Tag: Jiostar

Colors marks 17 years of drama, disruption and daring storytelling

MUMBAI: It’s been 17 years since Colors burst onto Indian TV screens in 2008, and let’s just say prime time never looked the same again. Armed with gutsy fiction and unapologetic reality shows, the Viacom18-owned Hindi GEC rewrote the rulebook on what mainstream television could look and feel like.

From Balika Vadhu’s searing take on child marriage to Shakti’s gender-bending narrative and the never-out-of-style chaos of Bigg Boss, Colors has consistently stirred hearts, headlines, and high TRPs. Whether it’s the spine-chilling stunts of Khatron Ke Khiladi or the culinary chaos of Laughter Chefs, the channel has played it anything but safe.

At its core, COLORS has championed the underdog. Over the years, characters like Anandi, Bondita, Mannat, and Mangal have become household names, not just for their gripping arcs but for sparking social conversations and pushing boundaries on what a female lead could (and should) do on screen.

On the channel’s 17th Anniversary, JioStar spokesperson Alok Jain said, “As COLORS turns 17, we celebrate a legacy of storytelling that has redefined Hindi entertainment and sparked conversations across the country. Television remains a trusted companion, and COLORS continues to thrive by telling stories that reflect the many shades of Indian life and characters who feel like family. Societal realities have always been at our core, encouraging audiences to feel deeply and engage meaningfully. From powerful family sagas and mythological epics to societal dramas, romances, reality shows, and culinary comedies, our content mirrors the rich diversity and evolving heartbeat of India. With fresh originals like Manpasand Ki Shaadi, celebrating family, choice, and tradition; Dhaakad Beera, spotlighting courage and sibling love, and Pati Patni Aur Panga – Jodiyon Ka Reality Check, bringing a fun twist to modern relationships — we continue to grow with our audiences. Our promise is to keep telling stories with heart, humour, and honesty. Thank you for making us a part of your homes, your hearts, and your everyday moments — you make COLORS what it is.”

Talking about her journey with Colors, Avika Gor shares, “COLORS didn’t just give me a role — it gave me an identity. Anandi became a household name, and through her, I found a place in the hearts of millions. Before Balika Vadhu, I had faced the camera, but it was Colors that gave me the recognition that changed my life. From Beti Anandi to Bahu Roli in Sasural Simar Ka and now returning with Pati Patni Aur Panga alongside my fiancé Milind Chandwani — it feels like coming home. Colors has seen my journey, nurtured it, and celebrated it. What makes the channel so special is its courage to tell bold stories and keep evolving. This isn’t just a comeback, it’s a beautiful continuation of a story I’m proud to share.”

Having hosted ‘Bigg Boss’ for 15 years, Salman Khan says, “My journey with COLORS and Bigg Boss isn’t just the longest-running collaboration of my career, it’s one of the most personal. When I first came on board for Bigg Boss in 2010, little did I know that I was signing up for a 15-year relationship with the show and an entire nation. Together, we’ve nurtured a tradition that the audience waits for with bated breath every year. Through format changes, digital shifts, new themes, and the ever-changing energy of the unpredictable house, this ride with Colors has been special. Congratulations to the entire team at the channel for uniting India in entertainment for 17 years!”

Speaking about Colors’ 17-year milestone, Sudha Chandran says, “In these 17 years, COLORS hasn’t just entertained — it has transformed Indian television. For me, it reshaped my image and redefined what an antagonist could be. From the iconic Naagin to emotionally rich dramas like Doree, Colors has always dared to tell bold, unconventional stories. It gave me characters that weren’t just vamps, but powerful, poetic, and deeply human. Every role pushed me to grow as an actor and dig deeper emotionally. I’m proud to be part of a legacy that continues to set new standards with every story it tells.”

Essaying the role of Mangal in Colors’ ‘Mangal Lakshmi’, Deepika Singh says, “I’m truly proud that Mangal Lakshmi is now part of Colors’ 17-year legacy. The channel gave me the freedom to portray what so many women experience, not with pain alone, but with empathy and hope. Mangal stands as a role model, radiating strength and optimism in a world that deeply needs it. Seeing her story resonate with women across regions is incredibly rewarding, and that kind of connection is only possible when a platform truly believes in the power of stories to inspire change. I am sure Colors will continue to uplift voices, break new ground, and bring characters to life that make every woman feel seen and understood.”

Seventeen years on, Colors remains just as defiant, just as dramatic, and just as dedicated to stories that stir the soul and sometimes, the pot.

July 21, 2025
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.

July 18, 2025
Old Hindi TV shows make a comeback to light up primetime again

MUMBAI: Ready for a trip down Tele‑vision Lane? Indian TV networks are reaching for the rewind button, dusting off iconic serials from the 90s and 2000s and re-hashing them with a modern twist. From crime procedurals to kitchen politics, old favourites are back to reclaim viewer loyalty, and early signs suggest it’s working. From Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and CID to Bade Achhe Lagte Hain, broadcasters are betting big on nostalgia to revive TRPs. These revamped shows began dropping between December 2024 and July 2025 CID 2 returned last December, Bade Achhe Lagte Hain 4 launched in June, and Kyunki 2 is all set to make its grand comeback come 29 July.

