From 50 million to ...: How IPL helped JioHotstar reach almost close to Netflix's global subscribers
JioHotstar
has witnessed a 'remarkable' surge in its subscriber base, now exceeding 280 million, a growth largely attributed to the immense popularity of the Indian Premier League (IPL), a report has said, highlighting that this figure brings JioHotstar close to the global subscriber count of streaming giant
Netflix
, which stands at approximately 300 million.
According to a Financial Times report, subscriptions to JioHotstar jumped from 50 million in March to 280 million this month, marking a substantial increase in a short period. JioHostar -- which was formed six months ago from the merger of
JioCinema
with Disney+ Hotstar in India -- currently holds both the digital and television rights for the IPL tournament.
Paid subscription may have driven subscriber count
The report says that the transition to a paid model for IPL matches on JioHotstar, following a period where they were freely accessible on Reliance's Jio platforms, appears to have driven this significant
subscriber growth
for India's largest streaming platform.
"It has been the biggest season of IPL till now. Both in terms of viewership as well as monetisation," Sanjog Gupta, JioStar's chief executive for sports, was quoted as saying.
Gupta noted that since the tournament commenced on March 22, around 450 million people have watched cricket on TV, with a similar number engaging on digital platforms, despite some audience overlap. Viewer data in India is not publicly disclosed.
Gupta emphasized that the IPL has "pretty much delivered on all four vectors of growth [for JioStar]," referencing subscription and advertising revenues across both digital and television platforms.
JioHotstar betting big on vast content library to retain subscribers
The network hopes to retain these viewers after the IPL concludes on June 3, by offering a vast content library that includes Hollywood movies and shows from Paramount, Pixar, and HBO, for which it holds exclusive rights.
"While IPL acts as almost the gravitational pull for the consumer, the idea is once you bring the consumer through the gate, you ensure that the consumer has widened access to this vast content library, enabled by a seamless experience on the platform," Gupta stated.
IPL 2025's Robo-Dog Cheerleader Champak: The Cutest Tech Upgrade in Cricket!
AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
38 minutes ago
- Time of India
Summer 2025 footfall at Kol restos and bars beats pre-pandemic high
1 2 Kolkata: Footfall across Kolkata restaurants is the highest this summer since the pandemic, with most eateries across south and central Kolkata seeing a full house during lunch and dinner. Online orders saw a major spike over the last fortnight. The rise in footfall was around 20% compared to last summer, according to Hotel and Restaurants' Association of Eastern India (HRAEI) president Sudesh Poddar. While the summer vacation is on, the weather, though warm, was better than last summer when the city was gripped by a heatwave. These factors may have contributed to a footfall spurt, felt Poddar. "While footfall rise every summer, this year it was around 20% more compared to last May-June. Unlike 2024, it rained more often this time, making it a comfortable to dine out. It also helped that the IPL playoffs were played till this week. It always attracts the young who love to couple cricket with eating out," said Poddar. Oudh 1590 and Chapter 2 have seen steady growth in footfall since the beginning of May. "It has been rising steadily, and it helped that we had our biryani festival on throughout last month. Summers are usually good for sales, but this year it was even better, possibly due to the improved weather. Despite the occasional scorching period, people have been gorging on biryani and other north Indian fare. At Chapter 2, sales have been moderately higher than last summer's as well," said Shiladitya Chaudhury, co-founder and owner of Oudh and Chapter 2. Park Street has seen a larger crowd during both lunch and dining hours since mid-May, said restaurateurs. Peter Hu has seen a waiting crowd every evening over the last month. "This has been the best summer since the pandemic, and the footfall was 15% higher. We've had people waiting to get in even on weekdays. One reason could be the weather, which has been more bearable than the last two summers. Secondly, along with the younger generation, the elders, too, are now more into eating out. Online orders, too, have increased," said Siddharth Kothari of Peter Hu. At Mocambo and Peter Cat, waiting crowds have gotten progressively bigger over the last fortnight. "We had full attendance throughout the day since the beginning of May. It has really been a good summer so far, easily the most crowded since the pandemic across all our outlets, including Peter Cat," said Mocambo and Peter Cat owner Nitin Kothari. "We had a near-full attendance even during weekdays since last Sunday. Food sales have jumped appreciably. Liquor sales have dipped since we have more families coming in now. But that has been more than made up by the higher footfall and larger food orders," said Pratap Daryanani, owner of Oasis on Park Street. Footfall has been driven by a bigger family crowd, said Poddar, who owns Songhai, MS Bar & Lounge, and Manthan.
