Reliance Jio to End Free IPL Cricket Streaming in India After Two Years
Jio Introduces ₹299 Subscription Plan for IPL Streaming on JioHotstar Under Reliance-Disney JV
Reliance Jio to Stop Free IPL Cricket Streaming in India After Two Years
Mumbai: Reliance Jio has declared that it will stop free IPL streaming in India, a change in its digital strategy. Following two years of free Indian Premier League (IPL) streaming, the telecommunication giant confirmed on Monday that customers will now need to subscribe to a paid plan to view matches.
JioHotstar to Stream IPL Under Paid Subscription
The new plan of the company begins at ₹299 for mobile subscribers, granting access to IPL matches through JioHotstar—the recently released streaming service under the Reliance-Disney joint venture. The move brings an end to free IPL streaming, which was being offered on JioCinema in 2023 and 2024.
IPL 2025: A New Era of Paid Streaming
The IPL tournament continues to be India’s highest-rated sporting event with millions of viewers every season. The next season will be held between March 22 and May 25, 2025. With Jio shifting to a paid model, much of the content will only be free for a limited time, after which users will have to pay up.
Jio’s Strategy: Bundling Broadband with IPL Subscriptions
To lure new customers, Jio is offering a 50-day trial of broadband with its new plans. This is part of an effort to grow its home internet business, riding on the huge viewership of the IPL.
Reliance-Disney Joint Venture and the Cost of Media Rights
Mukesh Ambani’s pricing strategy for cricket content has always been closely watched. The Reliance-Disney joint venture has spent nearly $10 billion on media rights for IPL and other major cricket events. The new subscription-based model is seen as a way to recover these massive investments.
With more than 100 TV channels and several streaming platforms, Reliance-Disney JV continues to be a force to reckon with in India’s $28 billion entertainment market. But whether the switch from free to paid IPL streaming will prove as challenging or acceptably successful remains to be seen.
