India’s New Streaming Giant JioHotStar + Disney Is Beating Netflix, Thanks to Cricket

India’s enduring obsession with cricket has done more than just fill stadiums and captivate screens — it has launched a new streaming giant that is taking on Netflix with staggering success. In just six months, JioHotStar, the product of a mega-merger between Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance and Disney India, has amassed over 280 million subscribers, putting it on par with Netflix’s global numbers. And it’s done so with a potent, distinctly Indian edge: live cricket.

When this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL) season kicked off, subscriptions to the paid-only JioHotStar service exploded by 460%, according to the Financial Times. Much of that growth was powered by diehard fans eager to stream exclusive IPL matches, especially blockbusters like the India vs. Pakistan clash, which drew a jaw-dropping 600 million views on the platform.

That figure rivals Super Bowl-level engagement — and it didn’t come from expensive monthly fees. Subscriptions start as low as $0.60 per month, making it affordable for India’s massive and mobile-first population. The volume of users alone, however, has turned the low-cost model into a high-revenue machine.

From Fierce Rivals to a Media Powerhouse

Just a year ago, Disney and Reliance were competitors, each holding different pieces of IPL streaming and broadcast rights. But despite India’s massive viewership, both companies struggled to turn a profit.

That changed when they combined forces. The merged platform, JioHotStar, has not only consolidated rights but also built a scalable, tech-driven media ecosystem with unbeatable pricing and live sports at its core. The synergy between Disney’s content portfolio and Jio’s telecom muscle gives the platform distribution dominance and streaming scale.

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Cricket Isn’t Just a Game — It’s a Growth Engine

India’s passion for cricket isn’t a niche — it’s a cultural juggernaut. Streaming giants from Amazon Prime Video to SonyLIV have made attempts to gain market share, but none have matched JioHotStar’s blend of sports, pricing, and digital accessibility.

The Disney JioHotstar bet on cricket has proven to be more than just a viewer magnet. It’s become a business blueprint.

According to market analysts, the platform’s growth could fundamentally change the global streaming war. As Netflix struggles to penetrate the price-sensitive Indian market, JioHotStar is setting a new benchmark: hyperlocal, hyper-affordable, and built on live events that people simply won’t miss and of course, cricket.

The Future of Streaming May Be Playing Out in Mumbai

With over 1.4 billion people and a growing appetite for digital entertainment, India is poised to become the future’s streaming battleground. India’s JioHotStar’s IPL-fueled success story is likely to inspire a wave of imitators — and may even force global players to rethink their strategies.

In the world’s most cricket-crazed country, sports isn’t just content — it’s currency. And JioHotStar is cashing in.