As the high-stakes India vs. Pakistan T20 World Cup clash approaches in Colombo on February 15, 2026, television advertising rates have reached unprecedented heights. Industry reports confirm that 10-second TV ad slots are now being sold for as much as ₹70 lakh, a figure that solidifies this fixture as the most expensive real estate in Indian broadcasting history.
The surge is driven by massive advertiser demand following the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) dramatic reversal of its earlier decision to boycott the tournament, which has amplified the hype to a “commercial supernova.”
Ad Rate Breakdown: T20 World Cup 2026
Broadcaster JioStar (the merged entity of Star Sports and JioHotstar) is reportedly seeing record bookings across all platforms.
| Platform | Current Ad Rate (per 10 sec) | % Hike over 2024 |
| Linear TV (Last-Minute) | ₹70 Lakh | ~100% |
| Linear TV (Standard) | ₹35–40 Lakh | ~75% |
| Connected TV (CTV) | CPM of ₹1,000 | ~66% |
| Digital (JioHotstar) | ₹15–20 Lakh | ~80% |
Key Commercial Figures:
- Total Match Revenue: This single match is expected to generate between $200 million and $250 million (over ₹2,000 crore) in total commercial value, including tickets and hospitality.
- Broadcaster Target: JioStar is aiming for a tournament-wide ad revenue haul of approximately ₹2,000 crore, with the India-Pakistan clash alone contributing over 10% of that goal.
Major Advertisers & Categories
Despite the “gold and silver” pricing, blue-chip brands across multiple sectors have snapped up every available second of inventory.
- Top Categories: Automobiles, FMCG, Financial Services (Fintech), and Real Estate.
- Leading Brands: Emirates, OpenAI, Birla Opus, Rapido, Amul, Mahindra & Mahindra, Hyundai, and Britannia.
- Recall Value: Advertisers are paying the premium because recall rates for ads aired during India-Pakistan games are historically among the highest in any medium.
Viewership Projections
The 2026 edition has already seen a 59% increase in total consumption compared to 2024, with the opening day (February 7) touching 14.7 billion minutes.
- TV Reach: Expected to exceed 180 million unique viewers for this specific match.
- Concurrent Digital Peak: Industry experts anticipate a peak concurrency of 90–110 million viewers across TV and digital platforms simultaneously during the death overs.
Tourism and Travel Impact
The “Colombo Rush” has extended beyond the TV screen:
- Airfares: Ticket prices from India to Colombo have surged by nearly 65%, even with visa-free access for Indian fans.
- Hotel Rates: In Colombo, room rates have reportedly tripled for the weekend of February 14–15.
