JioStar has acquired the broadcast rights for the 2026 Abu Dhabi T10 across the Indian subcontinent, giving the tournament access to one of cricket’s largest television and streaming audiences as it enters a new phase under Abu Dhabi government stewardship.
The agreement will see all 32 matches broadcast on Star Sports and streamed on JioHotstar for the tournament’s November 7–20 edition.
India and the wider subcontinent already account for the tournament’s largest international audience. JioStar’s television and digital operations collectively reach more than 800 million viewers each week, although that figure represents the company’s broader audience rather than a projection for Abu Dhabi T10.
JioStar adds Abu Dhabi T10 to its cricket portfolio
The broadcast agreement places Abu Dhabi T10 alongside a range of major sporting properties carried by JioStar’s television and streaming platforms.
Its portfolio includes the Indian Premier League, ICC competitions, The Hundred, the English Premier League, Wimbledon and the US Open.
The addition of Abu Dhabi T10 gives JioStar another short-format cricket property, with matches designed to last approximately 90 minutes.
Prashant Khanna, Head – Sports: Rights & Innovation at JioStar, said in an official statement, “T10 has found its audience in India for its mile-a-minute format, and we are excited to bring that same energy to the Abu Dhabi T10. In a market that lives and breathes cricket like no other, JioStar’s unparalleled reach can take the event far and wide while pulling in a whole new set of fans along the way.”
Beyond match coverage, JioStar is expected to introduce additional digital and fan engagement initiatives during the competition.
These include exclusive programming, behind-the-scenes content and interactive digital features intended to give viewers greater access to the tournament.
The broadcast plans also include an emphasis on multilingual coverage and enhanced production to make the coverage more accessible to audiences across the subcontinent.
Broadcast agreement follows Abu Dhabi T10 ownership overhaul
The deal comes during a period of substantial organisational change for Abu Dhabi T10.
In May 2026, Abu Dhabi Cricket & Sports Hub (ADCSH) assumed majority ownership and commercial control of the tournament, placing it under a government-owned and government-managed structure.
The transition has been accompanied by efforts to strengthen the competition’s governance and develop its commercial operations.
In September, Apex Sports Consulting was appointed as Abu Dhabi T10’s global broadcast rights distribution partner, establishing a new arrangement for marketing the tournament’s media rights internationally.
Matt Boucher, Chief Executive Officer of Abu Dhabi Cricket & Sports Hub and CEO of Abu Dhabi T10, said in an official statement, “This partnership represents a special moment in the continued evolution of the Abu Dhabi T10. India has always been our biggest and most passionate market and collaborating with JioStar enables us to connect with an even broader audience through platforms renowned for delivering world-class cricket coverage.”
JioStar’s appointment also follows reports that FanCode’s previously announced three-year streaming agreement, signed in 2024, had been cancelled.
The circumstances surrounding the reported termination have not been publicly disclosed, and the available information does not establish the contractual basis for that development.
Abu Dhabi T10 looks to build on 2025 commercial performance
The tournament’s latest media rights agreement follows a 2025 edition for which organisers reported substantial broadcast and digital exposure.
According to figures released by Abu Dhabi T10, the competition generated more than 527 million social media impressions and USD512 million in broadcast value during 2025.
Those figures are measures of media exposure and estimated broadcast value, rather than confirmed cash revenue received by the tournament.
Since its establishment in 2017, Abu Dhabi T10 has featured 581 players from 26 nationalities. The competition has also reported a combined social media following exceeding 4.8 million and cumulative reach of more than 1.2 billion.
The tournament has been staged in Abu Dhabi since 2019 and is sanctioned by the Emirates Cricket Board, with approval from the ICC.
Its development is supported by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, as part of the emirate’s wider efforts to attract international sporting events.
Boucher said, “The partnership with JioStar is expected to significantly increase audience engagement in India while reinforcing the Abu Dhabi T10’s position as a leading global cricket property. By combining elite international talent with world-class broadcast production, multilingual coverage and enhanced broadcast storytelling, the tournament is poised to reach its largest audience yet while further cementing Abu Dhabi’s reputation as the global home of cricket’s fastest format.”
Six teams to compete in 32 matches at Zayed Cricket Stadium
The 2026 Abu Dhabi T10 will take place at Zayed Cricket Stadium from November 7 to 20, with six teams competing across 32 matches.
The tournament schedule comprises 13 playing days, including six triple-header days and seven double-header days.
The Official Player Draft was held in Abu Dhabi on September 30, with the competition again set to feature international cricketers.
The condensed playing format is a central part of the tournament’s broadcast proposition, allowing multiple matches to be scheduled on the same day and providing broadcasters with a substantial volume of live cricket over a relatively short period.
Under its revised ownership arrangements, Abu Dhabi T10 is seeking to develop a more established commercial and media distribution model while positioning itself as both a sporting competition and an entertainment property.
The JioStar agreement represents an early commercial milestone under Abu Dhabi T10’s revised ownership and rights distribution structure, ahead of the tournament’s return in November.
