Disney+ Hotstar Breaks Records with 53 Million Concurrent Viewers during Virat Kohli’s 50th Century

• ByStartupStory     |    November 16, 2023

In a groundbreaking achievement, Disney+ Hotstar has set a new global live streaming viewership record by reaching an astounding 53 million concurrent viewers on November 15. This historic moment occurred during the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 semi-final match, where former Indian captain Virat Kohli marked his 50th century against New Zealand.

This milestone surpassed the previous record of 44 million concurrent viewers, which was established during the India versus South Africa match on November 5. Disney+ Hotstar’s dominance in India’s thriving streaming landscape has been evident in its consistent record-breaking streak over the past month.

The success can be attributed to strategic moves, including offering free ad-supported streaming of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup and the recently concluded Asia Cup to mobile users in India. This initiative aimed to expand the overall ecosystem, as stated by Sajith Sivanandan, the head of Disney+ Hotstar, when the move was announced in June 2023.

Moreover, Disney+ Hotstar continues to strengthen its connection with sports enthusiasts by declaring that the upcoming tenth season of the Pro Kabaddi League will be available for free streaming to all mobile users across India from December 2, 2023. Kabaddi, being the second most-watched sport in the country after cricket, according to the company, reflects a strategic effort to engage a broad audience.

Sivanandan emphasized the evolving landscape of sports viewing, stating, “The popularity of Pro Kabaddi League spans across age groups, and by making it available to all our audience on Disney+ Hotstar, our aim is to make Kabaddi accessible to all of India and foster a stronger sense of engagement amongst the fans.”

These initiatives come at a critical juncture for Disney as it considers options for its India business, inherited through the $71.3 billion acquisition of 21st Century Fox in 2019. Disney CEO Bob Iger acknowledged the challenges faced by Disney+ Hotstar, indicating a need to strengthen their position in the Indian market.

In financial terms, Novi Digital Entertainment, Disney’s subsidiary owning Disney+ Hotstar, reported a 118 percent jump in net loss to Rs 748 crore for the financial year ended March 31, 2023. The revenue increased by 35 percent to Rs 4,341 crore for the same period. The struggle to contain subscriber losses has been evident, with a decline from a peak of 61.3 million in October last year to 37.6 million for the quarter ended September 2023.

The subscriber drop is primarily attributed to losing access to key content offerings, such as IPL streaming rights and premium HBO content, now held by Viacom18’s JioCinema. During an earnings conference call in August 2023, Kevin Lansberry, Disney’s interim CFO at the time, explained the subscriber decline as a result of a product adjustment from being IPL-centered to a more balanced offering with diverse sports and entertainment content.

In conclusion, Disney+ Hotstar’s recent milestones underscore its efforts to stay ahead in the competitive streaming market while facing challenges in retaining subscribers and navigating changes in the content landscape.

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