News

From cricket to Coldplay, one executive is redefining how India consumes live entertainment.

As India’s entertainment landscape undergoes seismic shifts, few executives are positioned as strategically as Sanjog Gupta. One of three CEOs at JioStar – alongside Kiran Mani (CEO – Digital) and Kevin Vaz (CEO – Entertainment) – Gupta oversees sports and live experiences across a sprawling empire that includes Star Sports on television, JioHotstar on digital, ESPN Cricinfo, and the company’s league-owning businesses Mashal (Pro Kabaddi League) and Football [soccer] Sports Development Limited.

With over two decades in media and entertainment, Gupta has emerged as one of the architects of India’s modern sports ecosystem. His fingerprints are on marquee cricket properties like Icc cricket World Cups and the Indian Premier League (Ipl) cricket tournament, domestic leagues like the Pkl and Indian Super League, and global events including the Premier League and Wimbledon.

But Gupta’s ambitions extend far beyond sports.

India’s JioHotstar has achieved what few streaming platforms have managed globally, doubling its subscriber base to 100 million just six weeks after launch.

The milestone represents an extraordinary achievement for the platform, which emerged from the $8.5 billion merger of India’s Reliance Industries and Disney‘s Indian media assets. The deal combined Disney’s Star India with Reliance’s Viacom18 and streaming platforms JioCinema and Hotstar. At the time of launch, JioHotstar had approximately 45 million subscribers, with both platforms collectively delivering about 180-200 million monthly active users.

Now, Kiran Mani, CEO — Digital of parent company JioStar, has revealed the strategy behind the streaming platform’s meteoric rise to over 100 million subscribers.

“In that sheer short span of time, in six weeks, our subscription base was at about 45 to 50 million subs. And in just six weeks, I would say that we are well north of the triple digit number,” Mani tells Variety.

Jiostar unveiled record-breaking viewership figures from the opening week of its Tata Indian Premier League (Ipl) 2025 broadcast.

Kicking off on March 22, the cricket league has notched a cumulative watch time of 49.56 billion minutes across the JioHotstar platform and Star Sports Network so far.

On JioHotstar, digital viewership of the first three matches was 40% higher than last season, fueled by a 54% surge in connected TV consumption. The first three matches have accumulated 1.37 billion views and 21.86 billion minutes of watch time.

On the television side, the opening weekend of the popular cricket league set new records, drawing over 253 million viewers and clocking 27.7 billion minutes of watch time, which forms a 22% surge from last year, as per Barc data.

The average television viewership rating for the first three matches was up by 39% compared to the previous season.

“The record-breaking viewership across digital and TV platforms over the opening weekend of Tata Ipl 2025 reaffirms...

Indian media powerhouse JioStar is celebrating a jaw-dropping victory of its own after the opening weekend of cricket’s Indian Premier League (Ipl) 2025 shattered viewership records across both digital and traditional platforms.

The 18th edition of the wildly popular cricket tournament kicked off with unprecedented audience numbers, amassing 49.56 billion minutes of cumulative watch time across JioHotstar’s streaming platform and the Star Sports Network.

Digital viewership on JioHotstar jumped 40% compared to last season’s opening, powered by a 54% surge in connected TV consumption. The platform registered 1.37 billion views, reached a peak concurrency of 34 million simultaneous viewers, and racked up 21.86 billion minutes of watch time from just the first three matches.

Television metrics were equally impressive. According to Barc data, the opening weekend drew over 253 million viewers to their TV screens, with 27.7 billion minutes of watch time – representing a 22% year-over-year increase. The average television viewership rating (Tvr) skyrocketed by 39% compared to last season’s opening.

JioHotstar, the Indian streamer, has passed 100 million subscribers.

The service launched in February following the merger of Reliance Industries’ Viacom18 and Disney’s media assets in India, with its bosses telling Deadline, “At our scale, we can’t afford to fail.”

It appears to be so far, so good, with the streamer today revealing the nine-figure subs base, putting it in a good position against rivals such as Netflix and Prime Video.

With predecessors JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar both having millions of subscribers, the news perhaps isn’t unexpected, but the company said JioStar CEO of Digitial Kiran Mani said the “milestone not only underscores India’s limitless potential but also strengthens our commitment to pioneering category-first experiences at an unprecedented scale.”

“We have always believed that world-class entertainment should be accessible to all, and crossing 100 million subscribers is a testament to that vision.”

Mani and his team have consistently...

Streamer JioHotstar has surpassed 100 million subscribers, the company revealed Thursday, marking a significant development in India’s digital entertainment sector.

The milestone underscores the platform’s successful strategy in converting streaming services from a premium offering to an essential component of daily media consumption for many Indian viewers. The achievement reflects the company’s approach to content accessibility through strategic pricing models and telecommunications partnerships that have expanded its reach across the country.

