JioStar raises damages claim against Zee to $1.1 billion

Mumbai: JioStar has increased its damages claim against Zee Entertainment Enterprises to $1.097 billion before the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), up from $1.003 billion in July 2025, according to regulatory filings.

The dispute stems from an alliance agreement under which JioStar had agreed to sublicence television broadcasting rights for International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s and Under-19 global events to Zee. The agreement unravelled after the collapse of Zee’s proposed merger with Sony Group Corp’s India media business.

On August 26, 2022, Zee entered into an agreement with JioStar, then Disney Star India, which set out the basis on which JioStar would be willing to grant sublicence rights relating to television broadcasting rights of ICC Men’s and Under-19 global events for 2024-27 on an exclusive basis.


The performance of the agreement was subject to conditions precedent, including submission of financial commitments, provision of bank and corporate guarantees or confirmations and written ICC approval for sublicensing the television broadcasting rights.

Zee said in its latest filing that during the quarter and year ended March 31 and in line with the tribunal’s procedural order, it had filed further pleadings in its defence. JioStar responded subsequent to the year-end, increasing its damages claim to $1.097 billion.

Zee said it was in the process of filing its rejoinder to JioStar’s response and defending the claim.

Last year, Zee said it remained open to all possible avenues, including legal recourse and an out-of-court settlement, in its ongoing dispute with JioStar.

JioStar had previously sent letters through legal counsel alleging breach of the alliance agreement over non-payment of the first instalment of rights fees amounting to $203.56 million, along with bank guarantee commission and deposit interest aggregating to Rs 17 crore, as well as non-fulfilment of financial commitments, including furnishing of corporate guarantees or confirmations.

Zee, however, has maintained that JioStar acted in breach of the alliance agreement and is in default of its terms. The broadcaster said that since JioStar had acted in “repudiatory breach” of the agreement, it terminated the pact on January 8, 2024, and sought a refund of Rs 68.5 crore paid towards bank guarantee commission and interest expense.

JioStar initiated arbitration proceedings before the LCIA on March 14, 2024, initially seeking specific performance of the alliance agreement or, alternatively, compensation for damages that had not been quantified at the time.

Subsequently, on June 20, 2024, JioStar terminated the alliance agreement and opted to seek only damages during the arbitration proceedings.

Under an LCIA procedural order dated July 18, 2024, JioStar filed its statement of case on September 16 that year, seeking a ruling that the alliance agreement had been validly terminated and damages quantified, as of August 31, at $940 million, along with costs, expenses and applicable interest until full payment.

Zee said it filed its statement of defence and counterclaim on December 23, 2024, categorically refuting JioStar’s claims, including damages, and seeking recovery of payments aggregating to $8 million, plus interest.