iWorld
ICC partners Hotstar for exclusive digital clips in India till 2019
MUMBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has appointed Star India’s Novi Digital Entertainment as the exclusive digital clips licensee in India for all ICC events from 2016-2019.
Novi owns the online video streaming platforms Hotstar and Starsports.com, which in addition to exclusively live streaming ICC events, will also exploit the digital clips as a result of this arrangement.
The four-year deal includes eight ICC Events namely the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2016, ICC World Twenty20 India 2016, ICC Champions Trophy 2017, ICC Women’s World Cup England 2017, ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier Bangladesh 2018, ICC U19 Cricket World Cup New Zealand 2018, ICC Women’s World Twenty20 West Indies 2018 and ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.
ICC general manager – commercial Campbell Jamieson said, “The ICC is delighted to be entering into a four-year relationship with Novi, whose online video streaming platform, Hotstar, is extremely popular and has a proven record in entertainment and sports coverage in India.”
Novi is also the current media rights holder for ICC events from 2016 to 2023.
iWorld
JioStar-backed crackdown busts illegal IPTV network, three arrested
Police seize Rs 20 lakh, expose piracy ring streaming IPL and OTT content
MUMBAI: A coordinated anti-piracy operation backed by JioStar India Private Limited has led to the arrest of three individuals linked to an organised illegal IPTV network streaming premium television and sports content, including matches from the TATA IPL 2026.
The crackdown was carried out by the Cyber Crime Police Firozabad, which uncovered a piracy syndicate operating under the name “BOS IPTV”. The accused were apprehended across Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Rajasthan, signalling the multi-state footprint of the operation.
Investigators found that the network had built a user base of over 900 subscribers, distributing unauthorised streams of copyrighted content through digital platforms, including messaging apps. Authorities also traced structured financial transactions linked to the operation, with payments routed via QR codes, bank accounts and other digital methods.
As part of the enforcement action, law enforcement agencies seized several electronic devices and financial records. Around Rs 20 lakh connected to the accused has been frozen, highlighting the commercial scale of the piracy network.
The case follows an earlier crackdown on a large illegal IPTV operation and marks an expansion of efforts to dismantle connected nodes within the piracy ecosystem. Officials indicated that investigations are ongoing, with more links in the network under scrutiny.
The complaint, supported by JioStar India Private Limited, has been registered under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Information Technology Act and the Copyright Act.
The development underscores growing collaboration between content owners and law enforcement agencies as India intensifies its fight against digital piracy. With high-value properties like the IPL in focus, the message is clear: the stream may be illegal, but the crackdown is very real.