The streaming service has established itself particularly in sports broadcasting, securing rights to major cricket tournaments including Icc events, the Indian Premier League (Ipl), and the Women’s Premier League. JioHotstar has implemented technical innovations in its sports coverage, including 4K ultra-hd streaming, AI-enhanced analytics, real-time statistical displays, interactive features, multi-camera perspectives, and voice command functionality. These technologies have been deployed during recent major sporting events such as the Icc Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 and the current Ipl 2025 season.

JioHotstar has cemented its position as India’s streaming powerhouse, revealing staggering viewership numbers for the recently concluded Icc Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 cricket tournament. The tournament culminated in a nail-biting final where India triumphed over New Zealand, delivering eye-popping metrics that underscore the platform’s dominance in the world’s largest cricket market.

The streaming service reported a total of 5.4 billion views across the tournament, with viewers logging a cumulative watch time of nearly 110 billion minutes. The India-New Zealand final alone generated an unprecedented 1.24 billion views and reached a peak concurrent viewership of 61.2 million users.

Hindi-speaking regions drove over 38% of the platform’s total audience, with states including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Goa, Punjab, and Haryana leading consumption patterns. JioHotstar also flexed its technical muscle by achieving more than 80% penetration in WiFi-enabled connected TV households, with Maharashtra recording the highest viewership in this segment.

“The overwhelming response to the...

Welcome back to your weekly International Insider. Jesse Whittock on the buttons to guide you through the top TV and film news. Click here to subscribe to the newsletter.

Berlin Begins

Straight to a snowy Berlin, where Zac has this report…

Tilda’s the talk of the town: The Berlin Film Festival kicked off Thursday evening with a brief ceremony that, despite all its German sensibility, belonged to Scottish actor Tilda Swinton. The Oscar winner was in town to receive the festival’s achievement award, and she gave a rousing speech touching on global politics. “The inhumane is being perpetrated on our watch,” she bellowed from the stage, before taking a swipe at Donald Trump in her rebuke of “efforts of occupation, colonization, takeover, ownership or the development of Riviera property.” The growing dominance of streamers should “encourage them to spend a large chunk of their squillions on building renovating...

When Mumbai commercial powerhouse Reliance Industries and Disney India decided to team up and form India’s largest broadcasting, production and streaming business, it was clear the ambition was as big as the $8.5 billion price tag slapped on the deal.

Reliance, owned by India’s most wealthy man, Mukesh Ambali, had control of channels biz Viacom18 plus ultra-popular low-cost streamer JioCinema and its sports content for a cricket-mad nation, while The Walt Disney Company’s Indian assets included Disney+ Hotstar, the leading streaming service in the country after its 2021 launch, and the Star India networks. When the Sony and Zee Entertainment Enterprises merger collapsed under the weight of regulatory scrutiny, the pathway became even clearer for the new kid on the block to assert dominance.

With a content library totaling more than 30,000 hours and estimated annual revenues of more than $3.1B, the newly named JioStar was set to get going,...

In a landmark move that reshapes India’s streaming landscape, JioStar has unveiled JioHotstar, merging JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar. The unified platform, launching Feb. 14, boasts nearly 300,000 hours of content and claims a user base exceeding 500 million.

The move follows the events of 2024 when the Indian entertainment landscape witnessed a seismic shift with Reliance Industries and Disney completing their long-awaited media merger, giving birth to JioStar – a media powerhouse valued at $8.5 billion. The merger combined Disney’s Star India with Reliance’s Viacom18 and their respective platforms.

With the company structured under three distinct leaderships – Kiran Mani (CEO – Digital), Kevin Vaz (CEO – Broadcast Entertainment), and Sanjog Gupta (CEO – Sports) – JioStar operates with a shared vision of universalizing entertainment access. Mani, a seasoned digital strategist who previously led Google’s Android and Play Ecosystems in Asia-Pacific and Japan, is spearheading the company’s digital operations. Vaz, a veteran entertainment executive instrumental in...

Disney+ Hotstar’s exclusive livestream of Coldplay’s Ahmedabad, India, concert attracted 8.3 million views and accumulated 165 million minutes of watch time during the three-hour broadcast on Jan. 26.

The British rock band’s performance at Narendra Modi Stadium, which drew a massive crowd of 111,989 attendees, kicked off with frontman Chris Martin winning hearts by greeting the audience both in the Hindi and Gujarati languages. In a tribute to India’s 75th Republic Day celebrations, Martin performed “Vande Mataram,” the national song, electrifying the packed stadium.

The concert, which marked a significant milestone in India’s entertainment landscape as Disney+ Hotstar’s first music livestream, saw cricket star Jasprit Bumrah in attendance, with Martin dedicating a special performance to the fast bowler. The evening began with performances by local talent Jasleen Royal, along with Shone and Elyanna, who later joined Coldplay on stage for a collaborative rendition of “We Pray.” The opening...

