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Tag: JioHotstar

  • Q1 FY26: JioStar smashes profit records as IPL juggernaut drives Rs 11,222 crore revenue surge

    Q1 FY26: JioStar smashes profit records as IPL juggernaut drives Rs 11,222 crore revenue surge

    MUMBAI: JioStar has delivered a blockbuster first quarter, posting record revenues of Rs 11,222 crore and profits that soared 154 per cent to Rs 581 crore, powered by what the company calls the “biggest ever IPL in terms of viewership and monetisation.”

    The media behemoth’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation jumped to Rs 1,017 crore from Rs 774 crore in the previous period, whilst EBITDA margins expanded to 10.6 per cent from 8.1 per cent.
    The stellar performance was underpinned by IPL 2025, which shattered viewing records with 1.19 billion viewers across television and the JioHotstar platform. The tournament’s final match became the biggest T20 match ever on digital, reaching 237 million viewers with a peak concurrency of 55.2 million—obliterating the previous IPL record of 35.9 million.

    JioHotstar’s dominance was on full display during the quarter, with the app hitting 1.04 billion downloads on Android and averaging 460 million monthly active users. The platform reached 652 million viewers during IPL—a staggering 28 per cent year-on-year growth—whilst television delivered 514 billion minutes of watch-time.
    Beyond cricket, JioStar consolidated its entertainment stranglehold with a commanding 35.5 per cent share of TV entertainment viewership. Star Plus retained its Hindi general entertainment channel leadership with six of the top 10 shows, whilst regional powerhouses Star Pravah, Star Jalsha, Star Maa and Asianet maintained their number one positions in respective markets.

    The quarter also saw strategic moves in the free-to-air space, with Star Utsav and Colors Rishtey relaunching on DD Free Dish. Star Utsav became the number one channel from day one, reshaping the FTA Hindi GEC landscape.

    JioHotstar’s content strategy bore fruit beyond sports, posting its highest-ever monthly entertainment watch-time in June 2025. The latest season of Criminal Justice scored the strongest opening for any OTT original in 2025, according to Ormax Media, whilst Kesari 2 emerged as the year’s biggest movie across all languages on the platform.

    International content remained a key differentiator, with Captain America: Brave New World debuting as the quarter’s second most-watched film and Mufasa: The Lion King becoming the most-watched international movie ever on JioHotstar.

    The company’s subscriber base swelled to 287 million during IPL on JioHotstar, whilst reaching over 800 million people on television during the quarter—cementing its position as India’s undisputed entertainment colossus.

  • JioHotstar bags 200+ Emmy nods

    JioHotstar bags 200+ Emmy nods

    MUMBAI: JioHotstar has struck Emmy gold again. With over 200 nominations at the 77th Emmy Awards, the platform has proved its muscle as the go-to destination for high-calibre global content in India. From brooding anti-heroes and dysfunctional families to culinary showdowns and sharp-tongued satire, the streaming giant’s buffet of premium storytelling is turning heads and racking up accolades.

    Leading the charge is The Penguin, waddling in with 24 nominations, including best limited series, and acting nods for Colin Farrell and Cristin Milioti. The show also scored big in directing and writing, making it the bird to beat. Sharing the spotlight is The White Lotus, another 24-time nominee, basking in glory with noms for best drama, and its ensemble cast featuring the likes of Walton Goggins, Carrie Coon, and Parker Posey.

    On the comedy front, Hacks cracked 15 nominations, while culinary chaos came alive with The Bear roaring in with 13, featuring nods for Jeremy Allen White and Ayo Edebiri, plus a directing shoutout for the tear-jerker episode “Napkins”.

    Not to be left behind, heavy hitters like The Last of Us, Paradise, The Pitt, and Andor brought the drama, with multiple nominations in lead and supporting categories. Comedy staples Abbott Elementary and Only Murders in the Building also made the cut, ensuring laughter wasn’t left off the ballot.

    In the limited series and unscripted corners, Dying for Sex and Top Chef brought spice and surprise, while Last Week Tonight with John Oliver reminded us that even satire can win serious awards.

    From House of the Dragon to The Grammys, and even Pee-wee, JioHotstar’s growing trophy shelf reflects a shrewd curation of global storytelling with universal bite. As Emmy night looms, one thing’s clear: when it comes to world-class TV in India, this streamer isn’t just playing—it’s winning.
     

