JioCinema set a new global record for the most concurrent viewers during a live-streamed event on Monday, outshining the previous record held by Disney’s Hotstar.

What Happened? During the final of the 16th Indian Premier League featuring Chennai Super Kings versus Gujarat Titans, JioCinema attracted over 33 million, simultaneous viewers.

Back in July 2019, Hotstar set the record with an impressive 25.3 million concurrent viewers during a cricket match. However, Hotstar’s shift to a paid streaming service for the IPL matches, led to a struggle to surpass this record, demonstrating the delicate balance between reach and revenue in the streaming sector.

Meanwhile, Viacom18, backed by James Murdoch’s Bodhi Tree and a major investment from Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance, won a $3 billion (₹24,802 crore) bid last year against Disney, securing the digital rights for the IPL for a five-year period until 2027.

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Adopting a strategy similar to Hotstar’s initial approach, Viacom18’s JioCinema is providing free streaming of the IPL tournament to viewers across South Asia, potentially reshaping the region’s digital streaming landscape.

JioCinema, which offers free basic content to Jio telecom network subscribers, introduced a premium tier last month. For ₹999 per year, users gain access to a wider range of content. Viacom18 has also partnered with Warner Bros. and NBC Universal to enhance its premium offering.

Despite facing challenges, Disney remains successful. Broadcasting the game via satellite television in India, Disney accumulated 482 million views during the first 66 matches, as per data from the Broadcast Audience Research Council.

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