Jiohotstar's Meteoric Rise: Rivals Netflix, IPL Fuels Growth

Jiohotstar has made significant strides in the streaming industry, amassing 300 million subscribers, closely trailing Netflix's 301.63 million. The recent Edition of the Tata Indian Premier League played a pivotal role in driving this growth, as digital viewership surpassed traditional TV numbers, reaching 652 million against TV's 537 million, according to Jiostar's findings.

The merger of Jiocinema and Disney+Hotstar into Jiostar earlier this year, has positioned it to capitalize on the subscription surge. The sport's extensive reach, promoting high viewership, has consequently resulted in unparalleled monetization of the IPL event through advertising and subscriptions, making it the most profitable sporting event in India's history, as noted by Jiostar's CEO for sports, Sanjog Gupta.

Formidable numbers are reflective of how Reliance-backed companies strategically positioned themselves to acquire crucial digital rights for IPL. Growing digital engagement, particularly among Telugu, Kannada, Tamil-speaking audiences, underscores the shift in media consumption habits, despite a slight decline in TV viewership. The league also attracted 425 advertisers, including 270 newcomers, indicating a lucrative advertising platform.

(With inputs from agencies.)