  • Mission Sponsor Possible as Special Ops 2 locks in 14 brand partners

    Mission Sponsor Possible as Special Ops 2 locks in 14 brand partners

    MUMBAI: Espionage has never looked so marketable JioHotstar’s Special Ops 2 is back, and it’s bringing more than just bullets and secrets to the screen this 18 July. It’s bringing brands. Fourteen of them. Special Ops 2, the latest instalment of the hit thriller franchise, is already making headlines before its premiere not just for its high-stakes cyber warfare plot, but for its impressive brand line-up. With 14 marquee sponsors on board, the show has set a new benchmark in branded entertainment for scripted Indian OTT content.

    From automobiles to FMCG, and personal care to mutual funds, Special Ops 2 has attracted a cross-sectoral advertiser base that includes Hyundai, Jaquar & Co, Directors Elaichi, Asian Paints, UTI Mutual Fund, Envy, Philips, Lux Industries, Domino’s, JK Cement, Oppo, Swiggy, Toothsi, and Sony Bravia. This marks the highest-ever sponsor count for a title under the Specials banner on JioHotstar.

    “With Special Ops, we’ve built an iconic IP that delivers both cultural impact and business value,” said JioHotstar head of revenue entertainment & international Ajit Varghese. “This kind of brand response speaks to the power of premium storytelling and the platform’s ability to deliver engaged, meaningful audiences at scale.”

    Returning to the screen is Kay Kay Menon as Himmat Singh, the stoic intelligence officer at the centre of the action. But this time, he’s stepping into a more shadowy world of cyber espionage, system sabotage, and faceless digital enemies, a timely theme in an age of digital vulnerability.

    The rise in sponsorships also underscores how advertisers are shifting focus towards long-form, high-quality original series as strategic storytelling platforms. JioHotstar’s previous original, Criminal Justice Season 4, similarly drew widespread brand attention, signalling a growing trend in content-backed advertising integrations.

    Special Ops 2 premieres on 18 July exclusively on JioHotstar, and if the buzz (and brand budget) is anything to go by, this mission’s already a success before its first intel drop.

  • JioStar scores big with BFSI brands as Wimbledon 2025 serves up ‘affluence in motion’

    JioStar scores big with BFSI brands as Wimbledon 2025 serves up ‘affluence in motion’

    MUMBAI: The strawberries may be fresh, but the money is fresher. Wimbledon 2025, streaming on JioHotstar and airing on Star Sports Select 1 & 2 and Star Sports 2, has turned into a grand slam not just for tennis but for India’s financial marketing elite.

    BFSI brands have come out swinging this season, emerging as the top-performing category in advertiser participation, with a 50 per cent surge in client count over last year’s edition. From mutual funds and banking to insurance and fintech, Wimbledon has become the new turf where India’s money men are building brand muscle and not just with return-on-investment shots.

    The campaign, branded ‘Affluence in Motion’, leans into the Wimbledon mystique — tradition, prestige and quiet power, aligning beautifully with the trust and stability that BFSI brands aim to project. The data agrees:

    ●    65 per cent of JioHotstar viewers in 2024 came from NCCS A

    ●    55 per cent were from the top 8 metros,

    ●    and 53 per cent owned phones worth over Rs 25,000 — a dream demo for financial institutions hunting for affluent, digital-savvy consumers.

    While past Wimbledons were about forehands and finesse, this one is about funds and fixed deposits. Leading the charge are ICICI Mutual Funds, who headline the BFSI presence alongside a rising roster of insurers and NBFCs.

    Four brands have taken standalone contextual spots, smartly syncing their messaging with pre-match insights, commentary cut-ins, and even the Wimbledon Daily Live show beamed from London’s hallowed Centre Court. BFSI brands have found an especially elegant rhythm here — contextual ads pushing everything from retirement plans to wealth management, all draped in white and green Wimbledon glory.

    Digital remains the heavyweight champ. With 35 per cent year-on-year growth in JioHotstar consumption and a 50 per cent spike in digital advertiser count, the platform continues to offer unmatched reach among India’s wealthy urbanites. And that’s before factoring in connected TV viewership, which doubled versus 2023.

    The JioStar Network has drawn 17 new advertisers this year and retained 11 brands from Wimbledon 2024, with a 1.5x jump in revenue from these returning players. Automotive and BFSI brands are stealing the spotlight, but FMCG, alcobev, and luxury fittings are also swinging hard from Mahindra Electric, William Grant, HPCL, Jaquar, ICICI Mutual Funds to Amul, Haier, Kohler, Black and White.

    For the first time ever, Wimbledon 2025 has secured Presenting Sponsors across both TV and digital, marking a watershed moment in its commercial evolution and proving that in the high-stakes game of brand tennis, the financial sector has truly aced it.

