Reliance Jio announced on Monday that it will introduce charges for streaming Indian Premier League (IPL) matches, marking the end of two years of complimentary access to the nation’s most-watched annual sporting event.
The telecom giant said on Monday that customers who recharge for Rs 299 or more will continue to get free access to IPL matches through JioHotstar, the newly formed streaming service under the Reliance-Disney joint venture.
Under the new subscription model, JioHotstar has launched a special offer in which users can enjoy watching IPL 2025 matches for free. The telecom major has launched a special IPL 2025 pack that provides 90 days of free JioHotstar, ultra-fast internet, OTT content, and home entertainment in an immersive experience through JioFiber/AirFiber trials.
For the record, IPL 2025 will run from March 22 through to May 25.
Last month, Reuters reported that the Reliance-Disney JV would no longer offer completely free IPL streaming like it did in 2023 and 2024 on JioCinema.
Instead, the company will adopt a hybrid approach, requiring a subscription once users surpass a specified content consumption threshold.
To make its new plans more attractive, Jio is bundling a 50-day trial of its broadband internet services. This is seen as a move to get more users to try its high-speed internet and push deeper into home broadband.
Billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s pricing strategy for IPL and other cricketing events is closely monitored, as media rights for such content have cost the merged entity — India’s largest entertainment conglomerate — approximately $10 billion in recent years.
The joint venture currently operates more than 100 television channels and streaming applications within India’s $28-billion media and entertainment industry.
