Tag: Sanjog Gupta

Ishan Chatterjee steps in as JioStar’s new sports and live experiences boss

MUMBAI: Ishan Chatterjee has been named chief executive – sports and live experiences at JioStar, stepping into the hot seat vacated by Sanjog Gupta, who now helms the International Cricket Council (ICC) as its chief executive officer.

Chatterjee will continue to juggle his responsibilities as chief business officer – sports revenue, SMB & creators, even as he steers JioStar’s live sports ambitions. He joined the media giant in 2024 (then JioCinema), following a 13-year innings at Google, where he was last managing director of YouTube India.

A Wharton and St. Stephen’s College, Delhi alum, Chatterjee has done time at McKinsey & Co and Hindustan Unilever.

With nearly 20 years of skin in the game across media, consulting, and consumer goods, he now takes the pitch at JioStar with a stacked playbook.

July 7, 2025
JioStar top executive Sanjog Gupta named ICC CEO

MUMBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has appointed Sanjog Gupta as its new chief executive officer, marking a bold leadership move at a time when cricket is chasing global expansion and Olympic glory. Gupta, currently CEO – sports & live experiences at JioStar, will take charge on from 7 July becoming the seventh CEO in the ICC’s history.

A media and sports veteran with over two decades of experience, Gupta is widely credited with reshaping India’s sports broadcast landscape. He previously headed Disney Star’s sports business, playing a key role in scaling the IPL, ICC events, and launching leagues such as PKL and ISL. His appointment follows a global recruitment drive that drew over 2,500 applicants from 25 countries.

ICC chairman Jay Shah said, “Sanjog brings extensive experience in sports strategy and commercialisation, which will be invaluable for the ICC. His deep understanding of the global sports as well as M&E landscape combined with his continued curiosity about the cricket fan’s perspective and passion for technology will prove essential in our ambition to grow the game in the coming years. Our goal is to move beyond traditional boundaries and establish cricket as a regular sport in the Olympics, growing its expanse across the world and deepening its roots in its core markets.

We considered several exceptional candidates for this position, but the nominations committee unanimously recommended Sanjog. The ICC board directors look forward to working closely with him, and I would like to welcome him on behalf of everyone at the ICC.”

Gupta’s selection was unanimously recommended by a nominations panel featuring ICC deputy chair Imran Khwaja, ECB chair Richard Thompson, SLC president Shammi Silva, and BCCI honorary secretary Devajit Saikia, before being approved by Shah and ratified by the full ICC board.

Gupta said he was “honoured” to lead cricket at a pivotal moment. “It is a privilege to have this opportunity, especially at a time when cricket is poised for unprecedented growth and enjoys the passionate support of almost 2 billion fans worldwide. These are exciting times for the sport as marquee events grow in stature, commercial avenues widen and opportunities such as the women’s game scale in popularity. Cricket’s inclusion in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games and the rapid acceleration of technology deployment/adoption could act as force-multipliers for the Cricket movement around the world,” he concluded.

Gupta took over as CEO of JioStar Sports in late 2024 following the Viacom18–Disney Star merger. Known for fusing business savvy with creative storytelling, he championed innovations such as multi-language coverage and digital-first formats — especially around women’s sports.

The ICC, under his leadership, will now look to script cricket’s next global chapter.

July 7, 2025
APOS 2025: MPA and JioStar release report on how IPL scored new records

BALI: At the APOS summit in Bali, JioStar dropped its much-anticipated report titled TATA IPL 2025: A Year of Firsts—and it reads like a victory lap for both the broadcaster and the billion-plus fans who tuned in. Produced in partnership with Media Partners Asia (MPA), the report reveals how IPL 2025 turned into a fan-first, tech-powered juggernaut that smashed records, redefined storytelling, and blurred the lines between sport, spectacle, and screen.

JioStar’s digital reach alone crossed 652 million, while Star Sports pulled in 537 million viewers, pushing total reach to a record-shattering 1.19 billion. Women accounted for 47 per cent of TV audiences—marking a seismic shift in cricket’s traditional demographic. The IPL final alone drew 426 million fans, with JioHotstar peaking at 55.2 million concurrent users and soaring to 300 million subscribers.