    As the tennis legends serve fire on-court, India’s financial giants are volleying for attention off it, proving that at Wimbledon 2025, it’s not just the racquets that are making noise.

  • RCB crowned kings as IPL brand value hits $18.5bn in record-breaking 2025 season

    RCB crowned kings as IPL brand value hits $18.5bn in record-breaking 2025 season

    MUMBAI: The Indian Premier League (IPL) juggernaut stormed into 2025 with record-breaking viewership, blockbuster auctions, and soaring brand valuations—cementing its status as one of the world’s most valuable sporting properties.

    According to Houlihan Lokey’s latest IPL Valuation Study, the business value of the league has surged to a staggering $18.5 billion—up 12.9 per cent year on year: in rupee terms that tots up to Rs 156,568 crore -a 16.1 per cent growth. Its brand value alone clocked in at $3.9 billion, a 13.8 per cent jump while in rupee terms it grew 16.1 per cent again to Rs 32,721 crore.  The numbers reflect not only the league’s financial firepower but also its bulletproof commercial appeal amid global uncertainty.

    Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) finally shed their “chokers” tag after 17 seasons to lift their maiden IPL trophy, catapulting them to the No. 1 brand spot with a valuation of $269 million. Virat Kohli’s on-field heroics and Rajat Patidar’s captaincy delivered a fairytale finish that sent digital viewership through the roof—JioHotstar recorded a peak of 678 million views during the final, eclipsing even the India–Pakistan ICC clash earlier this year.

    Mumbai Indians (MI) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) retained their spots in the top three, with brand values of $242 million and $235 million, respectively. While MI impressed with eight wins and Hardik Pandya’s smooth takeover as captain, CSK’s season was defined by MS Dhoni’s calm return to the helm amid injuries and a rebuilding phase.

    The 2025 season also saw record media rights revenues, a $300 million extension of Tata Group’s title sponsorship till 2028, and mega-bucks player signings—Rishabh Pant fetched a record $3.19 million at the auction.  The franchises spent a record 76 million (Rs 639.15 crore) on player acquisition. The BCCI sold four associate sponsor slots for Rs 1,485 crore, up 25 per cent from the previous cycle, while advertising revenues soared to an estimated $600 million—up 50 per cent YoY. The franchises spent a record 76 million (Rs 639.15 crore) on player acquisition. 

    Franchisees continued to ride high on asset-light models and predictable revenue streams. Top teams clocked Rs 6,500–7,000 million in annual revenue with over 80 per cent visibility secured pre-season, aided by front-loaded sponsorships and tight salary caps. The league’s capital-light structure and OTT-driven audience growth make it a poster child for high-yield sports investments.

    Meanwhile, Punjab Kings emerged as the fastest-growing brand in 2025, leaping to $141 million in value. With Shreyas Iyer as captain, and bold marketing campaigns like “Sarpanch Sahab” driving regional fandom, the franchise not only made it to the finals but also dominated digital chatter.

    As cricket’s footprint grows beyond its traditional bastions—with the ICC Champions Trophy breaking global viewership records and the US hosting marquee events—the IPL remains the sport’s commercial and cultural vanguard. It’s no longer just a league; it’s a billion-dollar blueprint for the future of cricket.

  • Kyunki comeback: Star Plus breaks promo, revealing Tulsi’s return

    Kyunki comeback: Star Plus breaks promo, revealing Tulsi’s return

    MUMBAI: Star Plus is dialling up the hype, drama—and the nostalgia—with the long-awaited return of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, 25 years after it first lit up Indian TV screens. The Hindi GEC dropped a two-part promo teasing the show’s revival, complete with a modern makeover, new characters, and a familiar voice that fans won’t forget.

    The promo opens with a family pitstop at a roadside dhaba. As the iconic title track of Kyunki plays, the father hums along, sparking memories of TV dinners and shared family moments. The conversation turns meta as the son mentions the show’s comeback, prompting speculation from all members—until the voice of Tulsi Virani breaks in.

    The second half of the teaser reveals Tulsi herself, watering a Tulsi plant and declaring: “We’ve had a 25-year relationship. It’s time we meet again.” With that, she greets viewers with a namaste and a promise: Kyunki returns 29 July at 10:30 pm on Star Plus and JioHotstar.

    “This isn’t just nostalgia—it’s a bold new chapter,” said Sumanta Bose, cluster head – Star Plus & Star Utsav, calling the series “an iconic title with a deep-rooted legacy, now reimagined for today’s audience.”

