Mukesh Ambani Comes with A new Plan
In a significant move following the $8.5 billion merger between Disney and Reliance, all live sports events, including the highly popular Indian Premier League (IPL), will now stream exclusively on Disney’s Hotstar app. This decision marks the first major operational change since the merger, which created India’s largest entertainment company. Together, Disney and Reliance now operate 120 TV channels and two streaming platforms—Hotstar and JioCinema.
This strategic shift indicates that Reliance, which holds a majority stake in the joint venture, does not plan to discontinue the Disney platform, though there is still uncertainty about whether Hotstar will be rebranded in the future.
Mukesh Ambani New Plan
The merger, finalized in February, combined both companies’ media assets, but details on how they would integrate were left unclear until now. JioCinema, owned by Reliance, had the rights to stream IPL cricket, the Winter Olympics, and the Indian Super League (ISL) football. Hotstar, on the other hand, has exclusive rights to stream the International Cricket Council (ICC) tournaments, the English Premier League (EPL), and the Pro Kabaddi League.
Sources have indicated that Hotstar’s advanced back-end technology for streaming live content and serving targeted ads played a key role in the decision to centralize all live sports streaming on the platform. The transition is expected to be completed by January, although details regarding the integration of entertainment content from both platforms remain unclear. It has yet to be decided whether the two apps will continue to operate separately or merge into one.
India’s competition regulator approved the merger in August, with the companies committing to fair advertising rates in response to concerns over their control of cricket broadcasting rights.
Hotstar has established itself as a leader in streaming live sports content without glitches, particularly in cricket-crazy India. Last year, it set a record for concurrent viewership, with 59 million people tuning in for the men’s Cricket World Cup finals.
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FAQs
1. What is the Disney-Reliance merger about?
In February 2024, Disney and Reliance agreed to merge their media assets in a $8.5 billion deal, forming India’s largest entertainment company. This combined entity includes 120 TV channels and two streaming platforms, Hotstar and JioCinema.
2. Where can I watch IPL and other live sports?
After the merger, all live sports events, including IPL, will exclusively stream on Disney’s Hotstar app.
3. Will JioCinema still stream IPL?
No, all live sports, including IPL, will move to the Hotstar platform. JioCinema, which previously held the rights to IPL, will no longer stream these events.
4. What rights does Hotstar hold for live sports?
Hotstar holds the rights to stream International Cricket Council (ICC) tournaments, the English Premier League (EPL), and Pro Kabaddi League in India.
