Following the huge success of JioCinema’s free IPL 2023 streaming, Disney+ Hotstar has made the decision to offer free mobile streaming of the Asia Cup and the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup match. According to the OTT platform, all mobile users who have access to Disney+ Hotstar will be able to watch the matches for free.
The company says that this decision aims to democratise the game of cricket and to make it accessible to as many mobile users in India as possible.
As per the official statement by Sajith Sivanandan, Head Disney+ Hotstar, “Disney+ Hotstar has remained at the forefront of the rapidly evolving OTT industry in India and the various innovations we have introduced to continue enhancing the viewer experience has allowed us to delight our audiences across the region. Making the Asia Cup and ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup available to a wider audience, we believe, will help us grow the overall eco-system.”
The company has witnessed a loss in subscribers due to JioCinema streaming IPL 2023 for free. Karan Taurani, Senior Vice President – Research Analyst (Media, Consumer Discretionary & Internet) at Elara Capital earlier told Business Today, “We expect a potential negative impact 50 per cent on overall revenue in CY23 of Disney+ Hotstar as it loses JioCinema.”
Just after the IPL 2023 ended on JioCinema and WTC Final began on Disney+ Hotstar, users have started migrating back to the latter.
JioCinema offered free cricket streaming during the IPL 2023 (Indian Premier League) for the uninitiated. More than 3.2 crore people watched the IPL Final between Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans on the OTT platform, shattering the previous record of most concurrent views to a live streamed event. This was the first time IPL cricket matches were streamed for free and it happened soon after JioCinema got the streaming rights.