    The marketing engine is already in full swing. JioStar’s sales team has roped in P&G’s Tide as presenting sponsor, with Colgate and Fortune Soyabean Oil as co-powered by brands. Fortune Chakki Atta has signed on as digital sponsor.

    With buzz already building and brand deals locked in, Kyunki is poised to once again rule the living room.

    You can watch the promo here.

  • Gill’s edge and streaming surge put JioHotstar in Test match mode

    Gill’s edge and streaming surge put JioHotstar in Test match mode

    MUMBAI: When India stepped out at Headingley with Shubman Gill at the helm, it wasn’t just a fresh chapter in Test cricket, it was a record-breaking moment on screen too. The first Test of the India-England series didn’t just set the WTC 2025–27 cycle in motion; it also bowled over the digital scoreboard on JioHotstar.

    With 89.1 million viewers and a staggering 13.7 billion minutes of watch-time, the opening Test became the highest-ever reached red-ball match on the platform. Five-language coverage (English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada) and exclusive content like the behind-the-scenes series Follow The Blues ensured fans were hooked well beyond the boundary.

    JioHotstar added a cheeky twist with a promo featuring Rohit Sharma giving out “Test tips,” while the ‘When India Challenged the Crown’ segment took fans on a nostalgia trip through India’s legacy in England.

    As India’s red-ball reboot gathers steam, the streaming numbers suggest the audience is already on board. The second Test begins 2 July in Birmingham, with four more matches to potentially rewrite more records.

    In parallel, the WTC Final 2025 where South Africa broke their ICC title drought by defeating Australia delivered knockout numbers of its own. It became the most-watched Non-India Test match ever on linear TV, logging 2.95 billion minutes and reaching 47 million viewers.

    On JioHotstar, it smashed another record with 41.4 million digital viewers, toppling even the 2023 India vs Australia final.

    From broadcast to broadband, Test cricket in 2025 is not just holding its ground, it’s thriving in technicolour. And with India’s new leadership making waves and streaming platforms like JioHotstar turning numbers into headlines, the future of long-format cricket seems anything but slow-paced.

  • PSL 7 shuffles the deck with influencers, free entry and a high-stakes Goa finale

    PSL 7 shuffles the deck with influencers, free entry and a high-stakes Goa finale

    MUMBAI: India’s most high-stakes, high-drama poker league is back. Poker Sports League (PSL) — billed as the world’s largest poker league — has shuffled up and dealt out its plans for Season 7, promising a mind-sport spectacle of skill, grit, and serious gameplay. With PokerBaazi as title sponsor and JioHotstar as official streaming partner, the league is going all-in with a raft of upgrades and innovations.

    From free-to-enter qualifiers and influencer-led showdowns to the introduction of mandatory female poker pros and a franchise revenue-sharing model, PSL is betting big on inclusion, digital scale, and edge-of-your-seat action.

    Speaking on the synergy with PokerBaazi and JioHotstar, Poker Sports League CEO & co-founder, Pranav Bagai said, “With PokerBaazi’s credibility in competitive poker and JioHotstar’s extensive digital reach, PSL Season 7 is well-positioned to reach a wider, more engaged audience. This season brings together scale, skill, and immersive storytelling to elevate the profile of poker as a mind sport in India. By combining strategic gameplay with high-quality digital content, we aim to contribute meaningfully to the growth of the broader mind sports ecosystem in the country.”

    “Each season of PSL is rooted in our commitment to innovation and inclusion. Season 7 introduces several firsts, from mandatory female poker pros and influencer showdowns to a new revenue sharing model for franchises and a massive finale in Goa. This is more than just competition, it’s a celebration of poker as a modern, mind-driven sport. We invite poker players and fans across the country to be a part of this journey.” Bagai added.

    What’s new this season?

    ●    8 franchise teams battle it out for poker supremacy (soon to expand to 9)

    ●    Revenue-sharing model makes PSL India’s first league to give franchisees a cut

    ●    Mandatory female pros on every team – a strong push for representation

    ●    Influencer face-offs – bringing creators and celebs into the mix

    ●    Live-streamed matches on JioHotstar, including qualifiers, auctions and the grand finale

    ●    5-day finale in South Goa, loaded with high-stakes drama and resort glamour

    Following a blockbuster Season 6 that clocked 20,927 unique participants, Season 7 is now live on PokerBaazi with daily free qualifiers running from 25 June to 3 August. Players can compete in up to 8 events, climb the leaderboard, and land in the top 40 for a shot at the auction, with a base bid of Rs 50,000 and a confirmed team spot.

