New Delhi: JioHotstar, the newly formed joint venture between Viacom18 and Star India, has officially launched following the merger of JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar. With this, a major change has been announced for IPL 2025 streaming—fans will no longer be able to watch matches for free.
Limited Free Access for IPL Matches
According to a Reuters report, JioHotstar will only offer a limited portion of IPL matches for free. Viewers will be able to watch a few minutes of the match before being directed to a subscription page. Subscription plans will start at Rs 149, making it mandatory for users to pay if they wish to access the full match after the free minutes expire.
JioCinema had previously offered free streaming of IPL matches since acquiring the broadcasting rights in 2023 for USD 3 billion. However, with the launch of JioHotstar in 2025, a paid subscription is now required to watch the entire tournament.
JioHotstar: Features and Subscription Plans
JioHotstar aims to offer a premium streaming experience with ultra-HD 4K resolution, AI-powered insights, real-time stats overlays, multi-angle viewing, and customized feeds. The platform will provide extensive sports and entertainment content to its 500 million users, with over 3 lakh hours of entertainment available.
Subscription Plans:
Basic Plan: Rs 149 (limited ads)
Ad-Free Plan: Rs 499 (for three months)
Apart from IPL, JioHotstar will stream major sports events, including ICC tournaments, WPL, Pro Kabaddi, Premier League, ISL, Wimbledon, and the Indian Street Premier League.
Impact of the Reliance-Disney Merger
The shift in streaming policy follows the USD 8.5 billion merger between Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance and Walt Disney’s India media assets last year. Reports suggest that the subscription model will gradually roll out as users become accustomed to the platform, ensuring a steady transition from free to paid content.
With this move, IPL fans will now have to decide whether to subscribe to JioHotstar or miss out on uninterrupted live action.