“TATA IPL 2025 was a season where the lines between sport, storytelling, and shared experiences truly blurred. It wasn’t just about broadcasting matches – it was where creativity, culture and commerce converged, with fan connections at the heart of it all,” said JioStar chief executive of sports and live experiences Sanjog Gupta. “ At JioStar, we set out to make every screen feel personal, every interaction meaningful, and every moment unforgettable. From deep consumer journeys to a rich spectrum of viewing experiences, this was a celebration of fandom in all its forms. The real success of the IPL isn’t measured in numbers, but in the moments that moved millions.”

JioStar delivered 840 billion minutes of cricket watch-time, riding on innovations like MaxView 3.0 (a TikTok-style vertical experience), 360° VR streaming, and voice-assisted search on connected TVs. Over 44 per cent of mobile viewers played along live with the ‘Jeeto Dhan Dhana Dhan’ game, while AI-powered highlights and live expert commentary translations made the sport more accessible than ever.

Regional viewership surged with Telugu up 87 per cent, Tamil up 52 per cent, and Kannada up 65 per cent—showing that cricket’s heart beats strong beyond the metros. Accessibility also hit new highs with Indian Sign Language interpretation and audio descriptive commentary for the visually impaired.

Advertisers swarmed the platform, with over 425 brands onboard—including 270 first-timers across 40 categories. Nielsen-measured ROI, play-along games, and AI-personalised ads helped deliver what marketers crave: measurable impact at scale.

JioStar’s IPL 2025 wasn’t just a tournament—it was a case study in what the future of sports broadcasting could look like: immersive, inclusive, interactive, and insanely watchable.

June 25, 2025
JioStar hits it out of the park as Tata IPL 2025 smashes a billion-viewer milestone

MUMBAI: The 18th season of the Tata IPL was pure box-office cricket, and JioStar—the broadcast juggernaut of Star Sports and JioHotstar—made sure the world was watching. The tournament clocked a jaw-dropping 840 billion minutes of total watch-time and reached an eye-popping one billion viewers, making it the most-watched season in T20 history.

Digital viewing surged 29 per cent year-on-year, with JioHotstar racking up 23.1 billion views and 384.6 billion minutes of watch-time, riding on a massive 49 per cent jump in Connected TV consumption. Meanwhile, Star Sports delivered 456 billion minutes of live broadcast content, pulling in the highest-ever average TV ratings across demos.

The Tata IPL 2025 Final was nothing short of a cricketing supernova:

. 31.7 billion minutes of combined watch-time

. 169 million TV viewers

. 892 million video views on digital

. 55 million peak concurrency on JioHotstar

. A record-smashing 16.74 billion minutes on digital alone

It was also the stuff of legends on the pitch. Royal Challengers Bengaluru finally lifted the trophy, Virat Kohli tasted long-overdue IPL glory, and 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi stunned the world as the youngest centurion in IPL history.

JioStar CEO – Sports and Live Experiences, Sanjog Gupta said, “The incredible viewership numbers are reinforcement of our belief in the commitment to serve fans and the potential for growth of even a scaled property like the Tata IPL.”

“We had a two-pronged approach this season.We wanted to widen the consideration for the tournament experience, by focusing on key viewer cohorts which had a light-touch relationship with IPL while also offering a deep, navigable consumer journey to grow engagement with committed fans. From non-viewers and fringe viewers co-viewing the IPL to deeply immersed fanatics, JioStar offered customized offerings for a wide spectrum of distinct cohorts defined by age, consumption profile and region. From the invite and proposition to the broadcast, we were committed to delivering hyper-personalized experiences that are inclusive, intuitive, interactive, and immersive. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the fans, whosepassion and love for the game inspires us. We would also thank BCCI and our partners, whose support is critical in our endeavor to constantly raise the bar on industry-defining experiences we offer on our platforms,” he added.