Mint
40 minutes ago
- Mint
Best stock recommendations today: MarketSmith India's top picks for 9 June
On Friday, the Nifty 50 surged 1.02% to close above 25,000, driven by the RBI's unexpected 50-basis-point repo rate cut and a 100bps CRR reduction, aimed at boosting liquidity and economic growth. This aggressive monetary easing lifted investor sentiment and triggered strong buying, especially in rate-sensitive sectors like realty, financials, autos, and metals. The RBI's shift to a neutral stance further supported the rally, resulting in broad-based market participation. Two stock recommendations for today, 9 June, by MarketSmith India: KEI Industries Ltd (current price: 3747.8) Why it's recommended: Strong market position, diversified revenue streams, strong product portfolio, and innovation Key metrics: P/E: 49.96 | 52-week high: ₹5,039.70 | Volume: ₹158.97 crore Technical analysis: Reclaimed 200 EMA Risk factors: Raw material price fluctuations, competitive pressure Buy at: ₹3,747.8 Target price: ₹4,290 in three months Stop loss: ₹3,490 Also Read: United Spirits is on a high after RCB's IPL win, JP Morgan upgrade and UK FTA. Can it keep buzzing? Bajaj Housing Finance (current price: ₹125.66) Why it's recommended: Strong market position, strong financial performance Key metrics: P/E: 174.44, 52-week high: ₹ 188.50, volume: ₹ 262.89 crore Technical analysis: Reclaimed 100-EMA Risk factors: Interest rate risk, regulatory risks, macro-economic risks Buy at: ₹125.66 Target price: ₹150 in three months Stop loss: ₹115 Nifty 50: How the benchmark index performed on 6 June On Friday, the Nifty 50 opened on a subdued note and witnessed volatility during the initial hour of trade. However, sentiment improved significantly following the RBI policy announcement, propelling the index past 25,000 intraday. The day's price action resulted in the formation of a strong bullish candlestick on the daily chart, with the index closing near the session's high. All major sectoral and broader market indices ended in positive territory. Notably, Nifty Realty, Metal, Banking & Financials, and Auto sectors outperformed, while Pharma, Energy, and FMCG lagged. The broader market participation remained robust, with the advance-decline ratio improving to 4:3, reflecting a healthy market breadth. From a technical perspective, the Nifty 50 is now trading above all its key moving averages across multiple timeframes, indicating underlying strength. The relative strength index (RSI) has turned upward and is currently hovering near 60, reflecting improving momentum. However, the MACD continues to display a negative crossover and has yet to confirm a sustained bullish trend. On a positional basis, a golden crossover, where the 50-DMA crosses above the 200-DMA, has occurred on the daily chart, signalling a potential resurgence of medium- to long-term bullish momentum. Also Read: Can this microfinance lender lead the industry's turnaround in FY26? As per O'Neil's methodology of market direction, the market status has been downgraded to "Uptrend Under Pressure" from 'Confirmed Uptrend" on 4 June. The Nifty 50 ended the session around 25,000 with a positive bias. However, for the index to exhibit further bullish strength, a sustained breakout and close above 25,200 is essential. Post-RBI policy announcement, overall market sentiment has turned positive, thereby increasing the likelihood of a near-term breakout. A decisive move above 25,200 could accelerate the upward momentum, potentially driving the index toward 25,700–25,800 in the coming weeks. On the downside, immediate support is placed near 24,500. How did the Nifty Bank perform yesterday? On Friday, the Nifty Bank decisively broke above 56,000, following the RBI policy announcement, after consolidating for five consecutive weeks. The index closed near the day's high in uncharted territory, registering a gain of 1.47% and forming a strong bullish candlestick on the daily chart. Additionally, a breakout above an ascending triangle pattern on the daily timeframe was observed, supported by robust price and volume action. On a weekly basis, the index advanced approximately 1.48% and formed a bullish candlestick, reinforcing the positive momentum. From a technical standpoint, the index is now trading above all its key moving averages across multiple timeframes, supported by strong positive momentum. The daily and weekly relative strength index (RSI) are trending upward, reflecting strengthening buying interest. Notably, the MACD has formed a positive crossover on the weekly chart, reinforcing the bullish trend. However, on the daily timeframe, the MACD continues to exhibit a negative crossover and would need to turn positive to confirm short-term strength. Additionally, the ADX/DMI indicator on the weekly chart also signals a firm bullish trend, further validating the upward bias. According to O'Neil's methodology market direction, the Nifty Bank has recently transitioned from an 'Uptrend Under Pressure" to a more constructive phase of a 'Confirmed Uptrend," highlighting renewed strength and resilience in the broader trend. Also Read: Russia-Ukraine war escalation: Impact on the Indian stock market The index is currently trading with a positive bias across multiple timeframes and is now navigating uncharted territory. As long as it remains above 56,000, the overall outlook remains positive. The recent breakout indicates potential for the index to advance toward 58,500–59,000 in the near term. Conversely, a breach below 56,000 could lead to a phase of sideways consolidation. Notably, the RBI's recent policy measures have had a significant positive impact on the sector, and it is likely to remain buoyant in the coming weeks. MarketSmith India is a stock research platform and advisory service focused on the Indian stock market. It offers tools and resources to help investors make informed decisions based on the CAN SLIM methodology, developed by legendary investor William J. O'Neil. You can access a 10-day free trial by registering on its website. Trade name: William O'Neil India Pvt. Ltd. Sebi Registration No.: INH000015543 Disclaimer: The views and recommendations given in this article are those of individual analysts. These do not represent the views of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions.
Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
More Noise, Less Nudge: IPL ads fail to stand out
Mumbai: Despite record-breaking viewership and soaring ad spends, most ads aired during IPL 2025 may have already faded from public memory. While the on-field cricket remains fiercely competitive, advertising creativity appears to be on autopilot, raising serious questions about return on investment and long-term brand impact. This year, the IPL began with what many consider one of the best—and probably the costliest—ads of the season. Dream11's campaign featured Aamir Khan, Ranbir Kapoor and a galaxy of celebrities and cricket stars, setting the tone for the tournament and its rivalries. It was witty, memorable and widely shared. But after that strong start, most ads barely made a mark. Take the much-discussed spot featuring Rohit Sharma talking about financial planning, or MS Dhoni promoting a tile adhesive. Both had star power and brand fit, yet the creative left viewers more puzzled than persuaded. Data from TAM Media Research reveals that more than 105 advertisers and 190 brands participated across the first 70 matches of IPL 2025, with a 27% jump in advertiser count and a 28% rise in brand count over last year. The overall ad volume on TV grew marginally, just 0.45% higher than IPL 2024. But the creative bar hasn't risen alongside. Also read: IPL giant GMR tackles rugby with India League, aims to build Olympic-aligned IP 'While a few brave brands are pushing creative boundaries, most of the advertising seems to be working in a safe, high-frequency mode," said Anshu Yardi, vice-president–business partnerships & communication at TAM Media Research. 'The opportunity is still massive, but innovation requires risk, and during IPL many brands may want to play safe." Ad fatigue at a time of infinite content The issue might extend beyond just ineffective ads; it could reflect a deeper cultural shift in how we define 'good" advertising itself. Abhishek Jain, business director at creative agency Virtue India, believes the competition for consumer attention has moved far beyond traditional formats. 'Ads 'seem' boring now compared to the content—quick, snackable pieces of sponsored entertainment —they are competing with," he said. 'We are now finding relatability in culture and culture in content. Traditional ads just don't have that same shareability or zing." The IPL skew: Not made for storytelling Sandeep Goyal, media veteran and chairman of Rediffusion, is blunt in his assessment. 'The mediocrity of IPL actually reflects the slipping standards of creativity overall. But specific to the IPL, for years now, the secondages have been dominated by the money power of VC-funded brands. Regular brands in FMCG just can't afford the IPL rates. So that skew is the starting point," he said. In the context of advertising, 'secondages" refers to the total number of seconds of advertising airtime. Also read: Will CCI's crackdown reshape the ad industry? Media veteran Raj Nayak explains 'The brands that spend—like a lot in BFSI—are really not seasoned campaigners. They are out to buy noticeability and brand recall, not build emotive narratives that endear them to consumers. Most ads are focused on product superiority, much like 'explainer' videos." He also takes aim at the overuse of celebrities. 'The less said about celebrities, the better. It is now a formula. Nothing more. No attempt to differentiate. No attempt to craft a story that engages. Most celebrities are high on recognition but low on emulatability. A Rohit Sharma dispensing advice on investing! MSD (Dhoni) talking of paints. Consumers just shrug off most such ads. They may remember the brand and even the celebrity, but do not necessarily buy as per the celebrity's endorsement because the pitch carries no real conviction." Creativity costs, and time is a luxury A chief marketing officer (CMO) of a major consumer brand, speaking on condition of anonymity, admitted that IPL advertising may never become a true creative showcase like the Super Bowl. 'You don't get everything—budgets are tight, and IPL runs every day for nearly two months. Dream11, Swiggy, ZooZoos from Vodafone—they've created brilliant ads in the past. But those are rare exceptions," the executive said. 'Most CMOs simply don't get the time or investment needed to make IPL campaigns creatively rich. The result is rinse-repeat formats, celebrity plug-ins, and safe messaging." Marquee moment or media burst? Another senior executive from a brand that advertised during IPL 2025 wondered whether advertisers truly understand what a marquee property should be. 'If you're treating IPL as a launch pad, that's fine. But how much can you really build when you're racing against time and media costs just to deliver a message?" According to them, IPL's biggest strength—aggregation of eyeballs—is also its biggest creative limitation. 'If 60-65 crore people are watching, that's huge. But then you're up against frequency fatigue, creative limits and the ticking clock. It's hard to craft something with depth when you're just trying to be everywhere, fast." Also read: Rooter picks up exclusive digital rights for esports tournament BGMI Masters Series The executive added, 'Are people even anticipating IPL ads the way they used to? Are we just spending for attention, or are we creating anything truly memorable? The search for the elusive advertising season continues… is IPL the Nirvana?" So, can the IPL ever be India's Super Bowl? Everyone wants to recreate the cultural buzz and longevity that Super Bowl ads in the US command. But experts agree that for IPL to reach that level, Indian advertisers need to move beyond formula, spend more time on narrative and treat the IPL window not just as a media buy, but as a storytelling opportunity. 'Campaigns are not being created for the long run," Goyal added. 'They are usually for one season, and then everybody feels the need for a refresh because digital has created attention-deficiency syndrome." Until that mindset changes, IPL may remain a grand stage—but one where few ads deserve an encore.
