JioHotstar has paid through their nose for cricket as they picked up IPL rights in 2023, at breathtaking amounts, and 2027 looms. They might yet pick up FIFA in the end. (FILE photo)Forty-six days remain until kick-off between Mexico and South Africa, and no Indian broadcaster is publicising that they will show the football World Cup yet. FIFA, which first quoted $100 million for broadcasting rights for two editions (2026 and 2030), have now been forced to drag down the asking price to $35 million.Those in the know of developments in Indian sports broadcasting, delved into the different reasons why they are shying away from the quadrennial showpiece, one of the most-watched sporting events in the world. “There was a huge mismatch between the seller’s (FIFA) asking price, and the advertising revenue that a buyer could generate. FIFA quoted too high a figure,” an industry insider said.This time around, the major factor of huge concern is the fact that of the 104 FIFA WC matches this June-July, only 10% will not take place between midnight and 6am IST. It’s a bad hour anyway, and given India doesn’t feature, 90% of matches are not really attractive for a broadcaster. The World Cup also clashes with the Cricket Women’s T20 World Cup and Commonwealth Games, both in England, taking a few eyeballs away from the 48-team football jamboree, to be played across Mexico, USA and Canada.The broadcast rights for the 2022 edition in Qatar, where Lionel Messi’s Argentina were triumphant, were reportedly bought for Rs 480 crore ($60 million). A giant launch party for their OTT back then, the broadcasters – Jio – couldn’t recover nearly half the costs incurred through advertising revenues. This time, when FIFA came asking for $100 million, it clearly made no business sense to the likes of Sony or Star Sports. Now with a scaled-down 35 million price, the only player left is Jio.Times have changed rapidly since 2022. Even the dollar rate has since jumped from 75 to 91, and the broadcasting market is a near monopoly, which means nearly no competition, and as a result, no desperation to give in to what’s demanded. With the IPL broadcast rights up for renewal in 2027 again, the World Cup is lower down the pecking order.One could contend that the 2014 World Cup in Brazil had similar late-night timings, but the fanfare for the biggest stars was arguably greater then. The popular perception that Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are now washed-up stars, with one World Cup outing too many, and the likes of Kylian Mbappe or Lamine Yamal not quite enjoying the same pull (yet) as the football stars of yesteryears – in India at least – may influence the vaning demand.With 48 teams on show, not many matches will feature Messi or Ronaldo, at any rate.Story continues below this adIt might be an underestimation, but the broadcaster’s figures are quite different from the chatter on social media. Still, the fact that FIFA has been forced to drag down their cursor to $35 million from 100 million is instructive of how the reality of the Indian audience might be dawning on them.JioHotstar has paid through their nose for cricket as they picked up IPL rights in 2023, at breathtaking amounts, and 2027 looms. They might yet pick up FIFA in the end. But for the likes of Sony, the non-cricket numbers are just not adding up.Experts also reckon that India is not very warmed up to subscription-dependent sport, and remains an advertisement-driven entity. A single UFC fight for $50, on pay-per-view, then makes more sense to pick than what broadcasters call ‘absurd rates’ quoted by other sports. The recent Badminton Asia Championships, where Ayush Shetty made the final, was not shown on TV (similar to India’s first Asia final in 1965!) because Badminton Asia quoted a figure that didn’t sound viable to any Indian broadcaster.FIFA too has been forced to come down a peg or many, as the greatest show on earth remains snubbed by Indian broadcasters.Shivani Naik is a senior sports journalist and Assistant Editor at The Indian Express. She is widely considered one of the leading voices in Indian Olympic sports journalism, particularly known for her deep expertise in badminton, wrestling, and basketball. Professional Profile Role: Assistant Editor and Columnist at The Indian Express. Specialization: While she covers a variety of sports, she is the primary authority on badminton for the publication. She also writes extensively about tennis, track and field, wrestling, and gymnastics. Writing Style: Her work is characterized by "technical storytelling"—breaking down the biomechanics, tactics, and psychological grit of athletes. She often provides "long reads" that explore the personal journeys of athletes beyond the podium. Key Topics & Recent Coverage (Late 2025) Shivani Naik’s recent articles (as of December 2025) focus on the evolving landscape of Indian sports as athletes prepare for the 2026 Asian Games and beyond: Indian Badminton's "Hulks": She has recently written about a new generation of Indian shuttlers characterized by power and physicality, such as Ayush Shetty and Sathish Karunakaran, marking a shift from the traditionally finesse-based Indian style. PV Sindhu’s Resurgence: A significant portion of her late-2025 work tracks PV Sindhu’s tactical shifts under new coaching, focusing on her "sparkle" and technical tweaks to break out of career slumps. The "Group of Death": In December 2025, she provided detailed tactical previews for Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty’s campaign in the BWF World Tour Finals. Tactical Deep Dives: She frequently explores technical trends, such as the rise of "backhand deception" in modern badminton and the importance of court drift management in international arenas. Legacy and History: She often revisits the careers of legends like Saina Nehwal and Syed Modi, providing historical context to current Indian successes. Notable Recent Articles BWF World Tour Finals: Satwik-Chirag have it all to do to get through proverbial Group of Death. (Dec 2025) The age of Hulks in Indian badminton is here. (Dec 2025) Treadmill, Yoganidra and building endurance: The themes that defined the resurgence of Gayatri and Treesa. (Dec 2025) Ayush Shetty beats Kodai Naraoka: Will 20-year-old be the headline act in 2026? (Nov 2025) Modern Cinderella tale – featuring An Se-young and a shoe that fits snugly. (Nov 2025) Other Sports Interests Beyond the court, Shivani is a passionate follower of South African cricket, sometimes writing emotional columns about her irrational support for the Proteas, which started because of love for Graeme Smith's dour and doughty Test playing style despite being a left-hander, and sustained over curiosity over their heartbreaking habit of losing ICC knockouts. You can follow her detailed analysis and columns on her official Indian Express profile page. ... Read More © The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:fifa world cup