Midnight matches, money parked in cricket: Why Indian broadcasters are shying away from FIFA World Cup
Indian Express·4h ago·Neutral
What Happened
No Indian broadcaster has committed to showing the FIFA World Cup amid pricing disputes and unfavorable match timings. FIFA reduced asking price from $100 million to $35 million for 2026-2030 rights. Ninety percent of 104 matches occur between midnight and 6am IST, deterring broadcasters. Competition from cricket's Women's T20 World Cup and Commonwealth Games further impacts viewership prospects.
Key Entities
FIFA World Cup 2026Indian broadcastersFIFAJioWomen's T20 World CupCommonwealth GamesMexicoUSACanada