Tech-wise, JioStar upped the ante with MaxView 2.0, voice search, 12-language content, Dolby Atmos, VR 360 Live, and Sign Language feeds—making cricket not just watchable, but immersive. The tournament’s “Yahaan Sab Possible Hai” theme rang true despite a mid-season suspension, with fans tuning in in record numbers from the get-go—49.56 billion minutes in just the opening weekend.

With Shubman Gill and ‘Generation Bold’ now gearing up to face Ben Stokes and Bazball in England starting 20 June, JioStar’s cricketing blitz shows no signs of slowing down.

June 19, 2025
IPL 2025 blows the roof off as JioStar makes a smashing start to the season

MUMBAI: What do you get when you mix cricket, chaos, and cutting-edge tech? A weekend that made broadcasting history. As the 18 edition of the Tata IPL exploded onto screens across India, JioStar didn’t just steal the show—it rewrote the playbook. Fans were glued, data broke dance moves, and TVRs soared higher than a Virat Kohli six.

JioStar’s opening weekend went full throttle. Digital and TV viewership blew past all previous records, with a jaw-dropping 4,956 crore minutes of collective watch time. That’s right—India’s cricket-obsessed millions clocked in for what might be the most-watched IPL opening weekend ever. JioHotstar alone racked up 137 crore views, including 3.4 crore peak concurrency and 2,186 crore minutes of binge-worthy action. Someone give those data servers a pat on the back.

Television wasn’t left behind either. The Star Sports Network scored 25.3 crore viewers for the first three matches, according to BARC data. That’s a 22 per cent jump from last year, with average TVR shooting up 39 per cent like a Hardik Pandya bouncer.

JioStar CEO – sports Sanjog Gupta said the silent part out loud, “The record-breaking viewership across digital and TV platforms over the opening weekend of Tata IPL 2025 reaffirms the tournament’s unmatched popularity…” In short, they knew this beast would be big—and it didn’t disappoint.

JioStar CEO – digital Kiran Mani chimed in like a proud parent at a school play, “IPL 2025 is setting a new benchmark for how India engages with live sports and entertainment at an unmatched scale…” Basically, if it’s got a screen, JioStar wants to light it up with cricket.

And advertisers? They’re salivating. Over 30 marquee brands have pitched their tents in JioStar’s prime-time jungle, including Amazon Prime, Google Pay, SBI, Dream11, Phonepe, and Thums Up. Why? Because it’s where the eyeballs—and the wallets—are. Digital ads now come with targeting sharper than a Jasprit Bumrah yorker, personalised formats, and juicy insights.

But wait, there’s more. The new season isn’t just big—it’s loud, flashy, and personal. With 25+ feeds in 12 languages and over 170 experts adding spice, JioStar’s coverage is part circus, part cinema. Fans aren’t just watching—they’re chatting, predicting, partying virtually, and basically turning passive viewing into a digital cricket mosh pit.

JioHotstar’s ‘MaxView’ feature stretches visuals edge-to-edge like an extra-cheese pizza, while the quirky ‘Hangout’ feed brings gen z creators and stand-up comics to the commentary box. And for the younger lot, ‘Motu Patlu Presents Super Funday’ dishes out family-friendly fun, because apparently even cartoons can’t resist the IPL fever.

In a hat-tip to tech-savvy fans, JioStar added a second-screen engagement gimmick: miss a big moment on telly? Just scan a QR code and boom—you’re watching the highlight before the next ball is bowled. Who needs a remote when your phone’s doing all the heavy lifting?

Fresh off its successful run with the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, JioStar is already claiming IPL 2025 will be the “biggest ever”. Infinite possibilities? Sure. But for now, let’s just say they’ve smashed it out of the park.

March 28, 2025
ICC Champions Trophy 2025 smashes viewership records in India

MUMBAI: The ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 has knocked previous cricket viewership records for six, becoming the most-watched multi-nation cricket tournament ever in India, the ICC declared in a press release issued on 21 March. The eight-team competition outpaced the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 by a whopping 23 per cent in TV ratings.

