In a significant development following the $8.5 billion merger between Disney India and Reliance, all live sporting events, including the much-anticipated Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket matches, will be streamed exclusively on Disney’s Hotstar app.
This strategic decision represents the first major integration of the two companies and underscores Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance, which holds a majority stake in the new venture, indicating that the Disney platform will continue operations. However, there are uncertainties regarding a potential rebranding of Hotstar, as reported by sources familiar with the matter to Reuters.
While Disney opted not to comment, Reliance did not respond immediately to requests for clarification.
The merger, agreed upon in February, aims to create India’s largest entertainment company with a combined portfolio of 120 TV channels and two streaming apps. Specific operational details following the merger have yet to be disclosed.
Currently, Reliance’s JioCinema holds rights to key sporting events, including IPL cricket, the Winter Olympics, and the Indian Super League football. Meanwhile, Hotstar maintains rights for significant events such as the International Cricket Council (ICC) tournaments in India, English Premier League soccer, and the domestic Pro Kabaddi League.
Hotstar’s head, Sajith Sivanandan, recently informed staff about the decision to transition live sports streaming from Reliance’s app. This decision is attributed to Hotstar’s superior back-end technology, which facilitates better handling of live content and targeted advertising. The transition is expected to be completed by January 2025.
While details on the integration of other entertainment content remain unclear—specifically whether the merged entity will operate two separate apps or consolidate into one—the merger received approval from India’s competition regulator in August after the companies offered concessions to address concerns over cricket broadcasting rights. This included a commitment to avoid unreasonable increases in advertising rates.
Hotstar has established a reputation for effectively managing live content, evidenced by a record 59 million concurrent viewers during the finals of last year’s men’s cricket World Cup, reflecting its capability to handle large-scale live events in cricket-enthused India.
Key Highlights:
- All live sports, including IPL cricket, will now stream exclusively on Hotstar following the Disney-Reliance merger.
- The merger aims to create India’s largest entertainment company with a combined 120 TV channels.
- Hotstar’s superior technology was a key factor in the decision to transition live sports streams.
- The transition is expected to be completed by January 2025.
- The merger received regulatory approval after addressing concerns regarding cricket broadcasting rights.