Ashish Ranjan
Disney+ Hotstar will broadcast the upcoming Asia Cup and 50-over World Cup for free on their mobile application for all mobile phone users. Hotstar, owned by Walt Disney Co., made the announcement on Friday in an effort to compete with Viacom18 and Reliance-owned JioCinema’s growth in the cricket-crazed nation.
Hotstar lost the digital distribution rights to the Indian Premier League to Reliance’s Viacom18 for approximately $2.9 billion from 2023 to 2027. During the 16th edition of the tournament, the popular media company made the tournament accessible to JioCinema users for free, toppling multiple streaming records.
Hotstar’s most recent move will not only reestablish them as a significant player in the streaming industry, but it will also thwart competitors like JioCinema who are attempting to establish a monopoly in the country. According to a report by research firm CLSA, Disney has also witnessed a mass exodus from their platform, with their subscriber base decreasing by nearly 5 million users after losing the streaming rights to the IPL.
“Disney+Hotstar has remained at the forefront of the swiftly evolving OTT industry in India, and the numerous innovations we’ve introduced to continue enhancing the viewer experience have allowed us to delight our audiences throughout the region. Sajith Sivanandan, the president of Disney+Hotstar, told Exchange4 Media that making the Asia Cup and ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup available to a larger audience will help to expand the company’s ecosystem.
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India is scheduled to host the ODI World Cup later this year, whereas the venue for the impending Asia Cup is uncertain. Hotstar will take solace in the fact that JioCinema has also begun pricing for their premium content, which could assist the Disney-owned streaming platform in regaining its user base.
