Disney’s Hotstar Sets Global Streaming Record with Cricket World Cup Final
In India, cricket isn’t just a sport—it’s a national phenomenon. The recent ICC Cricket World Cup final between India and Australia proved this yet again, as Disney’s Hotstar platform achieved a staggering 59 million concurrent viewers, setting a new global streaming record.
Breaking Records in Real-Time
- Historic Milestone: Surpassed the previous record of 53 million concurrent viewers set during the India vs. New Zealand semifinal just days earlier
- Unrivaled Dominance: Maintains a significant lead over compe***** JioCinema (Viacom18), which peaked at 32 million concurrent viewers during IPL 2023
- Longevity: With no major cricket events scheduled soon, this record will likely stand for at least six months
Strategic Context for Disney
This achievement comes at a pivotal moment for Disney’s Indian operations:
- Subscriber Challenges: Hotstar has lost over 23 million subscribers in the past year
- Free Streaming Strategy: Disney offered ICC World Cup matches at no cost to mobile viewers in India
- Business Evaluation: CEO Bob Iger confirms Disney is “considering options” for its India business while wanting to maintain presence
The Competitive Landscape
The Indian streaming market is undergoing significant shifts:
- Reliance’s Aggressive Moves: Mukesh Ambani’s Viacom18 has invested $3 billion in IPL streaming rights and poached key Star India executives
- Disney’s Counter: Spending approximately $3 billion on IPL TV broadcasting rights
- Investor Backing: Viacom18 enjoys support from Bodhi Tree, led by former Fox executives Uday Shankar and James Murdoch
The Cricket Streaming Gold Rush
Disney had high expectations for the ICC Cricket World Cup:
- Projected Reach: Internal documents showed confidence in attracting over 50 million concurrent viewers
- Market Penetration: Estimated to reach 82% of India’s annual video users during the 50-day tournament
This record-breaking performance demonstrates cricket’s unparalleled power in Indian digital entertainment, even as streaming platforms navigate a rapidly evolving competitive landscape.
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