    Baazi Games founder and CEO, Navkiran Singh commented, “PSL introduces a unique team format for Poker and has grown quite popular over the years. As a mind sport that demands strategy, skill, and composure, Poker is on the rise, and we believe Season 7 will build on this momentum to take the sport to new heights.”

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  • APOS 2025: Sushant Sreeram and JioHotstar’s masterclass on reinvention

    APOS 2025: Sushant Sreeram and JioHotstar’s masterclass on reinvention

    BALI: JioStar’s Sushant Sreeram came out swinging at APOS 2025, tearing up the traditional streaming script with a bold case for fluid monetisation and empathy-first design. Speaking on a high-voltage panel alongside Aditya Swamy of Google Play and Sutanto Hartono of Emtek, the SVOD chief and CMO laid out JioHotstar’s roadmap for a new era of video engagement.

    “We’re not locked into SVOD or AVOD silos,” Sreeram said. “Serving over 500 million monthly users and nearly 300 million subscribers demands a far more flexible approach to how people watch — and pay.”

    His argument was clear: India’s economic layers defy cookie-cutter pricing. “The top 10 per cent of Indian households have parity with the UK or Germany on a PPP basis. But the next 10 per cent? A whole different world. That’s where true innovation begins.”

    Sreeram credited much of JioHotstar’s traction to product-led thinking, citing the latest IPL season as a masterclass in fan experience. “Viewership surged 40 per cent on opening weekend in year 18. That’s not fatigue — that’s reinvention,” he said, referencing multi-cam feeds, VR features, and deep localisation as core drivers.

    AI and machine learning are now hardwired into the platform. “From predictive personalisation to real-time language adaptation, we’re not chasing attention — we’re courting emotion,” he added.

    His parting shot? “You don’t build for India — you build from India. That means designing with agility, pricing with precision, and listening like your survival depends on it. Because it does.”

  • APOS 2025: MPA and JioStar release report on how IPL scored new records

    APOS 2025: MPA and JioStar release report on how IPL scored new records

    BALI: At the APOS summit in Bali, JioStar dropped its much-anticipated report titled TATA IPL 2025: A Year of Firsts—and it reads like a victory lap for both the broadcaster and the billion-plus fans who tuned in. Produced in partnership with Media Partners Asia (MPA), the report reveals how IPL 2025 turned into a fan-first, tech-powered juggernaut that smashed records, redefined storytelling, and blurred the lines between sport, spectacle, and screen.

    JioStar’s digital reach alone crossed 652 million, while Star Sports pulled in 537 million viewers, pushing total reach to a record-shattering 1.19 billion. Women accounted for 47 per cent of TV audiences—marking a seismic shift in cricket’s traditional demographic. The IPL final alone drew 426 million fans, with JioHotstar peaking at 55.2 million concurrent users and soaring to 300 million subscribers.

    “TATA IPL 2025 was a season where the lines between sport, storytelling, and shared experiences truly blurred. It wasn’t just about broadcasting matches – it was where creativity, culture and commerce converged, with fan connections at the heart of it all,” said JioStar chief executive of sports and live experiences Sanjog Gupta. “ At JioStar, we set out to make every screen feel personal, every interaction meaningful, and every moment unforgettable. From deep consumer journeys to a rich spectrum of viewing experiences, this was a celebration of fandom in all its forms. The real success of the IPL isn’t measured in numbers, but in the moments that moved millions.”

    JioStar delivered 840 billion minutes of cricket watch-time, riding on innovations like MaxView 3.0 (a TikTok-style vertical experience), 360° VR streaming, and voice-assisted search on connected TVs. Over 44 per cent of mobile viewers played along live with the ‘Jeeto Dhan Dhana Dhan’ game, while AI-powered highlights and live expert commentary translations made the sport more accessible than ever.

    Regional viewership surged with Telugu up 87 per cent, Tamil up 52 per cent, and Kannada up 65 per cent—showing that cricket’s heart beats strong beyond the metros. Accessibility also hit new highs with Indian Sign Language interpretation and audio descriptive commentary for the visually impaired.

    Advertisers swarmed the platform, with over 425 brands onboard—including 270 first-timers across 40 categories. Nielsen-measured ROI, play-along games, and AI-personalised ads helped deliver what marketers crave: measurable impact at scale.

    JioStar’s IPL 2025 wasn’t just a tournament—it was a case study in what the future of sports broadcasting could look like: immersive, inclusive, interactive, and insanely watchable.