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

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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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Imarticus Learning Acquires MyCaptain for INR 50 Crore to Boost Non-Tech Upskilling

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My Captain

Imarticus Learning, an IPO-bound professional education firm, has acquired Bengaluru-based edtech platform MyCaptain for INR 50 crore in a cash-and-stock deal. This marks Imarticus’s fourth acquisition in four years and is aimed at expanding its presence in non-tech career training, especially across India’s Tier-II and Tier-III cities. MyCaptain, which has over 500,000 learners and a revenue of ₹27 crore for FY25, specializes in creative and entrepreneurial fields, with 60% of its users from smaller cities.

 

With this acquisition, Imarticus will bring MyCaptain’s employability bootcamps in digital marketing, design, and content to its 20+ classroom centers in 16 cities, blending online and offline learning. MyCaptain will operate as a fully-owned subsidiary, and all 250 of its employees will join Imarticus, expanding the combined workforce to over 850. The move supports Imarticus’s goal to reach five million learners by FY28 and deepen its offerings in non-tech domains.

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Kingdom of Innovation: Saudi Arabia Tops Global Startup Growth Rankings for 2025

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Saudi Arabia has been named the fastest-growing startup ecosystem in the world in the 2025 StartupBlink Global Startup Ecosystem Index, with a growth rate exceeding 200%—the only country in the global top 100 to achieve this milestone. This surge has earned the Kingdom the “Country of the Year” title, highlighting its transformation into a global innovation leader.

The report ranks 110 countries and 1,400 cities, with three Saudi cities—led by Riyadh—making the global top 1,000. Riyadh entered the world’s top 100 startup cities, posting a 134% growth rate, and solidifying its role as a regional tech hub.

Saudi Arabia now leads globally in HealthTech, nanotechnology, and transport tech, and ranks among the top in sectors like fintech, e-commerce, logistics, and gaming. The Kingdom’s rapid progress is fueled by Vision 2030, robust government support, and record venture capital investment, making it the most funded VC market in MENA.

Startups such as Tabby, Tamara, and Jahez exemplify this momentum, as Saudi Arabia emerges as a top destination for innovation and entrepreneurship.

 

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SC Grants Relief to Paytm’s First Games, Stays Massive GST Notice

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The Supreme Court of India has granted interim relief to Paytm’s gaming arm, First Games, by staying proceedings on a ₹5,712 crore GST notice issued by the Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI). The notice, sent in April 2025, demanded GST for the period January 2018 to March 2023, based on the department’s view that 28% GST should be levied on the total entry amount, rather than the 18% GST currently paid on platform fees.

First Games challenged the notice in the Supreme Court, which on May 23, 2025, ordered a stay on all further proceedings until a final decision is reached. The dispute is part of a broader industry-wide debate over the correct GST treatment for real money gaming platforms, with similar cases pending before the court. Following the stay, Paytm shares rose nearly 2% in early trading, reflecting investor optimism.

The Supreme Court’s order provides temporary relief to First Games and signals ongoing judicial scrutiny of GST demands across India’s online gaming sector.

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