Indians devoured an eye-watering 250 billion minutes of cricket action across platforms during the tournament, with 137 billion minutes consumed on Star Sports and another 110 billion minutes on JioHotstar.

The India-New Zealand final played in Dubai on 9 March drew an extraordinary peak concurrency of 122 million live viewers on television and 61 million on JioHotstar—the highest digital viewership ever recorded for cricket. The match became the second-highest rated ODI in TV history outside of World Cup matches, with 230 million viewers tuning in and 53 billion minutes of watch-time across all platforms.

“The Champions Trophy made an amazing return after eight years and the viewership numbers from India have been overwhelming,” said an over-the-moon ICC chairman Jay Shah. “The incredible figures highlight the mass appeal that cricket has in India and how taking ICC events to audiences in different languages can significantly boost fan engagement.”

The group stage encounter between arch-rivals India and Pakistan—cricket’s equivalent of a bare-knuckle brawl—became one of the most-watched ODI matches in Indian history. The match clocked over 26 billion minutes of watch-time on linear TV, besting the countries’ 2023 World Cup clash by 10.8 per cent.

The Dubai contest on 23 February, which saw India maintain their hex over Pakistan in ICC tournaments thanks to Virat Kohli’s heroics, was watched by a staggering 206 million people on linear TV.

Jio Star chief executive for sports Sanjog Gupta couldn’t resist a bit of corporate chest-thumping: “This accomplishment is a result of the combined strength of the widest, most deeply penetrated multi-platform destination for sports, the fan-focussed story-telling approach of the JioStar ‘mega-casts’ and our superior technological capabilities.”

The extraordinary viewership was bolstered by rights holders JioStar’s comprehensive coverage strategy. Matches were broadcast in English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada on Star Sports and Sports 18 channels.

On digital platforms, the tournament was streamed across a record 16 feeds, including nine languages—English, Hindi, Marathi, Haryanvi, Bengali, Bhojpuri, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada—plus four multi-cam feeds, an Indian Sign Language feed and the Max View feed on JioHotstar.

India’s unbeaten run to the trophy certainly didn’t hurt viewing figures, with fans glued to screens throughout the tournament. The marketing campaign, targeting “differentiated audience segments with distinct persuasions across devices,” appears to have hit the sweet spot of the bat.

For advertisers who paid top rupee for spots during the tournament, the unprecedented viewership must feel like money well spent. For Indian cricket fans, it was simply another opportunity to indulge their national obsession—albeit in greater numbers than ever before.

March 22, 2025
JioHotstar’s divine stream sets records with Mahashivratri spectacle

MUMBAI: Faith met the future as JioHotstar’s Mahashivratri: The Divine Night drew millions into a 15-hour spiritual odyssey, blending tradition with technology on an unprecedented scale. With 3.9 crore views and 21.8 crore minutes of watch time, the live-streamed spectacle turned smartphones into temples, allowing devotees to experience rituals, mythology, music, and meditation from the comfort of their homes.

More than just a broadcast, JioHotstar’s multi-stream format brought viewers into the heart of India’s grandest celebrations. Over 20 live aartis from revered Jyotirlingas, spiritual discourses from Isha Yoga Centre and Art of Living, and soul-stirring performances by Sona Mohapatra and rapper Narci created an immersive, interactive experience. Fans could switch between temple feeds, listen to mythological narratives, or engage in real-time chanting and live Q&A sessions—transforming passive viewing into active participation.

JioStar CEO-sports Sanjog Gupta called it a game-changer in digital storytelling. “JioHotstar is redefining live-streaming by making shared cultural moments more immersive. Mahashivratri: The Divine Night proved that technology can deepen our collective experience of faith. And this is just the beginning.”

Brands, too, found their place in this sacred digital gathering, with JK Super Cement, Country Delight, Nirma Advanced Detergent, and Denver tapping into the high-engagement potential of live-streamed cultural events. With Mahashivratri: The Divine Night, JioHotstar has unlocked a new frontier where tradition meets technology, proving that devotion, like digital experiences, has no boundaries.

