Media Rights in India: Valuation and Disputes
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June 30, 2026
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In India, the media and entertainment industry is growing at an average annual rate of 7% and is estimated to be valued at 3.067 billion rupees by 2027. TV (i.e., linear broadcast television) and digital media account for more than 50% of the industry.1 While the size of the TV industry has stagnated, digital media has grown over the years, overtaking India’s TV market in 2024.2
The shift towards digital consumption has changed how media rights are valued, with greater focus on streaming platforms, audience engagement (that is, how actively viewers interact with and respond to content) and distribution across multiple platforms (TV, digital, etc.).
Growth in India’s media and entertainment industry has been accompanied by a significant increase in both transaction volumes and media rights values. The article highlights, among other examples, the sharp growth in royalties collected by music creators and the substantial increase in the value of Indian Premier League broadcasting rights over successive rights cycles. As media rights become increasingly valuable commercial assets, disputes involving broadcasters, distributors, content owners and rights holders have become more common.
The increasing volume and complexity of transactions in the media and entertainment sector and high value of media rights increase the likelihood of disputes over ownership of media rights, territorial restrictions, revenue sharing, breach of exclusivity and content licensing terms. A recent example is the billion-dollar dispute between JioStar (formerly Star India) and Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (“ZEEL”) relating to the telecast rights for the International Cricket Council’s (“ICC”) men’s cricket tournaments from 2024 to 2027.
Drawing on examples from sports broadcasting, film distribution and music rights, the authors examine the key drivers of media rights value and explore issues that may arise when quantifying economic damages in disputes. The article also discusses valuation approaches commonly applied to media rights, including income-based, market-based and cost-based methodologies, and the considerations relevant to assessing losses arising from contractual breaches and infringement claims.
As media rights become increasingly fragmented across platforms, territories and licensing arrangements, valuation considerations are playing a more prominent role in dispute resolution.
This article was first published on GAR on 14 May 2026. The entire article is available at The Asia-Pacific Arbitration Review 2027
Published
June 30, 2026
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