Analyzing Sports Streaming in India starting with JioCinema
Series of newsletters focused on the "Sports" streaming landscape in India
Hey Streamers 👋,
A warm welcome to the 59th edition of the “Streaming in India” newsletter, your weekly news digest about streaming players, OTT trends, and analyses. If you are not already a subscriber, please sign up and join 3,000+ others who receive it directly in their inbox every Wednesday.
Here is wishing all our subscribers a very Happy Diwali - we wish you a sparkling festival, a life of peace and beautiful Diwali memories. “Streaming in India” will be offline next week due to a short Diwali break with the subsequent newsletter arrival expected on November 6th. Until then Happy Streaming!
Adar Poonawalla Acquires 50% Stake in Karan Johar's Dharma Productions
Business tycoon Adar Poonawalla (owner of Serum Institute, manufacturer of the Covishield vaccine amongst others) has acquired a 50% stake in Karan Johar’s iconic film production house, Dharma Productions, as well as Dharmatic Entertainment, its digital and streaming arm. The deal, valued at ₹1,000 crore ($120.5 million), involves Poonawalla’s Serene Entertainment. As part of the agreement, the remaining 50% ownership stays with Karan Johar, who will continue to steer the company’s creative vision as Executive Chairman. Apoorva Mehta, serving as Chief Executive Officer, will work closely with Johar to guide the company's strategic direction and ensure its operational excellence.
Karan Johar, reflecting on the new chapter for Dharma, said, "Dharma Productions has always been about heartfelt storytelling that reflects the essence of Indian culture. My father envisioned creating films that would leave a lasting legacy, and I’ve spent my career expanding that vision. Now, with Adar, a close friend and visionary, we’re ready to take Dharma to new levels of global influence. This partnership is a powerful fusion of our emotional storytelling expertise and cutting-edge business strategies, paving the way for us to create content that resonates across borders and generations."
Apoorva Mehta, CEO of Dharma, emphasized that this partnership enables Dharma to take bold creative strides. He remarked, "Over the years, I’ve witnessed Dharma’s evolution into a multi-faceted content powerhouse. This partnership with Adar marks the beginning of a new era, where cinema, streaming, and global content intersect. It allows us to explore new avenues in content creation and distribution, helping elevate the Indian entertainment ecosystem. Most importantly, this investment empowers us to take bigger creative steps."
Founded in 1976 by Yash Johar, Dharma Productions has been responsible for some of India’s most beloved films, including Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, Student of the Year, Good Newwz, and Brahmastra: Part One – Shiva. Over the decades, Dharma has become a key player in shaping the landscape of Indian cinema.
Dharmatic Entertainment, launched in 2018, focuses on web series, documentaries, and feature films. It has produced projects such as Ajeeb Daastaans, Ae Watan Mere Watan, Koffee With Karan, Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives, and The Tribe, further expanding Dharma’s presence in the digital and streaming space.
This collaboration between Adar Poonawalla and Karan Johar signifies a new era for Dharma Productions, allowing the brand to push the boundaries of Indian entertainment on a global stage while staying true to its storytelling roots.
[Source: NDTV]
This news comes after India’s last fully integrated content studio consisting of live action production, animation and gaming, Reliance Entertainment is sold to Vistas Media via a management buyout. On the upcoming newsletters, we will share our views on the M&E “content studio” moves in India and how competition, the economics of theatricals, streaming and more are creating both IPO opportunities as well as increased M&A activities.
Agenda
JioCinema: Raising the Bar for Sports Streaming Excellence
My Views: JioCinema’s Opportunity to Drive Grassroots Sports Streaming in India
And….Action!
JioCinema: Raising the Bar for Sports Streaming Excellence
This might well be the last major analysis of the JioCinema OTT app as a new report suggests that RIL’s OTT platform will be merged with Disney’s Disney+ Hotstar to launch JioHotstar! Over the course of the next few newsletters, we will analyze the major sports streamers in India, the opportunities and challenges.
JioCinema has rapidly emerged as India's largest sports streaming platform since securing the IPL digital rights for the 2023-27 cycle, surpassing all expectations in terms of both content and user experience. The platform, backed by Reliance's Viacom18, offers a highly reliable and stable streaming service with minimal latency and robust features such as server-side ad insertion, gamification, multi camera views, chat and community building tools. This technical backbone, built by a core team that was instrumental in developing Disney+ Hotstar, ensures smooth performance during high-traffic events like IPL matches, even when millions of users are streaming concurrently. The decision to offer IPL streaming for free in 2023 was a bold move that attracted a massive viewership, underscoring JioCinema’s ambition to dominate the sports streaming space.