Why the flashback fix? For starters, the 25–45 age group grew up with these shows, making them more than just content, they’re memories. Channels are cashing in on this emotional bond to draw back viewers amid the OTT onslaught. Legacy titles offer not just a TRP rescue but a cost-efficient revival strategy complete with ready sets, familiar faces, and low marketing spends. As a source at Star India put it, it’s a smart way to “mitigate screen fragmentation.” Plus, the pandemic proved nostalgia’s power when Ramayan and Mahabharat re-aired, they smashed viewership ratings records, outpacing even fresh content.

Ormax Media head of business development for streaming, TV & brands Keerat Grewal said: “Over the past three to four years, shows with strong protagonists such as Anupamaa, Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, Ghum Hai Kisi Ke Pyaar Mein, and Kumkum Bhagya, have managed to sustain high viewership even across multiple leaps. This has been largely driven by the strong emotional equity their lead characters hold. The shows have skillfully introduced a new generation of characters who inherit familiar personality traits while addressing more contemporary issues, allowing the audience to feel a sense of continuity and evolution.

“The growing preference for shows with known characters and familiar storylines is not just a trend – it’s deeply rooted in how the human brain works. Neuroscience research shows that nostalgia and familiarity activate the brain’s reward centers, triggering comfort, trust, and emotional safety. Audiences are neurologically wired to return to content that evokes positive memories or past emotional resonance. That’s precisely what the return of a show like Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi will tap into.”

Based on Ormax’s extensive tracking in the HGEC category, we know that the Kyunki brand still holds strong equity among viewers today. This is reflected in the exceptional performance of the show’s new promo on our proprietary awareness tracker Ormax Showbuzz. Within just two days of the promo’s release, the show has recorded unaided awareness levels typically seen only after three to four weeks of sustained marketing in this genre. The data underscores the power of nostalgia, combined with trusted storytelling and iconic characters, to drive early interest and engagement.

Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi (2000–2008) is set to return with Smriti Irani reprising her iconic role of Tulsi on Star Plus. CID (1998–2018) made its way back in December 2024 with most of the original cast. Bade Achhe Lagte Hain 4 debuted in June 2025, introducing a next-gen romance against a familiar emotional backdrop. Also making a play for comeback glory: Shaktimaan, slated for an audio reboot and a blockbuster film starring Allu Arjun; Aahat, the spooky staple now re-airing nightly; and evergreen titles like Khichdi, Office Office, Shrimaan Shrimati and Ramayan, all back on air or rumoured to be.

A JioStar spokesperson said, “Bringing back a show like Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi is not just hinged on nostalgia, it is a strategic storytelling move designed for today’s viewers. At Star Plus, we see legacy IPs as powerful cultural assets that can be reimagined to reflect today’s evolving values. By blending familiarity with freshness, we aim to bring together households, unite generations, spark new conversations and reaffirm the enduring relevance of stories rooted in family, identity, and resilience.”

A source at Balaji Telefilms revealed that the decision to bring back Kyunki wasn’t an easy one. The creator Ekta Kapoor initially resisted, reportedly saying, “You can’t compete with nostalgia. Why shake it up?”

One of the reasons she said yes, sources close to her say, is the creative challenge to make it connect with today’s evolved audience and make an impact by tackling issues which don’t find their way into the current roster of shows on air. (On a lighter note, it will give Balaji Telefilms an opportunity to take the show past a record-breaking 2,000 episodes; remember, it was taken abruptly off-air in its 1,833rd episode).

The clincher for the channel and OTT was not just ratings, it was legacy. Internal research commissioned had once shown that Kyunki helped amplify women’s voices in Indian homes. It tackled domestic abuse, ageism, and marital consent long before these were TV buzzwords.

The reboot, sources said, is less about chasing numbers and more about “reclaiming the power to reach millions and change mindsets.”

Sources familiar with the strategy at Star noted that Kyunki’s return serves both sentiment and business. “Broadcast reach is still far greater than OTT,” one executive explained. “Advertisers too have bought into the show because of its familiarity, going by the sponsors who have been tied up: Procter & Gamble (a classic soap advertiser), Colgate and Fortune Oil.”

They added that older viewers with their own families who first watched shows such as Kyunki as youngsters or young adults or are now settled, have disposable income, and more free time. “This group is now reachable again especially in slots like 10:30 pm,” said she.

With Kyunki, CID and Bade Achhe Lagte Hain leading the charge, the revival roster is far from done. Insiders suggest shows like Naagin, FIR, and Shrimaan Shrimati could be next in line. Meanwhile, connected TVs and Fast (free ad-supported streaming TV) channels are helping extend the reach of these classics into smaller towns and rural households, where smart TVs and budget broadband are becoming the norm.

Indian TV isn’t stuck in a time loop, it’s cleverly remixing the past. This wave of strategic nostalgia blends cultural memory with broadcast savvy, reminding us that some stories never really go out of style. In fact, they just get retold with better twists, lighting, cast and production values.

