Sports
India-NZ final ad rush: JioStar seeks Rs 50 lakh for 10-sec slot
Advertisers scramble for limited inventory as viewership surges
MUMBAI: With India storming into the final against New Zealand, the advertising race has reached a fever pitch. Broadcaster JioStar, the official media rights holder for the ICC tournament, is quoting nearly Rs 50 lakh for a 10-second advertising spot during the title clash, according to media reports.
The steep rate reflects a simple equation of demand and scarcity. Advertising slots for the final are limited, while brands are eager to ride the wave of surging viewership as the tournament reaches its climax.
Media buyers said the broadcaster is commanding a premium as marketers look to tap into the massive audience expected for the high-stakes encounter. For many advertisers, the final represents a rare opportunity to reach millions of viewers in a single moment of sporting drama.
The surge in interest follows record-breaking digital viewership during the semi-final between India and England. Streaming platform JioHotstar logged a peak of 65.2 million concurrent viewers during the match, setting a global record for the highest live-event concurrency on any digital platform.
The match also drew 619 million views on the platform, making it the most streamed T20 International match in history.
With numbers like these, the final is shaping up not just as a cricket spectacle, but also as one of the most coveted advertising stages in Indian sport. For brands hoping to catch viewers between overs, the price of admission has never been higher.
Sports
After Virat Kohli’s exit, One8 Commune Bengaluru shuts down
Outlet near Chinnaswamy closes amid rent row, compliance issues mount
BENGALURU: The One8 Commune outlet near M. Chinnaswamy Stadium has shut down following a court order, bringing a turbulent chapter for the high-profile dining destination to a close.
The immediate trigger was a legal dispute over unpaid dues. The outlet, operated by Trio Hills Hospitality, had reportedly defaulted on rent payments for nearly six months. Including maintenance charges and revenue share commitments, the outstanding amount is said to have crossed Rs 2 crore. A Bengaluru civil court subsequently directed the closure of the premises until all financial obligations are cleared.
The shutdown comes months after Virat Kohli, whose brand name lent the outlet its identity, had already distanced himself from the Bengaluru franchise. According to reports, concerns around repeated compliance-related issues prompted his team to withdraw the association. The removal of the One8 branding is believed to have impacted footfall, further straining the business.
The outlet had also faced regulatory scrutiny over the years. In 2024, authorities booked the establishment for operating beyond the 1:00 am curfew. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike had issued notices over missing fire safety clearances, while an FIR was filed for violating tobacco regulations by not providing a designated smoking zone under applicable laws.
In response to the closure, the brand maintained that the issue stemmed from building-level compliance responsibilities linked to the property owner rather than operational lapses on its part. It also denied that financial default was the primary reason, reiterating that customer safety remained a priority.
For now, the shutters remain down. While a reopening is theoretically possible if disputes are resolved, the absence of Kohli’s brand association makes a return under the One8 banner increasingly unlikely.