The user experience on JioCinema’s app has been enhanced significantly, focusing on India's favorite sport, cricket, but also expanding to other major sports like football, badminton, MotoGP, and even international sailing events like The America's Cup. As demonstrated in the screenshots, the app is designed to give users easy access to trending sports clips, live events, and highlights from leagues such as the Indian Super League (ISL) and the Global Chess League. Additionally, JioCinema has smartly integrated Olympic content, showcasing highlights from India’s medalists at the 2024 Paris Olympics, alongside popular sports documentaries and original web series from premium content providers like HBO and Peacock. This diverse content lineup caters to a wide range of sports enthusiasts and enriches the overall viewing experience beyond live sports.
One of the standout features that positions JioCinema among the world’s best sports streaming platforms is its support for multiple Indian languages in live match broadcasts. Whether it's cricket or ISL, users can enjoy commentary in their preferred regional language, making the experience more personalized and inclusive. The platform also offers multiple camera angles for live matches, allowing viewers to switch between different views and experience the game from various perspectives—an advanced feature that aligns JioCinema with global sports streaming giants.
The above screenshots showcase several UI / UX features on JioCinema:
Feed below the main live video with the option for users to predict what happens on the next ball (not a huge fan of the UI, however it will hopefully improve)
Community chat feature for fans to connect, share their comments and build up conversation, hype and banter.
Ability to change the “audio” language on the video player itself.
And an intuitive horizontal bar below the video player with options to switch between the FEED, SCORECARD, PLAYERS, VIDEOS (Highlights), STATS, WATCH PARTY and MULTICAM.
All these technical and user-experience innovations have been developed in-house by a strong product and tech team based between Bangalore and Bombay, making JioCinema not just a local leader, but a global competitor in sports streaming technology.
Furthermore, the upcoming merger with Disney+ Hotstar is set to consolidate JioCinema's leadership in the Indian sports streaming market. This merger will give JioCinema access to Hotstar's vast content library, along with its existing audience, strengthening its hold on sports viewership in India. By combining premium content, unmatched user experience, and a rapidly expanding sports portfolio, JioCinema is well on its way to becoming the undisputed king of Indian sports streaming. Its blend of cutting-edge technology, diverse content, and language inclusivity sets it apart from competitors, making it a game changer in how sports are streamed and consumed across the country.
My Views: JioCinema’s Opportunity to Drive Grassroots Sports Streaming in India
While a lot of the buzz surrounding JioCinema’s success is rightly focused on its IPL streaming rights, it’s important to recognize that their rapid growth is not just due to the cricket fervor. The platform’s robust technological infrastructure, UI/UX improvements, and immersive streaming experience have established JioCinema as a reliable and scalable OTT player. The solid foundation they've built goes far beyond the IPL, positioning them as a leader in sports streaming. The inclusion of other sports such as the Olympics, MotoGP, ISL, and global events like the America’s Cup give JioCinema a well-rounded sports portfolio, extending its appeal to a diverse audience.
That said, JioCinema is at a critical juncture where it could play a transformative role in promoting grassroots sports streaming revolution across India. With Jio’s vast reach as the country’s largest telco, the platform has unparalleled potential to make hyperlocal sports—school, district, and state-level tournaments—not only accessible but celebrated. Streaming these local events live would not only bolster viewership but also fuel India’s sports ecosystem beyond cricket. By showcasing a broader spectrum of sports such as local tennis, hockey, and even less traditional games like padel, JioCinema could spark interest and nurture talent in regions often overlooked by mainstream media.
JioCinema’s involvement in grassroots sports could be amplified by its association with initiatives like the Reliance Foundation’s work with the Olympic Committee. Featuring emerging sports stars and spotlighting other sports like Kabaddi—something we’ll explore in our next newsletter when discussing the PKL and Disney+ Hotstar—could further deepen their commitment to elevating Indian sports. Imagine a scenario where JioCinema not only streams major events but starts initiatives like a national padel tournament or showcases local sporting talents from various disciplines. These efforts would not only drive audience engagement and incremental revenue but also uplift the country’s local sports culture, setting a new benchmark for sports promotion.
As they say, with great power comes great responsibility. JioCinema now has the reach, influence, and infrastructure to significantly impact the future of sports in India, making it not just an entertainment platform but a catalyst for sporting growth and development across the country.
Really gripping stuff with “Manvat Murders” on SonyLIV - In 1972, seven women were brutally murdered in Manvat, shaking the nation. As the case stumped local police, Special Crime Branch officer Ramakant Kulkarni, stepped in to uncover dark secrets and hidden motives. Incredible performances by some familiar faces such as Ashutosh Gowariker, Sai Tamhankar, Sonali Kulkarni amongst others. Audio available in 7 Indian languages - great going SonyLIV!
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