THE RECENTLY CONCLUDED SEASON of the TATA IPL was the most-watched ever in the league’s history, host broadcaster JioStar asserted Monday.
IPL 2026 reach crossed 1.2 billion, reflecting a growth of 7% year-on-year, the Reliance-controlled network declared.
Per JioStar, the season saw watch-time touch 870bn minutes. The IPL 2026 final, which culminated in Royal Challengers Bengaluru lifting the trophy for a second consecutive year, delivered a viewership double, becoming the most-watched IPL match ever, reaching over 400 million across screens.
Connected TV continued its rapid ascent, growing by 22%. Digital video views reached 25bn, marking an 8% YoY increase. According to JioStar, growth of digital was particularly fuelled by two audience segments, namely affluent consumers and young viewers, reinforcing the IPL’s ability to attract premium consumers and future-facing audiences at an unparalleled scale. Additionally, regional language watch-time share went up by 33% on digital.
Speaking on the viewership for IPL 2026, Ishan Chatterjee, CEO, JioStar, Sports, said: “TATA IPL 2026 was a season where we set out on our journey of what a truly integrated sports platform should look like. Our endeavour was to make every screen, every interaction, and every moment meaningful, so that fans are not only watching sports on our platform but also interacting with it in ways that are deeply contextual and personal. The season-ending data is a testament to the efforts we made across platforms, with CTV’s communal experience and regional-language presentation becoming unprecedented growth drivers. The final outcome was yet another TATA IPL edition that opened up new possibilities for sponsors, advertisers, distribution partners, and, more importantly, the fans; none of this would have been possible without their faith and the BCCI’s unwavering partnership.”
JioStar’s presentation of the 19th edition of IPL blended innovation with viewing experiences that spoke to the evolving needs and preferences of the fan. From 12 languages, a multi-cam experience, and 30 feeds to the newly introduced “Champions Wali Commentary”, which brought together legends, former champions, and leading voices of the game, fans were able to customise and enhance their viewing experience with a plethora of options.
The integration of OpenAI and Swiggy into the IPL experience this season enabled each viewer to enjoy live sports in a more personal and intuitive way. It also enabled brands to contextually participate in the viewer’s experience. JioStar’s presentation of IPL 2026 was bolstered by 125 new advertisers, compared to last season, even as 22 sponsors partnered with JioHotstar while 16 came on board Star Sports Network.
