Following the merger between Reliance and Disney, a significant decision has been made regarding the broadcasting of sports events, including the highly anticipated IPL 2025. According to a Reuters report, all cricket and sports events will no longer be available on Jio Cinema, with plans to shift them to Disney+ Hotstar. Currently, Jio Cinema holds the digital rights for cricket matches in India, while Disney+ Hotstar has the rights for ICC tournaments.
Details of the Reliance-Disney Merger
The merger between Reliance Industries and Disney India was finalized in February 2024, with a deal worth USD 8.5 billion (approximately Rs 71,455 crore). This joint venture now manages 120 TV channels and two streaming platforms, Jio Cinema and Disney+ Hotstar. Reports suggest that major sports events like IPL 2025 will move to Disney+ Hotstar, although no official announcement has been made by the company yet.
Jio Cinema and Hotstar Sports Rights
Jio Cinema currently retains broadcasting rights for the IPL, English Premier League, and the Domestic Pro Kabaddi League. On the other hand, Disney+ Hotstar holds the rights for a variety of sporting events in addition to ICC tournaments. Recently, Hotstar’s India head, Sajith Sivanandan, notified team members of plans to transfer live sports streaming from Jio Cinema to Hotstar.
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Reason Behind the Shift
The decision to transition sports events from Jio Cinema to Disney+ Hotstar may be driven by Hotstar’s advanced technology for live streaming and its expertise in managing targeted advertising. Hotstar’s track record includes achieving record viewership of 59 million during the ODI Cricket World Cup final, highlighting its reliable live-streaming capabilities. The complete shift of sports content is expected by January 2025.
Future of Entertainment Content
As of now, there is no official word on whether entertainment content from Jio Cinema and Disney+ Hotstar will be integrated, or if one platform will be discontinued post-transition. The merger received approval from the Competition Commission of India (CCI) in August 2024, and further updates on the future of the platforms are awaited.
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