Jiohotstar is making waves in the OTT space, closing in on Netflix with a whopping 300 million subscribers. The domestic streaming giant announced this milestone on Wednesday, coming incredibly close to Netflix’s last reported figure of 301.63 million. The gap between the two is now razor-thin, signaling a fierce battle for dominance in the streaming world.
What’s driving this explosive growth? The recently concluded Tata IPL seems to have played a massive role. Back in February, Jiohotstar had only 50 million subscribers, but the cricketing extravaganza turbocharged those numbers. By May, the platform had surged to 280 million, and now it stands at an impressive 300 million. Cricket isn’t just a sport in India—it’s a subscriber magnet.
This year’s IPL wasn’t just another season. It shattered records, with digital viewership hitting 652 million, overtaking TV viewership at 537 million. This marked the first time digital outpaced traditional television for the league. The numbers come from a report by Jiostar, the parent company born from the merger of Reliance’s Jiocinema and Disney+ Hotstar earlier this year.
Sanjog Gupta, Jiostar’s Chief Executive for Sports and Live Experiences, didn’t just celebrate the viewership spike. He highlighted how it translated into revenue. “We’ve made this IPL the most monetised edition ever,” he said. “It’s the highest-grossing sporting event in India across both advertising and subscription revenue.”
The financial stakes were already sky-high. In 2022, Disney Star snapped up TV rights for the IPL with a staggering Rs 23,575 crore bid for five years. Reliance-backed Viacom18 secured digital rights with a Rs 20,500 crore investment. Clearly, the league isn’t just a game—it’s big business.
Digital viewership saw a 5.16% jump from last year’s 620 million, back when the platform was still known as Jiocinema. Television, however, dipped slightly by 1.6%, dropping from 546 million in 2024. The shift to digital is undeniable, and platforms like Jiohotstar are reaping the rewards.
The final showdown between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings was a fitting climax. The match, won by Virat Kohli’s RCB, drew 237 million digital viewers and 189 million on TV. These numbers aren’t just impressive—they’re a testament to how deeply cricket is woven into India’s digital fabric.
From 50 million to 300 million in just a few months—Jiohotstar’s rise is nothing short of meteoric. With the IPL as its catalyst, the platform is now a serious contender against global giants. The streaming wars just got a lot more interesting.