The joint venture between Reliance and Disney will discontinue its policy of providing entirely free streaming for IPL cricket matches, opting instead for a hybrid model that introduces subscription fees once a certain level of content consumption is reached, as reported by sources to Reuters on February 13. Additionally, a new rebranded streaming application will be launched.This shift in streaming strategy for the Indian Premier League (IPL), recognized as the richest cricket league globally, follows the merger of Reliance and Walt Disney’s media assets in India, valued at $8.5 billion, which took place last year under the control of Reliance. JioCinema, which secured the streaming rights for the IPL for five years starting in 2023 at a cost of $3 billion, has previously offered free access to IPL matches. The platform also holds rights to other significant events, including the Winter Olympics and the Indian Super League football. Meanwhile, Disney’s Hotstar app maintained rights to the International Cricket Council’s tournaments and the English Premier League soccer in India.
Under the new model, all streaming content, including IPL matches, will transition to a system where users can initially access content for free, but will subsequently be required to subscribe based on their viewing habits, according to two sources familiar with the matter, as reported by Reuters. The Reliance-Disney venture operates over 100 television channels and streaming applications within India’s $28 billion media and entertainment sector, where it faces competition from platforms such as Netflix and Amazon Prime.
