North American baseball's top-tier MLB has extended its Indian broadcast rights tie-up with heavyweight pay-TV operator JioStar.
This deal entails JioStar, owned by RISE Worldwide, continuing to act as MLB's official broadcast partner in that significant market.
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It gives them rights during the length of this tie-up to select MLB regular-season games, as well as to marquee events such as the annual MLB All-Star Game, and the post-season MLB playoffs and World Series.
This comes as part of a wider overall collaboration between MLB and RISE Worldwide (which itself is a subsidiary of the Reliance Industries conglomerate, controlled by the Ambani family) that was initially made public in late May.
Jeremiah Yolkut, MLB's senior vice president of global operations and events, commented: "India is home to one of the most vibrant sports cultures in the world, and these partnerships allow us to connect with fans in a meaningful way.
"Suryakumar is one of the most recognized athletes in India, with an ability to connect with millions of fans across the country. Combined with our renewed partnership with JioStar, we are building a powerful foundation to further expand baseball's reach throughout the country."
As part of the league's efforts to increase its brand awareness in India, MLB has also brought in Indian cricketing superstar Suryakumar Yadav (managed exclusively by RISE Worldwide) as a brand ambassador.
In terms of recent MLB commercial activity, late June saw the 30-franchise league extend its partnerships with both the MGM Resorts International global hospitality and entertainment company, and the BetMGM sports betting brand.
These distinct brands will continue as gaming and sports betting partners of the 30-team league, while MGM Resorts also carries on as MLB's "exclusive integrated resort and casino partner."
The 2026 MLB regular season began on March 25 and will come to a close on September 27.
