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India vs Pakistan viewership on JioHotstar surpasses T20 World Cup 2024 final
Digital reach hit 163 million, beating the 2024 final; up 56 per cent year on year
MUMBAI: The India–Pakistan group-stage clash at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 has rewritten viewership records, becoming the most-watched ICC T20 match in digital history.
Broadcast and streamed by JioStar on JioHotstar, the match drew a digital reach of 163 million, surpassing even the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 final. Digital reach rose 56 per cent compared with the previous India–Pakistan encounter at the 2024 edition.
On mobile devices, the fixture recorded the highest league-stage reach of any ICC T20 event, clocking 1.2 times the audience of the last India–Pakistan clash. Connected TV viewership surged even more sharply, delivering a reach 2.4 times higher than the same fixture in 2024.
Across platforms, the match generated more than 20 billion minutes of watch time, a 42 per cent jump over the previous edition. India’s emphatic win, which extended its head-to-head record against Pakistan at T20 World Cups to 8–1, helped sustain viewing through the contest.
Linear television also delivered. The broadcast registered a 71 per cent rise in ratings, making it the highest-rated India–Pakistan T20 match since 2021 and underlining the continued pull of appointment viewing for marquee sporting events.
With associate nations adding competitive edge, cumulative digital reach for the tournament has already overtaken that of the entire 2024 edition at the same stage. India, meanwhile, has secured qualification for the Super 8s beginning 21 February, as the defending champions push for a second consecutive T20 title.
JioStar head of sales for sports Anup Govindan, said the scale of engagement reflected the unmatched pull of the India–Pakistan rivalry across platforms. JioStar head of sports content Siddharth Sharma, added that the numbers underscored India’s deep-rooted obsession with the T20 World Cup and the appetite for immersive, multi-format coverage.
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Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square makes $64 billion bid to acquire Universal Music Group
Ackman pitches NYSE relisting plan as UMG board weighs unsolicited offer
The hedge fund has proposed a business combination that values UMG at €30.40 per share, representing a hefty 78 per cent premium to its current trading price. The offer includes €9.4 billion in cash alongside stock in a newly formed entity, with shareholders set to receive €5.05 per share in cash and 0.77 shares in the new company for each UMG share they hold.
Under the proposal, UMG would merge with Pershing Square SPARC Holdings Ltd and re-emerge as a Nevada-based entity listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The move is designed to boost investor visibility and potentially secure inclusion in major indices such as the S&P 500.
Pershing Square Capital Management ceo Bill Ackman argued that while UMG’s operational performance remains strong, its market valuation has lagged due to external factors. “UMG’s stock price has languished due to a combination of issues that are unrelated to the performance of its music business,” Ackman said, pointing to concerns ranging from shareholder overhang to delayed US listing plans.
Ackman also flagged what he sees as untapped potential in UMG’s balance sheet and a lack of clear capital allocation strategy. He added that the market has not fully recognised the value of UMG’s €2.7 billion stake in Spotify, alongside gaps in investor communication.
The proposed transaction would also result in the cancellation of around 17 per cent of UMG’s outstanding shares, while maintaining its investment-grade balance sheet. Pershing Square has said it will fully backstop the equity financing, with debt commitments secured at signing. The deal is targeted for completion by the end of the year.
UMG, however, has struck a measured tone. The company confirmed that its board has received the non-binding proposal and will review it with advisers. It reiterated confidence in its current strategy and leadership under Lucian Grainge, signalling no immediate shift in stance.
The proposal comes at a time when global music companies are navigating evolving investor expectations, streaming economics and capital allocation pressures. For Pershing Square, the bet is clear: sharpen the financial story, relist in the US, and let the music play louder in the markets.
Whether UMG’s board is ready to change the tune remains to be seen, but the spotlight on its valuation just got a lot brighter.
