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Disney-Reliance Joint Venture to Exclusively Stream Live Sports on Disney+ Hotstar!

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Hotstar - StartupStories

All live sports content from the newly formed Disney-Reliance joint venture in India, including the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket, will now stream exclusively on Disney+ Hotstar, according to three sources familiar with the development. This strategic move is poised to reshape the landscape of sports broadcasting in India.

Implications of the Joint Venture

The decision signals that Reliance, which holds a majority stake in the venture, does not intend to shut down the Disney+ Hotstar platform, though the possibility of a rebranding remains uncertain. Neither Disney nor Reliance has issued any official comment on the matter as of now.

Merger Overview

The $8.5 billion (approximately ₹71,455 crore) merger, announced in February, aims to create India’s largest entertainment company by combining 120 TV channels and two streaming platforms. However, the companies have not yet disclosed the full strategy for integration or operations.

Current Streaming Rights Landscape

While Reliance’s JioCinema currently holds the streaming rights for IPL cricket, the Winter Olympics, and the Indian Super League (ISL) football, Disney+ Hotstar has secured rights to International Cricket Council (ICC) tournaments, the English Premier League, and the Pro Kabaddi League.

Consolidation of Live Sports Streaming

According to one source, the decision to consolidate live sports streaming on Hotstar was shared by Sajith Sivanandan, head of Disney+ Hotstar, during a recent town hall meeting. The move leverages Hotstar’s superior back-end infrastructure, which excels at managing high-traffic live events and delivering targeted ads. The transition is expected to be completed by January.

Uncertainties Ahead

Despite the shift of live sports to Hotstar, the fate of other entertainment content remains unclear. It is uncertain whether both apps will continue to operate independently or if one will eventually be phased out. This ambiguity raises questions about user experience and brand identity for both platforms.

Regulatory Approval and Market Impact

The merger was approved by India’s competition regulator in August following concessions from both companies, including a pledge not to increase advertising rates unfairly to address concerns about their dominant position in cricket broadcasting.

Audience Engagement

Disney+ Hotstar is known for its reliability in streaming live events—a crucial factor in cricket-obsessed India. Last year, it set a record with 59 million concurrent viewers during the men’s cricket World Cup final, highlighting its technical strength in handling massive audiences without disruptions.

Conclusion

The exclusive streaming of live sports on Disney+ Hotstar represents a significant shift in India’s media landscape, consolidating power among major players. As Reliance and Disney navigate this new terrain, their ability to integrate operations while maintaining audience engagement will be critical.

With substantial investments and strategic partnerships at play, this joint venture could redefine how sports content is consumed in India, potentially setting new standards for streaming services in an increasingly competitive market.

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Funding

Info Edge Delivers 36% Returns on Startup Investments

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Infoedge

Info Edge, the parent of Naukri.com, has achieved a 36% gross internal rate of return (IRR) on its startup investments since 2007, turning a total investment of INR 3,959 crore across 111 startups into a portfolio now valued at INR 36,855 crore-a nearly 9X gain. Early bets on Zomato and Policybazaar have been especially lucrative, with holdings in these two companies alone worth INR 31,500 crore as of March 2025.

The company’s investment strategy spans multiple vehicles, including the SEBI-registered Info Edge Venture Fund (IEVF), Info Edge Capital, and Capital 2B, with a combined fund corpus of INR 3,423 crore and Info Edge committing INR 1,614 crore. Early-stage investments now contribute 30-40% of the company’s overall value.

Info Edge’s Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) investments have yielded an IRR of 18.7%. Many portfolio companies, such as TrueMeds, Geniemode, Attentive.ai, and InPrime, have attracted follow-on funding from major investors like Accel, Peak XV Partners, and Tiger Global. Notably, BlueStone, the largest investment of Info Edge Capital, has filed for an IPO after securing investments from Prosus, Peak XV, and Steadview Capital.

Founder Sanjeev Bikhchandani emphasized the company’s focus on strong governance and financial controls, with a preference for value realization through public listings or strategic exits.

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Phab Raises $2M Seed Funding to Expand Healthy Snacking Brand

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PHAB

Phab, the D2C healthy snacking brand co-founded by Ankit Chona of ice cream brand Hocco and his wife Gayatri Chona, has raised $2 million (around ₹17 crore) in a seed funding round led by OTP Ventures, with participation from Capri Global, Sim&San law firm, and angel investors.

Founded in 2018, phab offers protein bars and healthy milkshakes, leveraging Ankit’s decade-long food industry experience and Gayatri’s expertise as a certified nutritionist. The brand has sold over 2 million units and sells through e-commerce and quick commerce platforms like Amazon, Flipkart, Zepto, and Blinkit.

Despite a 12% dip in operating revenue to ₹5 crore in FY24, phab trimmed its net loss by nearly 3% to ₹6.8 crore, showing improved efficiency.

The new funds will be used to expand the team, invest in production capacity, and grow phab’s presence across digital, quick commerce, and offline channels. The brand competes with Yoga Bar, Beyond Snack, and The Whole Truth in India’s growing $68 billion healthy snacking market. OTP Ventures’ founding partner Suhail Sameer praised phab’s bold, differentiated approach and the founders’ vision, signaling strong investor confidence in the brand’s growth potential.

 

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GlobalBees CEO Nitin Agarwal Steps Down; Anuj Jain Appointed as Successor

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GlobalBee

Nitin Agarwal, cofounder and CEO of GlobalBees-the e-commerce roll-up subsidiary of FirstCry-has resigned, effective April 24, 2025, citing personal reasons. Agarwal, who helped GlobalBees achieve unicorn status within months of its 2021 founding, will support the company’s transition until May 23, 2025.

Anuj Jain, a FirstCry veteran with over 23 years of experience and a background at ITC and L’Oréal, will take over as CEO from April 25, 2025. Jain previously led FirstCry’s pre-school segment and served as Senior Vice President of Marketing at Brainbees Solutions.

Agarwal’s departure follows several recent leadership changes within the FirstCry group. GlobalBees, which invests in D2C brands across various sectors, contributed ₹1,209 crore to FirstCry’s FY24 revenue, highlighting its strategic significance. With Jain’s appointment, the company aims to continue its strong growth in the D2C space.

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