Firmly Committed To Prioritise National Interest Over All Other Considerations: JioStar

With the IPL suspended, its broadcast and streaming rights holder JioStar on Friday said the company stands firmly committed to prioritise national interest over all other considerations, while extending support to the government and armed forces. The company said it will work with the BCCI to bring back IPL, which has been suspended for a week because of the deepening military confrontation between India and Pakistan, at an appropriate time. "We, at JioStar, wholeheartedly support the BCCI's decision to suspend IPL 2025 and stand firmly committed to prioritise national interest over all other considerations.

"At this time, we must stand united with our country, support the government and our armed forces, and extend solidarity and support to the civilians affected," the company said in a statement.

It further said, "We will work with the BCCI to bring back the tournament at an appropriate time." JioStar will work closely with all stakeholders to ensure the transition is managed in a seamless manner and everyone involved in the tournament broadcast returns home safely, it added.

Supporting the decision to suspend IPL, Rediffusion Chairman Sandeep Goyal said, "national interest comes first" and it is both "about security and semantics".

"While our soldiers are fighting the enemy on the battlefield, risking their lives, you can't have a stadium full chanting for sixes. The nation's mood is sombre and serious - and it is right everyone closes ranks," he added.

Goyal, however, said, "The broadcaster will surely have a force majeure clause - insurance will cover any losses...For brands, news channels will become the natural choice (to advertise) but for most it will be mostly wait-and-watch." Nuvama Institutional Equity