Hotstar draws a record 59 million concurrent viewers for the Cricket World Cup final, cementing its lead over rival JioCinema. However, Disney is still evaluating Hotstar’s future in India amid falling subscribers, shifting focus away from the market, and talks with potential partners.
Summary
Disney’s Indian streaming service Hotstar shattered its concurrent viewership record during Sunday’s Cricket World Cup final.
The match drew 59 million simultaneous viewers, topping Hotstar’s previous record of 53 million set earlier in the tournament.
Hotstar’s lead over JioCinema
The new milestone cements Hotstar’s lead over rival streamer JioCinema, backed by billionaire Mukesh Ambani, which peaked at 32 million concurrent viewers this year.
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Disney’s evaluation of Hotstar’s future
The achievement comes as Disney has seen a steep drop in Hotstar subscribers, losing over 23 million in the past year.
Earlier this month, Disney CEO Bob Iger said the company is evaluating Hotstar’s future in India amid the challenging market conditions.
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Disney’s talks with potential partners
Iger stated Disney “would like to stay” in India and has held talks with potential partners like Ambani’s Reliance and private equity firms about the Hotstar business.
Disney’s shift in focus
However, the changing landscape has forced Disney to shift focus away from India to its core operations.
Ambani’s Viacom18 also poached several former Hotstar executives and paid $3 billion for exclusive cricket streaming rights, the same amount Disney spends for TV broadcasting.
High hopes for engaging Indian viewers
The ongoing Cricket World Cup offered Disney high hopes for engaging Indian viewers. Internal projections showed Hotstar could reach over 50 million concurrent viewers during the tournament.
While uncertainties remain, Hotstar’s record-shattering viewership proves the streaming service can still draw massive audiences for significant live sports events as Disney weighs its India strategy.
