Reliance Jio, India’s largest telecom firm by users, announced on Monday that it will introduce paid streaming for Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket matches, ending the two-year period of free access to one of the country’s most-watched sporting events.
Starting at 299 rupees ($3.44), the new recharge plan will allow Jio’s mobile users to watch the IPL on the newly merged JioHotstar streaming platform, owned by the Reliance Group. The decision aligns with the company’s shift towards a hybrid model, where free access will be limited before a subscription becomes necessary.
A month ago, Reuters reported that the Reliance-Disney joint venture planned to discontinue free IPL streaming, a feature available in 2023 and 2024 via JioCinema. This new approach reflects a broader monetization strategy for digital content.
To further strengthen its position in India’s $28-billion media and entertainment market, the company is also offering a 50-day trial of its broadband services, leveraging high-speed sports streaming to drive home internet adoption. The joint venture, India’s largest entertainment group, operates over 100 TV channels and streaming platforms.
The IPL, scheduled from March 22 to May 25, is among India’s most-streamed and lucrative sporting events. Billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s pricing strategy for cricket and other sporting events is closely watched, especially as media rights for such content have cost the merged entity nearly $10 billion in recent years.
Name of Author: Cricexec Staff
