In a significant development for cricket fans, the streaming rights for IPL 2025 will move from JioCinema to Disney+ Hotstar. This change follows the merger between Reliance Industries and Disney, valued at approximately ₹71,455 crores ($8.5 billion), finalized in February 2024. The merger integrates 120 TV channels and both streaming platforms.
Reports indicate that all live sports events, including IPL matches, will now be streamed exclusively on Disney+ Hotstar. JioCinema previously held the digital rights for IPL and other cricket events in India, but the transition aims to utilize Hotstar’s superior live streaming technology, which achieved record viewership of 59 million during the men’s Cricket World Cup finals last year.
The switch is expected to be completed by January 2025, marking the IPL’s return to Hotstar after it lost streaming rights in 2022. While JioCinema will retain rights for events like the English Premier League, Disney+ Hotstar is poised to become the primary destination for cricket fans once again, though it remains unclear if the two platforms will merge or operate separately.