March 3, 2025
JioStar launches JioHotstar platform, merging JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar

MUMBAI: It’s a giga merger. Two of India’s leading brands fusing into one.

Can the branding, the logo, and brand ident that emerge be any less?

The brands in question are; Jio and Disney+Hotstar, both very well-known of their own accord. One a leader in providing mobile telephony services which runs a streaming platform called JioCinema; the other a leader in streaming, the best in its class. Both have tremendous recall value and have customers running into hundreds of millions.

A tough ask for any one to find a solution that would do justice when they unite – where the sum of the united two will be greater than the sum of both as individuals .

One simple possibility was calling it JioHotstar. Quite simple right?

And that’s what JioStar, the joint venture formed by the merger of Viacom18 and Star India, decided upon. The birth of JioHotstar will see the demise of both JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar.

It will have a reach of 500 million users and will offer 300,000 hours of content including films and shows from major Hollywood studios including Disney, NBCUniversal Peacock, Warner Bros. Discovery HBO, and Paramount, alongside Indian entertainment across 10 languages.

“At the core of JioHotstar is a powerful vision—to make premium entertainment truly accessible to all Indians,” said Jiostar chief executive digital Kiran Mani. The platform will offer free content to all viewers, with premium subscription plans starting at Rs 149.

Jiostar chief executive entertainment Kevin Vaz emphasised the platform’s commitment to digital-first content, while sports chief executive Sanjog Gupta highlighted its enhanced sports viewing features, including ultra-HD 4K streaming and AI-powered insights. JioHotstar will also have a new segment called Sparks which India’s digital content creators can call their home.

There was some debate in media circles on what the back end of the new service will be. Would it be the JioCinema one or would it be Disney+ Hotstar’s? At the time of writing, folks within JioStar had confirmed to indiantelevision.com that it was indeed Hotstar’s tech stack that was being used to power the JioHotstar app as it proved to be more superior on several fronts. The main ones being: ability to handle high concurrency of users, serve high end, high quality 4K videos, even at low bandwidths, the tech innovations in terms of vertical video and interactivity that it supported. AI-powered insights, real-time stats overlays, multi-angle viewing and range of ‘culture’ and ‘special interest’ feeds — ensuring fans enjoy deeper, more immersive access to the sports they love.

The logo itself is a standout and can have several interpretations. Here’s two: a star doing a Swan Lake like dance; a heavenly body arms open wide ready to embrace one and all. Clearly, for those who have been so used to seeing the Disney Star and existing JioCinema logos, it will take some getting used to. The font for the brandname is sans serif, which fits well with the star burst.

JioHotstar’s new brand identity created and developed by venture3 embodies its vision for boundless entertainment. The Big Bang’ symbolises the dawn of a new era, while the Ripples radiate outward, representing energy, transformation, and innovation. The background colours are tetradic (psychedelic) with bright pinks, mauves , indigos and blues being thrown in for good measure and are eyecatching and hypnotic. Step one of the battle to attract viewers won! And the tagline carries with it a lot of promise: Infinite possibilities begin here! Existing JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar subscribers will be able to transition seamlessly to the new platform.

The service will stream major sporting events including ICC tournaments, IPL, WPL, Premier League and Wimbledon, alongside entertainment content in multiple Indian languages.

February 13, 2025
Disney+ Hotstar to stream Coldplay live in Ahmedabad on Republic Day

MUMBAI: Brace yourselves, Coldplay die-hards and Insta-story enthusiasts alike!

The gods of stadium rock are descending upon Ahmedabad, and this time, you won’t need to sell a kidney—or fight bots online—to snag a ticket. If you’ve been crying your eyes out because your name didn’t make it past the virtual queue, wipe those tears because Disney+ Hotstar has your back.

