IPL 2025 Final: RCB vs PBKS final shatters digital records with over 62 crore views on JioHotstar
By News Desk Published on June 4, 2025, 07:58 IST
The IPL 2025 final between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings wasn't just an emotional triumph for RCB — it also smashed digital viewership records on JioHotstar.
As per data till the time RCB's celebration began, the final had already crossed 62 crore views on JioHotstar, setting a new benchmark for live sports streaming in India.
The dramatic match, which saw RCB end their 17-year wait for the IPL trophy, drove unprecedented fan engagement. Viewership surged during key moments — including Virat Kohli's emotional reaction after the win — as millions of fans tuned in live.
With RCB's massive fanbase, a thrilling contest, and the historic nature of the occasion, this final became one of the most-watched events in IPL history on digital platforms.
The 62 crore views mark on JioHotstar underlines just how deeply IPL has penetrated India's streaming landscape — with fans embracing digital-first viewing like never before.
News desk at BusinessUpturn.com
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Upturn
4 hours ago
- Business Upturn
From film sets to sports stadiums, Bollywood actors are changing the game
When it comes to ambition, Indian film stars are no strangers to reinvention. And now, a growing number of them are making headlines not for their roles in films, but for their strategic forays into the high-stakes world of professional sport. This isn't about a passing passion or publicity stunt — it's a savvy business decision that's reshaping how India consumes both entertainment and sport. Of course, it helps that today's sports presentation is slicker than ever before. Anchors, presenters, and commentators have evolved into celebrities in their own right. Nikita Anand, who first made her mark as Miss India Universe and an actor, has emerged as the most articulate and celebrated presenter in Indian sports broadcasting. She has been a part of major shows like the Indian Super League on Star Sports and Cup Tak on Star News. Her work consistently garners appreciation on Instagram, where fans praise not just her fluency but also the emotional intelligence she brings to her presentation. 'Presenting sport isn't just about stats and scores,' she says. 'It's about capturing the moment, connecting with the energy, and giving the audience something real to hold on to.' Which is exactly what India's actors-turned-sports-investors are doing. Whether it's a stadium full of fans or a streaming audience at home, they're building experiences. They're building brands. And more than anything, they're betting on the future of Indian sport. This shift has taken centre stage over the past decade. It began, unmistakably, with the Indian Premier League. Cricket has always been more than just a game in India — it's religion, celebration, and business rolled into one. When Shah Rukh Khan picked up ownership of the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2008, alongside Juhi Chawla and Jay Mehta, it wasn't just a glitzy endorsement. It was a business masterstroke. 'Sport is no longer operating in a silo. It's entertainment, it's performance, and it's powerful storytelling. Those familiar with cinema instinctively understand these elements — which is why the connection with sport comes so naturally,' says Nikita. Take Preity Zinta, who made headlines as the co-owner of Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings). Or Shilpa Shetty, whose involvement with Rajasthan Royals gave the team an extra sheen of stardust in the early IPL seasons. Their investment was financial, sure, but equally emotional and promotional — the fans followed, and so did the sponsors. But cricket is only one chapter. The new story is being written in football, kabaddi, and beyond. Abhishek Bachchan jumped into the action with Jaipur Pink Panthers in the Pro Kabaddi League. John Abraham made his move with NorthEast United FC in the Indian Super League, showing a genuine commitment to building football in a region rich in sporting potential. Ranbir Kapoor took co-ownership of Mumbai City FC, which has gone on to make impressive strides on the pitch and off it. 'There's real involvement here — participating in team decisions, engaging with strategy, meeting fans, and promoting sports at the grassroots. It's star power and substance,' Nikita explains. What's emerging is a pattern. Indian actors are no longer waiting for scripts — they're writing their own, and sport is proving to be an exciting new plotline. The shift is being driven by more than just passion. Sport is one of India's fastest-growing industries. With a young population, increasing urbanisation, and rising media consumption, the commercial upside is vast. Ticket sales, merchandise, broadcasting rights, streaming content — it's a complete entertainment ecosystem. 