Reflecting positive streaming trends at other media conglomerates, Disney leadership said in a Q4 and full year earnings call that the direct to consumer business saw profitability improve at the end of fiscal 2024 as subscribers and the company’s overall financial metrics exceeded expectations.

The company’s streaming business showed improved profitability of $321m compared to a $387m loss a year ago, and revenues climbed 15% to $5.8bn.

Disney+ Core subscribers, excluding Disney+ Hotstar in India, increased by 4% and 4.4million over last quarter to reach 122.7m, of which 66.7m come from international markets and 56m from North America. Disney+ Core subscribers...

India’s entertainment landscape shifted Thursday as Reliance Industries and Disney completed their long-awaited media merger, creating an Indian powerhouse valued at $8.5 billion. The deal combines Disney’s Star India with Reliance’s Viacom18 and streaming platforms JioCinema and Hotstar.

Nita M. Ambani will chair the joint venture, with media veteran Uday Shankar serving as vice chair. The merger received regulatory approvals from multiple jurisdictions, including India’s Competition Commission.

Reliance pumped $1.4 billion in growth capital into the venture, which will control over 100 TV channels and produce 30,000+ hours of annual content. The combined entity reported revenue of approximately $3.1 billion for the fiscal year 2024.

The ownership structure breaks down to Reliance Industries holding 16.34%, Viacom18 with 46.82%, and Disney maintaining 36.84%. In a separate transaction, Reliance acquired Paramount Global’s 13.01% stake in Viacom18 for about $507 million.

The joint venture’s leadership team includes Kevin Vaz heading entertainment, Kiran Mani leading digital operations, and Sanjog Gupta overseeing sports.

Disney and Reliance Industries have completed the $8.5B deal to form a media and entertainment giant in India.

This brings together Reliance’s JioCinema business with Disney’s Star India, which houses Disney+ Hotstar, under one roof. No name has been set for the joint venture just yet, but it is now operational after approval from the the Hon’ble Nclt Mumbai, Competition Commission of India and other regulatory authorities.

The transaction is valued at ₹70,352 crore ($8.5B) on a post-money basis, excluding synergies. Reliance will effectively be in control of the venture, owning 16.34% directly and another 46.82% through Viacom18, which is consolidated earlier this year. Disney will have the remaining 36.84%. Industry giant Reliance is planning to pump ₹11,500 crore into the Jv.

Reliance’s Nita M. Ambani will be the Chair of the Jv, with Indian dealmaker and former Disney Indian boss Uday Shankar, who runs Bodhi Tree Systems with James Murdoch,...

Going Dutch (Again)

The International Film Festival Rotterdam has appointed Marten Rabarts to the position of head of IFFR Pro, its market strand, effective immediately. Recently, Rabarts served as festival director at the New Zealand International Film Festival. His extensive global career also has significant legacy in the Netherlands, both as head of Eye International (now SeeNL) – where he was responsible for the promotion of Dutch film and film culture worldwide for four years and as artistic director of the Binger Filmlab in Amsterdam for 12 years. Rabarts will work closely with IFFR’s festival director, Vanja Kaludjercic, and report into chief of content, Melissa van der Schoor.

The IFFR Pro remit covers the co-production market CineMart, Pro Hub and talent development programs, including Rotterdam Lab. The festival regards it as nurturing talent and providing them with the tools and networks to develop projects and careers.

The 54th edition of IFFR will take place from Jan.

The Apos conference in Bali ended yesterday after a series of talks from the biggest players in Asia, and the main theme to merge was a cry for collaboration in streaming.

The likes of Warner Bros Discovery, Prime Video, U-Next, Viu and Canal+ all talked up partnerships as a key route to engaging and attracting subscribers during their sessions at the luxurious Ayana Resort in Indonesia.

Gaurav Gandhi, Vice President, Asia Pacific & Mena for Prime Video, told delegates that the Apac region was one where Amazon is at “different stages,” meaning “strategies differ depending on where the journey is.”

In a session also including Yosuke Ishibashi, Head of Content for Prime Video Japan, Gandhi talked through Amazon’s path from being a goods provider to a content provider. He said that in Japan, it was “super important to think about partnership and collaboration.”

Among the six key “pillars” of Prime...

Billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s streamer JioCinema is making a play to become India’s top streaming service by introducing cheap premium tier plans.

From April 25, the service’s existing INR999 ($12) annual plan for international premium content is being replaced by a monthly plan of INR29 (35 cents) for a single device or INR89 ($1.05) monthly for a family plan that covers four devices. The new plans are branded JioCinema Premium and will be up to 4K streaming quality.

JioCinema’s sports content that includes the lucrative Indian Premier League (Ipl) cricket tournament will continue to be available for free as an AVOD service. In 2022, Ambani’s Viacom18, which owns JioCinema, had paid $3 billion for digital rights to the Ipl, outbidding then rival Disney, who paid a similar amount for only the broadcast TV rights. Viacom18 and Disney’s Star India are in the process of merging in an $8.5 billion deal.

Last month,...