This Republic Day, as the nation waves its tricolour, you can sway to the cosmic vibes of Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres World Tour right from your couch. Yes, live, straight from Ahmedabad’s grandest stadium to your screen. Fire up the popcorn (and maybe your Hotstar subscription), because this isn’t just a concert; it’s a galaxy of magic, melodies, and Chris Martin’s moves delivered to your doorstep.

So, whether you’re a bona fide Coldplay disciple or just there for “fixing your feed”, 26 January is about to be unforgettable. And who knows? Maybe your live-streamed “Yellow” moment will shine brighter than any stadium seat ever could.

Your ticket to a world-class concert, minus the travel.

Disney+ Hotstar combines its cutting-edge streaming technology with unmatched reach to bring every note, every beat, and every Chris Martin smile right to your screen. And the magic doesn’t stop there. Fans will also enjoy exclusive behind-the-scenes glimpses of the band, creating a truly immersive #ParadiseForAll.

JioStar – sports CEO, Sanjog Gupta shared, “At Disney+ Hotstar, we have revolutionised India’s entertainment and sports consumption by captivating viewers with unparalleled immersive experiences and consistently delivering value to our partners, advertisers and audiences. Our partnership with Coldplay reflects our commitment to bringing iconic cultural experiences to audiences nationwide. By leveraging our advanced technology and unmatched reach, we are breaking the barriers around privileged access to premium entertainment, and making it available for all, fostering a shared celebration across the country.”

But wait, is it Coldplay without a little personal touch? In a heartfelt message, lead singer Chris Martin said, “Namaste to all our friends in India. We’re thrilled to share that on 26 January, our show from Ahmedabad will stream live on Disney+ Hotstar, so you can watch it from anywhere. We’re excited to visit your beautiful country. Sending lots of love!”

The Music of the Spheres World Tour has already earned the title of the highest-grossing rock tour of all time. Known for its fusion of music, sustainability, and creativity, the Ahmedabad leg promises a spectacular celebration of sound and visuals. From sustainability initiatives to ground-breaking production values, the tour is a testament to Coldplay’s enduring legacy.

Why is this a game-changer for brands? Disney+ Hotstar transforms live events into powerful branding opportunities. From pre-show sponsorships to exclusive fan contests and post-concert highlights, brands can connect with millions of engaged viewers while capitalising on Coldplay’s universal appeal.

Presented in partnership with Cisco, this live-stream event proves that digital platforms can go beyond mere streaming—they can create experiences that resonate deeply.

Ready to celebrate Coldplay like never before? Get your streaming set-up ready, grab your friends, and prepare to sing along to hits like Paradise and Fix You. After all, why should Ahmedabad have all the fun?

Mark your calendars: 26 January 2025, Live on Disney+ Hotstar.

Will you tune in to make your Republic Day extra special? Let the countdown begin!

January 17, 2025
Udit Sharma gets back to sports at JioStar

MUMBAI: He left Hotstar as head of ad sales in June 2022 after working there for more than five years. Udit Sharma then joined Sharechat as chief revenue officer for less than two years, and One Impression as chief business officer for around a year.

Now the hardcore sales professional is back with his old colleagues at JioStar as executive vice-president, business head – for premium sports and agency relationships. Announcing his joining the firm on linkedin, Udit said: “’India should not and will not be a one-sports country’ – With this conviction, I am super excited to be joining Ishan Chatterjee, Kiran Mani and Sanjog Gupta to lead with the premium sports business at Jiostar.”

The Singapore (Masters in Engineering in microelectronics from Nanyang Technological University)-educated Udit, completed his MBA from Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth in 2010. After his bachelors in engineering, he was placed at ST Microelectronics as an IC design engineer where he worked for four years and even completed his master’s degree. He was then hired by Samsung Electronics as a global strategist in the chairman’s office in Seoul before being promoted to business development manager -Samsung Pay in 2013.

Returning to India (Gurugram), he had a short stint with Zomato as vice-president global business head -cashless, after which he joined Freecharge where stayed for a year and quit as assistant vice-president – head category management & business development to join Hotstar.

December 24, 2024