Disney+ Hotstar will provide free streaming of the upcoming Asia Cup and 50-over World Cup to all mobile phone customers that access their application. Hotstar, a subsidiary of Walt Disney Company, made the announcement on Friday in an effort to compete with Viacom18 and Reliance-owned JioCinema in the cricket-crazed country.
Hotstar lost the digital streaming rights to the Indian Premier League from 2023 to 2027 to Reliance’s Viacom18 for about $2.9 billion. The popular media venture made the competition free to JioCinema members, surpassing many streaming records during the championship’s 16th season.
Hotstar’s latest move will not only re-establish them as a prominent player in the streaming business, but will also impede competitors such as JioCinema, who are attempting to establish a monopoly in the country. According to a study by research firm CLSA, Disney has also seen a large exodus from their platform, with their subscription base decreasing by roughly 5 million customers after losing the IPL’s streaming rights.
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“Disney+ Hotstar has remained at the forefront of India’s rapidly evolving OTT industry, and the various innovations we have introduced to continue improving the viewer experience have allowed us to delight our audiences throughout the region.” “We believe that making the Asia Cup and the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup available to a wider audience will help us to grow the overall eco-system,” Sajith Sivanandan, CEO of Disney+ Hotstar, told Exchange4 Media.
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Hotstar will captivate fans with two major competitions in 2023
The location of the next Asia Cup has been a source of controversy, but India is slated to host the ODI World Cup later this year. Aside from the appeal of two important cricket events, JioCinema’s decision to start charging for its premium content may provide Hotstar some solace and may help the Disney-owned streaming service regain its user base.
Also Read: ICC Pitch Ratings: All You Need to Know (cricfiles.com)
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