'Understanding audience psychology plays a huge role — knowing how to build loyalty, how to sell a moment, and how to turn emotion into energy. That's what great sport is all about too. The synergy is undeniable,' adds Nikita. From cricket fields to kabaddi courts, from football turf to business boardrooms, these stars are stepping into new arenas. Not to perform, but to participate — to shape what comes next. As Nikita Anand puts it, 'The stage has changed, but the showmanship, the intent and drive remain.' And now, it's game on.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Mitchell Starc goes public with sad news after difficult decision with wife
Mitchell Starc has admitted he's realistic that his career in the prestigious IPL might be over after flying home early from the tournament with wife Alyssa Healy last month. Starc and Healy were among dozens of Aussies who flew home from India when the IPL was suspended in May due to tensions with neighbouring Pakistan. The T20 tournament eventually resumed, but Starc and fellow Aussie Jake Fraser-McGurk chose not to return for the Delhi Capitals. Healy, who was in India supporting her husband, later revealed harrowing details of the situation, which saw a game in Dharamshala abandoned mid-match because of air strikes nearby. Speaking for the first time since deciding not to return to India, Starc said on Friday he's at peace with the fact he might never play in the IPL again. IPL franchises aren't known to react well when players leave the tournament early or withdraw. 'I'm comfortable with my decision and how I felt about the whole situation and how it was handled,' Starc told , revealing he'd expressed concerns about going ahead with the game in Dharamshala before it had to be abandoned. 'That's why I made my decision post-that, and my focus changed to red-ball cricket for about a week prior to coming over here (to Lord's for the World Test Championship final). Time will tell with repercussions or how it looks with guys that didn't return. But I've had my questions and concerns leading into that game, and obviously we saw what happened, which played a part in my decision." Starc also confirmed that he pulled out of the recent Champions Trophy ODI tournament due to concerns he held about playing in Pakistan. Whether IPL franchises will be willing to offer him contracts in the future remains to be seen, but the 35-year-old has shown in the past he doesn't really care for the riches on offer in T20 leagues. Starc has famously missed out on around $10 million throughout his career by prioritising family time with wife Alyssa and keeping his body fresh to play for Australia, rather than playing in the IPL. But he was quick to point out on Friday that he's always given 100 per cent to IPL franchises he's played for. 'These are different circumstances," he said. 'It was more a question of not having enough information leading into making a decision [about] things of that degree. I had a discussion back home then came to a decision, and whatever comes from that I'm comfortable with that and we move forward.' RELATED: Cricket world stunned as rival joins Glenn Maxwell in immediate exit Marnus Labuschagne cops brutal new blow amid calls for Test axing Healy had previously opened up the scary situation that unfolded in Dharamshala, in northern India near the Pakistan border. 'It was a surreal experience," she said on the 'Willow Talk' podcast. "All of a sudden a couple of the light towers went out and we were just sitting there up the top waiting … we're a large group of family and extra support staff. And the next minute the guy who wrangles the group of us and gets us on the bus came up and his face was white. He was like, 'we need to go right now'. 'Then (another) guy came out and his face was white and he grabbed one of the children and said, 'we need to leave right now.' We were like, 'what's going on?' We weren't told anything. We had no idea. 'I said to Mitch, 'what's going on?' He said the town 60km away had just been smacked by some of the missiles so there was a complete blackout in the area. That's why the lights were off because the Dharamshala stadium was like a beacon at that point in time. All of a sudden we're crammed into vans and off we go back to the hotel. There was madness.' Healy said they took a five-and-a-half-hour bus ride and six-hour train trip the following day back to Delhi, which took them uncomfortably close to the Pakistan border. 'There was a lot of anxiety around the Australian group because we didn't have a whole heap of information as to what was going on," she added. "That's probably been the really interesting and probably the scariest part of this whole situation is the misinformation."
