JioStar, the media rights holder for the Indian Premier League from 2023 to 2027, has secured six sponsors for digital streaming platform JioHotstar and five for Star Sports television broadcast ahead of the IPL 2026 season starting March 28.
JioHotstar Digital Sponsors
Birla Opus has signed on as the co-powered-by sponsor for JioHotstar, while Rapido, AMFI, Amazon, Vimal, and MRF Tyres have come aboard as associate sponsors for digital streaming.
Star Sports TV Sponsors
On the television broadcast front, Star Sports has secured Rapido, AMFI, Vimal, Asian Paints, and Hero MotoCorp as associate sponsors. However, JioStar is yet to finalize a co-powered-by sponsor for the TV broadcast.
Paint Rivalry Intensifies
The paint category is expected to witness intensified competition this IPL season, with Asian Paints as an associate sponsor on television, while Birla Opus holds the co-powered-by position for digital streaming.
This dual presence highlights the importance of the IPL platform for brand visibility in the competitive paints market.
Strategic Brand Positioning
Rapido’s IPL association comes after unveiling a new brand identity, shifting from a bike taxi service to a broader multi-modal mobility platform. The IPL provides high-visibility exposure to amplify this repositioning.
MRF Tyres continues demonstrating strong sports marketing understanding in cricket, having signed Shubman Gill as brand ambassador last year. Hero MotoCorp’s presence fits naturally with IPL’s mass platform reach across urban and rural India, supporting its mobility narrative through premium and electric offerings like VIDA.
AMFI’s association aligns with investor education and mutual fund awareness campaigns, while Amazon’s participation highlights the importance of mass reach amid rising e-commerce competition.
IPL 2026 Season Details
The tournament kicks off on March 28 and culminates with the final on May 31. IPL remains one of India’s biggest annual media and advertising properties, drawing strong viewership and brand spending across television, digital streaming, and sponsorships.
Last year, over 425 brands, including 270 first-time advertisers across 40 categories, partnered with JioStar for IPL 2025, according to the ‘IPL 2025: A Year of Firsts’ report by JioStar and Media Partners Asia.
