JioStar ends IPL, WPL rights deal in Bangladesh over payment default

JioStar India has terminated its Bangladesh sub-licence agreements with T-Sports' holding company, Excel Lead, for IPL and WPL digital rights due to payment defaults. The rights have reverted to JioStar, which has demanded all outstanding dues.

A media rights dispute has emerged in Bangladesh involving the broadcast and exploitation rights for the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Women's Premier League (WPL). JioStar India Private Limited (JioStar), which holds the underlying rights, has formally terminated its Bangladesh sub-licence agreements "following payment defaults" by Excel Lead IT Solutions FZ-LLC (Excel Lead), holding company of sports broadcaster T-Sports, sources said.

Details of T-Sports Agreement Termination

The agreements, originally executed between Viacom18 Media Private Limited (now JioStar) and Clifford Commodity DMCC and later novated in favour of Excel Lead (T-Sports), "covered the exploitation of Indian Premier League (IPL) and Women's Premier League (WPL) digital media rights" within Bangladesh for the 2023-27 seasons. As per sources, in early January 2026, JioStar formally called upon the counterparty to clear outstanding dues relating to the IPL 2025 and WPL 2025 seasons, which "remained unpaid" despite JioStar providing Excel Lead with access to all relevant matches and enabling Excel Lead (T-Sports) to carry out complete commercial exploitation during the applicable seasons.

The cure period in accordance with the terms of the agreements and demand notices expired without defaults being remedied, the sources said. Consequently, JioStar exercised its termination rights, resulting in the automatic reversion of all licensed rights under the agreements. JioStar has demanded all outstanding dues, along with overdue interest and associated costs from the respective due dates until realisation, the sources said.

Upon termination, Excel Lead (T-Sports) has been formally "directed to immediately cease any broadcast, streaming, promotion, or other exploitation of IPL and WPL rights in Bangladesh" and the relevant rights for these properties in Bangladesh have reverted and reserved with JioStar, and "any continued use would constitute unauthorized exploitation and actionable infringement of JioStar's proprietary media rights". JioStar is also evaluating the initiation of appropriate legal proceedings, including interim and injunctive relief measures to restrain any unauthorized exploitation and to protect the commercial integrity of these high-value cricket properties, the sources said.

Separate Arbitration with Gazi TV Affiliate

In a separate development concerning IPL media rights in Bangladesh, JioStar has also invoked arbitration against Green Bean Sports Marketing, an affiliate entity of Gazi TV Bangladesh, in relation to a sublicensing agreement, the sources said.

The agreement covered the sublicensing of Indian Premier League (IPL) television media rights in Bangladesh for the 2023-27 seasons. As per sources, signals for the IPL 2023 and 2024 seasons were duly provided and transmitted under the agreement. However, subsequent contractual breaches and payment-related issues led JioStar to terminate the agreement in January 2025 in accordance with its contractual provisions, they said. Following the termination and the disputes arising under the agreement, JioStar has issued a notice invoking arbitration under the applicable dispute resolution clause, seeking resolution of the disputes and enforcement of its contractual rights.

JioStar's Stance and Industry Outlook

According to an industry source familiar with the matter, JioStar India remains confident in the judicial process and its ongoing litigation efforts in relation to the dispute. Source indicated that the company is pursuing full recovery of all outstanding dues from the defaulting parties and is unlikely to relent until the amounts are recovered in entirety, including overdue interest and associated litigation costs.

Industry observers noted that the development underscores the increasing enforcement focus around high-value sports media rights in the region, particularly as marquee cricket properties continue to command premium commercial valuations across South Asia. (ANI)

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