Forbes
a day ago
- Forbes
Ulike Hair Removal: A Look At The Brand's Most Advanced IPL Device
This article was created in partnership with Ulike to showcase its Air 10 IPL hair removal device. The Air 10 is designed with cutting-edge features to help you achieve smooth skin that lasts. Swimsuit season is here, and you might be considering ways to get rid of stubborn body hair. As an alternative to razors or at-home waxing kits, which have short-term results, Ulike hair removal devices use intense pulsed light (IPL) technology to target melanin in the hair follicles, putting them into a dormant state to hinder further growth. The brand's most advanced device—the lightweight Ulike Air 10—is built to deliver full-body hair reduction with results in as little as two weeks. Plus, its skin protection and cooling features help ensure safety and comfort with each session. Right now, you can save 26% on your purchase. Here's everything you need to know about the Ulike Air 10 so you can decide if it's right for you (make sure to refer to the brand's hair and skin tone chart to determine if IPL hair removal is a suitable option for you). Flashes: 300,000 | Light type: IPL | Power modes: 4 | FDA-cleared: Yes The Ulike Air 10 has a wide treatment surface and powerful dual lights to visibly reduce hair in just two weeks when you use it every other day. With the device's quick-flashing AutoGlide mode, you can tackle your legs, armpits, arms, bikini line, face and chest in around 10 minutes. Sapphire Ice Cooling technology helps the Air 10 maintain a 65-degree-Fahrenheit contact temperature to minimize burns, pain and irritation with use—even in sensitive regions. Plus, its SkinSensor automatically adapts the intensity of each flash to your skin tone, pausing in areas that are darker (and therefore absorb higher levels of energy) to ensure adequate protection. The Ulike Air 10's four power modes allow you to customize treatment depending on how thick your hair is and which body part you are targeting. Fast mode is ideal for regular maintenance, large areas and quick touch-ups; Normal is best for removing fine-to-normal hair on most body parts; High is meant for removing coarse hair on the arms, legs, chest and back; and the laser-inspired Super Hair Removal (SHR) mode powerfully disrupts growth on the armpits, chest, beard or bikini line. When you use SHR mode for your every-other-day sessions in the first two weeks, you can expect up to a 96% reduction in hair density. IPL offers a range of benefits compared to other hair removal options. While shaving and waxing can cause redness, burns and skin irritation, and only remove hair for a short period of time, IPL is nearly painless for most and delivers long-lasting results. In terms of convenience, laser hair removal usually requires visiting a clinic for professional treatment, but you can use the Ulike Air 10 from the comfort of your home. Plus, it's a far less expensive method than laser hair removal, and you skip the costs of either salon or at-home waxing treatments or shaving supplies as well. The Ulike Air 10 is currently 26% off, so if you shop now, you can save even more. To use the Ulike Air 10, prepare your skin by shaving hairs longer than 2mm. Then pick your mode, place the device against your target area and engage the flashes to begin treatment. The brand recommends using the Air 10 three times a week for the first month followed by biweekly or monthly sessions for touch-ups. Each treatment encourages body hair to grow back thinner, lighter and less often. Flashes: 300,000 | Light type: IPL | Power modes: 3 | FDA-cleared: Yes The Air 3—Ulike's baseline hair removal device—is easy to use and provides noticeable hair reduction in as little as three weeks, making it Forbes Vetted's pick for the best full-body at-home laser hair removal device. Use Soft mode for your face and upper lip, Body mode for your arms and legs, and Power mode for your bikini area and armpits. You can remove hair from your entire body in about 12 minutes using the thumb-free AutoGlide mode. Plus, like the Air 10, the Air 3 is designed with Sapphire Ice Cooling technology to help prevent burns and irritation. Flashes: 300,000 | Light type: IPL | Power modes: 3 | FDA-cleared: Yes While Ulike devices are gender-neutral, the Ulike X features a mode with high energy output to tackle the thick body hair commonly found on men's armpits, face, pubic area, abdomen and more. It has a wide treatment window and dual lights for effective results, cooling technology and sensors to safely adjust the intensity of flashes. The intensity levels are Normal for eliminating fine to medium hair, Fast for quick touch-ups and High for thick, coarse hair. Additional modes include AutoGlide for treating large areas and Manual for precise removal. While Ulike hair removal devices can't permanently stop hair from growing back, regular maintenance sessions help keep the follicles dormant, preventing regrowth over time. For prolonged results, the brand recommends one or two treatments per month (after doing three sessions a week for the first month). You might be able to stop using the device for an extended period; however, it's possible your hair will return in six to 12 weeks, requiring additional follow-up sessions. While laser hair removal works by flashing rays to burn hair follicles, IPL uses mild light beams that induce follicles into a dormant state. While side effects are possible with either approach, those caused by IPL tend to be less severe. Ulike hair removal is also nearly painless for most, due to having a lower intensity than laser and incorporating cooling technology into its devices. IPL also uses a broad spectrum of light that can adjust to different skin types and hair colors; laser hair removal uses an intense, single-focused wavelength that is more likely to cause damage.
