Meta – Sanjog Gupta becomes CEO of Sports at JioStar, leading Reliance-Disney’s sports venture to reshape India’s media and cricket landscape.
Sanjog Gupta has officially stepped into his new role as CEO of Sports at JioStar, the ambitious joint venture between Reliance Industries and The Walt Disney Company. This high-profile appointment signals a transformative shift in India’s sports and media landscape.
JioStar, the newly established media powerhouse, aims to consolidate its position across sports broadcasting, digital streaming, and live event production. With Sanjog Gupta now at the helm of its sports division, the joint venture has picked a seasoned strategist and industry leader with deep roots in the cricketing ecosystem and a sharp vision for the future of sports entertainment.
A Career Built on Vision and Impact
Before joining JioStar, Sanjog Gupta served as the Head of Sports at Star & Disney India. During his tenure, he led a monumental shift in how India consumed sports content. Gupta engineered the growth of marquee properties such as the Indian Premier League (IPL), ICC tournaments, Pro Kabaddi League (PKL), and other regional sporting events into national phenomena.
He introduced data-driven storytelling, multi-language commentary, and enhanced fan engagement through interactive viewing experiences. By doing so, he helped Star Sports dominate the Indian sports broadcasting market for over a decade.
His success did not rely on flashy gimmicks but on strategy, innovation, and an intuitive understanding of Indian fans. Gupta consistently connected sports properties with cultural narratives, making matches more than just games—they became events that unified viewers across age, language, and geography.
JioStar’s Strategic Play
The Reliance-Disney merger under the JioStar banner has set the stage for unprecedented synergy. With Sanjog Gupta in charge of the sports division, JioStar has made it clear: it wants to own the future of sports in India and play a pivotal role on the global stage.
Gupta now oversees all sports-related operations at JioStar, including:
- Sports Rights Acquisition: Negotiating for IPL, ICC, FIFA, Olympic, and domestic league broadcasting rights.
- Production & Programming: Managing live event production, studio content, and digital specials.
- Distribution Strategy: Aligning sports content across linear television, JioCinema, and Disney+ Hotstar.
- Fan Engagement: Building immersive experiences using tech innovations like VR/AR, real-time analytics, and social interactivity.
JioStar’s strategy centers on scale and convergence. With Sanjog Gupta’s leadership, the company will unify content creation, broadcasting, and digital interaction under one ambitious vision.
A New Era for Indian Sports Media
India’s sports broadcasting industry stands at a crossroads. Viewership habits continue to evolve with mobile-first consumption and multilingual access now dominating engagement metrics. Sanjog Gupta understands this shift better than most. He pioneered regional-language feeds and interactive formats years before they became industry standards.
At JioStar, he plans to push boundaries even further. Insiders expect Gupta to focus on:
- Expanding regional sports coverage beyond Tier-1 cricket events.
- Deepening grassroots content by spotlighting underrepresented sports like kabaddi, wrestling, and football.
- Integrating eSports and fantasy gaming, tapping into youth-driven markets.
- Leveraging 5G infrastructure to create buffer-free, immersive live sports experiences on mobile.
JioStar owns unmatched digital capabilities through Reliance Jio’s network strength and Disney’s storytelling pedigree. Gupta’s leadership will harness both to deliver compelling, multi-platform content.
Cricket’s Global Leadership Vacuum
The timing of Gupta’s appointment also intersects with global shifts in cricket’s power dynamics. ICC CEO Geoff Allardice stepped down in January 2025, creating a leadership vacuum in the international cricketing ecosystem. Gupta, with years of engagement at the ICC level and experience in managing some of the sport’s biggest properties, now stands in a unique position.
His relationships with key stakeholders in the BCCI, ICC, and global sports bodies could help JioStar influence decisions beyond Indian borders. Observers believe Gupta might drive a more aggressive global playbook for JioStar—perhaps acquiring international streaming rights or building cross-border collaborations in production and distribution.
Industry Leaders React
The announcement of Gupta’s appointment has sparked excitement across the industry. Executives from media, advertising, and sports management firms welcomed the decision.
Nita Ambani, who oversees several Reliance initiatives in sports, called Gupta “a rare blend of creativity, operational excellence, and business intellect.” She said, “His appointment ensures that JioStar’s sports portfolio will not only scale rapidly but also define the gold standard for storytelling and fan experience.”
Disney India Chairperson Rakesh Gupta (not related to Sanjog) echoed the sentiment. “We built a legacy together at Star, but JioStar offers an even bigger canvas. Sanjog has the clarity and passion to reimagine sports in a digital-first India.”
Even cricketing legends like Sunil Gavaskar and Rahul Dravid acknowledged Gupta’s deep respect for the sport. Gavaskar said, “He always treated cricket with reverence but never hesitated to innovate.”
What Comes Next for JioStar Sports
With the upcoming cycle of sports rights renewals—including the IPL post-2027 contract, the ICC broadcast deal after 2028, and the increasing interest in India’s Olympic movement—JioStar must act fast and smart.
Sanjog Gupta already started strategic meetings with department heads, broadcasters, and advertisers. Sources say he outlined a three-year roadmap with four clear pillars:
- Maximize marquee content: Secure IPL and ICC rights long-term.
- Diversify sports offering: Elevate non-cricket leagues like Pro Kabaddi and ISL.
- Invest in technology: Use AI, VR, and real-time data to personalize viewing.
- Monetize fan ecosystems: Integrate commerce, betting (where legal), fantasy sports, and influencer-led engagement.
This roadmap aligns with JioStar’s broader vision: to transform India into a global hub for sports media production, distribution, and innovation.
Closing Thoughts
Sanjog Gupta’s new role as CEO of Sports at JioStar marks a pivotal moment for India’s media and sports industry. He doesn’t just bring experience—he brings vision, credibility, and an unmatched record of delivering results.
With the full backing of Reliance’s tech infrastructure and Disney’s storytelling legacy, Gupta stands ready to shape the future of sports in India. His appointment doesn’t just reflect strategic alignment; it symbolizes the beginning of a new chapter in India’s sports narrative—one where fans come first, content gets smarter, and the game never stops evolving.