July 14, 2025
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.

July 10, 2025
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.

July 8, 2025
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.

July 8, 2025
Ishan Chatterjee steps in as JioStar’s new sports and live experiences boss

MUMBAI: Ishan Chatterjee has been named chief executive – sports and live experiences at JioStar, stepping into the hot seat vacated by Sanjog Gupta, who now helms the International Cricket Council (ICC) as its chief executive officer.

Chatterjee will continue to juggle his responsibilities as chief business officer – sports revenue, SMB & creators, even as he steers JioStar’s live sports ambitions. He joined the media giant in 2024 (then JioCinema), following a 13-year innings at Google, where he was last managing director of YouTube India.

A Wharton and St. Stephen’s College, Delhi alum, Chatterjee has done time at McKinsey & Co and Hindustan Unilever.

With nearly 20 years of skin in the game across media, consulting, and consumer goods, he now takes the pitch at JioStar with a stacked playbook.

July 7, 2025
Delhi High Court blocks rogue sites from streaming India–England series

MUMBAI: In a significant win for content rights holders, the Delhi high court has restrained multiple rogue websites from illegally streaming the India tour of England 2025 (ITE 2025), following a copyright infringement plea filed by JioStar India Pvt Ltd (formerly Star India Pvt Ltd).

Justice Saurabh Banerjee granted a ‘dynamic+’ injunction, enabling real-time blocking of infringing websites during live match broadcasts.

The five-Test series between India and England is scheduled from June to August 2025 and JioStar holds exclusive digital media rights for ITE 2025 under a licensing agreement with Culver Max Entertainment Pvt Ltd (Sony).

JioStar alleged various third party websites of streaming IPL 2025 illegally and were likely to do so again during the England tour.

As per the court’s orders:

. Immediate suspension of the four listed rogue domains by their respective registrars, including Namecheap Inc., Sav.com LLC, and Tucows Domains Inc.

. Direction to internet service providers — including Airtel, Jio, and Vodafone Idea — to block access to these websites within 72 hours.

. Permission for JioStar to notify additional infringing websites on affidavit during the series, without the need for separate court orders.

. Coordination mandated between the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to ensure ISP compliance.

. Inclusion of unnamed infringers as John Doe defendants to allow future enforcement.

This comes after the court addressed the growing challenge posed by “hydra-headed” piracy websites, which routinely mask ownership and replicate via mirror domains.

“The rights of an intellectual property holder cannot be rendered otiose in this world of rapidly developing technology,” the order observed.

The judgement referenced recent rulings such as Universal City Studios v. Dotmovies.baby and Applause Entertainment v. Meta Platforms, reflecting evolving judicial strategies to curb digital piracy. The matter is scheduled for the next hearing on 13 October 2025. In the interim, JioStar has been directed to file regular affidavits identifying any new infringing domains during the India–England series.

July 1, 2025
APOS 2025: How JioStar turns sports into co-creation, not just consumption

BALI: JioStar is no longer content with just broadcasting sport—it’s rewriting the production storybook altogether. Speaking at APOS 2025 in Bali, JioStar head of sports production services & technology Prashant Khanna laid out a bold vision: India as the epicentre of global sports innovation.

“We don’t just see ourselves as broadcasters or production partners,” Khanna said during a high-energy fireside chat. “We’re in the business of helping India create iconic sporting memories.”

Khanna spotlighted JioStar’s end-to-end reimagining of the sports viewing experience—infused with tech, empathy, and staggering interactivity. Think sign-language feeds, descriptive audio for the visually impaired, vertical videos, motion-capture-powered kids’ streams, and multi-cam toggles.

“The modern fan doesn’t want to just watch—they want to co-create,” Khanna stressed. “Millions are producing their own version of the game in real time. That’s the expectation.”

A major catalyst behind this transformation? Starlab, JioStar’s in-house innovation unit that’s quietly building a cloud-native production stack in collaboration with AWS, creators, and start-ups. The result: hyper-personalised, scalable, and immersive experiences beamed across devices in formats fans choose.

Khanna also highlighted JioStar’s deep investment in talent pipelines through its partnership with the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies—a government-led effort to skill the next generation in sports and live production.

“It’s not just about what audiences see today. It’s about who shapes that experience tomorrow,” he said.
Citing the recently concluded 18th season of the IPL as a “turning point,” Khanna revealed the company’s key takeaway: audiences don’t want passive content anymore.

““It’s been an eye-opener every single time, but this year, our biggest learning was how deeply involved the consumer is. They no longer want to passively consume what you’re serving them—they want to be part of shaping how the game unfolds over those 4–5 hours.”

“We saw this play out every day for 2.5 months, through a variety of formats and platforms. Whether it was widescreen or vertical video, Sunday cohort feeds, or kids’ IPs brought to life through motion capture, the engagement was constant. It reinforced that delivering the game in a way fans understand and love is no longer optional-it’s essential,” he said.

With India firmly on the front foot, JioStar’s playbook proves one thing: the future of sport is no longer just played. It’s produced, personalised, and powered by fans.

June 27, 2025
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.”

June 26, 2025