Disney+ Hotstar to Provide Free Mobile Streaming of Asia Cup and ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup
- ByStartupStory | June 10, 2023
In a bid to democratize cricket and expand its accessibility to a wider audience in India, Disney+ Hotstar has made a strategic move inspired by the overwhelming success of JioCinema’s free streaming of IPL 2023. The popular OTT platform has now announced that it will provide free access to live streaming of the Asia Cup and ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup tournaments exclusively for mobile users on Disney+ Hotstar. This decision is expected to replicate the immense popularity and inclusivity witnessed during the IPL, enhancing the reach and appeal of cricket across the country.
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, “We expect a potential negative impact 50 per cent on overall revenue in CY23 of Disney+ Hotstar as it loses JioCinema.”
Following the conclusion of IPL 2023 on JioCinema, a significant migration of users has been observed as the WTC Final commenced on Disney+ Hotstar. JioCinema garnered attention by offering free cricket streaming during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023. Remarkably, this OTT platform set a new world record for concurrent views on a live-streamed event, with an astonishing 320 million viewers tuning in to watch the IPL finale between Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans. It marked the first instance of free streaming for IPL cricket matches, coinciding with JioCinema acquiring the streaming rights.
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