Discover how JioStar broke records in Q1 FY26 with ₹11,222 crore revenue, driven by IPL 2025 and OTT success. Learn about their market impact and future growth.
JioStar, the powerhouse joint venture between Reliance Industries and The Walt Disney Company, posted a historic revenue of ₹11,222 crore for the first quarter of fiscal year 2026, according to the company’s latest earnings statement. This performance marks the highest-ever quarterly revenue for an Indian media company and underscores the sweeping transformation underway in the country’s media and entertainment sector.
The IPL Effect
JioStar’s stellar results were driven chiefly by a blockbuster IPL 2025 season. The company leveraged its broadcasting and streaming rights to the world’s most-watched cricket league, capturing enormous audiences across its TV networks and its flagship streaming platform, JioHotstar (the merged avatar of JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar).
The numbers say it all: during IPL 2025, JioStar drew over 1.19 billion cumulative TV and digital viewers. On digital alone, JioHotstar clocked a record 652 million unique viewers—a 28% jump year-on-year—with a staggering 55.2 million people tuning in simultaneously at the peak of the IPL Final. TV ratings told a similar story, boasting over 514 billion viewing minutes through the season.
OTT and Content Expansion
Beyond cricket, JioStar’s OTT platform cemented its position as the go-to streaming service for Indian audiences. Boasting over 460 million monthly active users during the quarter, JioHotstar rode on the back of not just IPL, but an expanded slate of original series, blockbuster movies, and exclusive international content. The merger of JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar early this year created a content behemoth with reach and depth unmatched in the Indian streaming landscape.
JioStar also kept its traditional TV audiences hooked, with Star Plus maintaining its status as the leading Hindi GEC (General Entertainment Channel) and regional channels like Star Pravah and Asianet retaining dominance in their markets. Strategic expansions into Free-To-Air (FTA) platforms also drew in new eyeballs from across the country.
Revenue Mix and Market Impact
The ₹11,222 crore Q1 revenue was split across subscriptions (driven by premium sports and entertainment packages), advertising (IPL, originals, and TV), and licensing or syndication deals. Notably, advertising revenues surged as brands vied for a share of the massive IPL audience, both on TV and digital.
JioStar now commands roughly 35.5% of the Indian TV entertainment market and stands as the clear leader in digital streaming. The company’s innovative approach to content curation and delivery, coupled with aggressive investment in technology and data analytics, has put rivals on notice—whether they’re traditional broadcasters or global streaming giants.
