Disney+ Hotstar has confirmed free coverage of the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024 on its mobile application. The tournament is scheduled to take place in the West Indies and the USA from June 2 to 29.
There’s a catch though. While mobile users will enjoy complimentary access to the matches, fans wishing to watch on smart TVs and laptops online will need to purchase a subscription.
This will be the third multi-country cricket tournament in a row that Disney’s OTT platform will be offering without any subscription charges on its mobile app. The 2023 Asia Cup and ICC ODI World Cup were also offered free by the streamer as a response to the decision by then rival network Reliance’s JioCinema to deliver the IPL for free.
Walt Disney Co and Reliance Industries recently announced a significant merger of their media operations in India. This merger, valued at Rs 70,000 crore, aims to create a formidable entity in the media landscape.
Under the agreement, Reliance and its affiliates will hold a majority stake of 63.16% in the combined entity, which will encompass two streaming services and 120 television channels. Disney will retain the remaining 36.84%.
As part of the deal, Reliance will inject Rs 11,500 crore into the joint venture upon its completion, bolstering its capabilities to compete with industry rivals such as Sony and Netflix.
This consolidation comes amidst Disney+ Hotstar facing a decline in its paid subscriber base, dropping from approximately 55 million to about 40 million in the first quarter of FY24, largely attributed to Reliance’s Jio Cinema securing exclusive rights for live sports. The combined entity is poised to become the largest OTT subscriber base, signaling a significant shift in the Indian media landscape.
POSTSCRIPT: So the Big Q is this… Will this be the last major international cricketing tournament that will be offered for free by the streamer on its mobile application? Seen from this perch, wethinks so. Now that the Indian broadcast arena is for all worthwhile intents and purposes operate under one dominant network, there will be a “price to pay” for the till now mollycoddled Indian consumer sooner rather than later.
