“Disney Star’s massive audience reach will provide enormous exposure for Australian cricket and CA’s commercial partners in the world’s largest cricket market,” said the statement.
Disney Star also recently retained the TV broadcast rights for the T20 Indian Premier League from 2023-27 for Rs 23,575 crore. “CA’s alignment with the IPL broadcaster will ensure multiple benefits including widespread cross-promotion of the BBL,” it further noted.
“We are delighted to announce this new association with Disney Star from season 2023-24 onwards,” said Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley. “Disney Star is synonymous with the game in India and we look forward to working with them to showcase the outstanding cricket played in Australia every summer.”
“The magnitude of this association is testament to the enduring rivalry and respect that exists between Australian and Indian teams, the excitement and popularity of WBBL and BBL, and the high regard of Australian cricket in India and global markets more broadly,” he added.
“There was significant interest in our rights and we are very grateful to our current rights holder Sony for their partnership which will continue throughout this season.”
“Cricket Australia represents some of the best content that the world of cricket has to offer, be it the standard of cricket played, the popularity of Aussie Cricketers, the rivalries and narratives or the context of playing in front of expressive crowds and tough conditions,” said Disney Star head of sports Sanjog Gupta.
“Disney Star has been delighting millions of Indian fans by showcasing marquee cricket across our linear & digital platforms. Some of the most memorable moments for Indian fans have been produced in Australia and we look forward to elevating many more such moments with our unique brand of story-telling, programming, local activations and tech-enabled experiences in association with Cricket Australia,” he added.
iWorld
JioHotstar enters micro-drama space with 100 shows under Tadka banner
Short-form push targets 300M users as content meets commerce in new format
MUMBAI: JioStar has made a bold play in India’s fast-growing micro-drama space, rolling out over 100 short-form shows under its new Tadka banner on JioHotstar, timed with the massive viewership surge of the Indian Premier League 2026.
The scale of the launch signals clear intent. Rather than testing the waters, the company has dived in headfirst, releasing a wide slate of content on day one. Each show is designed for quick consumption, with episodes running 60 to 90 seconds in a vertical format tailored for mobile-first audiences.
The move comes as India’s micro-drama market, currently valued at around $300 million, is projected to grow tenfold to over $3 billion by 2030. Globally, the format has already proven its mettle, with China’s micro-drama sector recording explosive growth in recent years.
What sets this rollout apart is its built-in monetisation strategy. The shows are free to watch and ad-supported, with brand integrations woven directly into storylines from the outset. It reflects a broader shift where content and commerce are increasingly intertwined, rather than operating in silos.
The timing is equally strategic. With more than 300 million users already tuning in for IPL action, JioHotstar is effectively turning cricket’s biggest stage into a discovery engine for its new format.
The company is not entering an empty arena. Early movers like Kuku TV, MX Player and platforms backed by Zee Entertainment Enterprises have already laid the groundwork, building audiences and validating demand for snackable storytelling.
Now, with scale, distribution and advertiser interest aligning, the big players are stepping in. For JioStar, Tadka may well serve as a proving ground for the next evolution of digital entertainment, where every minute counts and every second sells.
If the bet pays off, India’s next big content wave might just arrive in under 90 seconds.
