This Monday saw India’s JioCinema breaking the global record for the most concurrent views to a live streamed event eclipsing a long-standing milestone set by Disney’s Hotstar.
Another Great Win For Ambani’s
This achievement indicates that the Asian tycoon Mukesh Ambani spares no expense in expanding his digital empire.
It appears that this Indian streaming platform drew over 32 million simultaneous viewers for the finale of the 16th edition of the Indian Premier League cricket tournament, featuring Chennai Super Kings versus Gujarat Titans.
When it comes to Hotstar, the platform drew an impressive 25.3 million simultaneous viewers for a cricket match in July 2019, a record that went unchallenged for several years.
But, later on the platform shifted the IPL streaming service to a paid format.
The platform seems to have grappled to surpass this benchmark in the subsequent years, underscoring the complexities in balancing reach and revenue within the streaming sector.
Viacom18 also seems to be steering its trajectory along a similar path, drawing a page from Hotstar’s earlier strategy.
Strategic Shift For Reliance
In a strategic shift last year, the Indian entertainment giant, whose largest investor is Ambani’s Reliance, emerged victorious in a $3 billion bidding war against Disney, securing the digital rights for the immensely popular IPL for a five-year period until 2027.
Viacom18’s JioCinema app is offering free streaming of the tournament to audiences across South Asia, Under its streaming strategy.
The move could potentially reshape the region’s digital streaming landscape, according to the analysts.
In addition to this, JioCinema has recently rolled out a premium tier.
It already offers free access to its basic content to Jio telecom network subscribers.
Users can also opt for an annual premium plan, as of last month.
This has unlocked access to a broader range of content for the modest price of 999 Indian rupees ($12).
In recent times, Viacom18 has clinched deals with international entertainment powerhouses Warner Bros. and NBCUniversal to make its premium offering a more compelling proposition for potential subscribers.
Disney is still managing to find significant success despite the challenges.
The international giant is broadcasting the game via satellite television in India.
The platform has garnered a tally of 482 million cumulative views throughout the initial 66 matches, as per the data provided by the industry organization, Broadcast Audience Research Council.
The media also reported that the JioCinema’s concurrent views peaked at 33 million.
