JioCinema Records 11.3 Crore Viewers Tuning in for the First Day of IPL 2024

JioCinema is an Indian over-the-top media streaming service owned by Viacom18, a joint venture between Reliance Industries and Paramount Global. It provides a variety of free, advertising-supported and subscription-based video on demand and live streaming content. The service was first introduced on 4 May 2016, coinciding with the public debut of the Jio mobile carrier. In April 2022, the service became part of Reliance’s Viacom18 joint venture, with additional financial support from Uday Shankar and James Murdoch’s Bodhi Tree Systems. In the same year, JioCinema started to integrate Viacom18’s current streaming platform Voot, starting with sports programming in October. Finally, in August 2023, Voot was officially discontinued in favor of JioCinema.

Related: Viacom18 Reshuffles Leadership Team in Preparation for Disney+ Merger

On the debut day of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, over 11.3 crore viewers flocked to JioCinema, the streaming platform backed by Reliance. This marked a significant 51% surge compared to the inaugural day of IPL 2023.

Additionally, the OTT streaming service witnessed a staggering 59 crore views on the first day of the tournament, resulting in a whopping 660 crore minutes of watch time, as stated in an official announcement.

According to a spokesperson from Viacom18, “India’s embrace of digital sports consumption is now complete, and the record-breaking numbers from the opening game affirm this trend. We anticipate witnessing unprecedented benchmarks and rewriting of records throughout this season.”

The big streaming company also mentioned that a whopping 12 brands, like Dream11, unveiled their ad blitz during the early excitement of IPL 2024’s first match. The tournament kicked off with a bang and a flashy ceremony on Friday evening, March 22nd, all set to be aired on JioCinema. In this extravaganza, there are 18 sponsors and over 250 advertisers vying for attention.

IPL holds a special place in India’s sports scene, attracting a wide array of brands eager to get in on the action. In a nation obsessed with cricket, IPL matches draw massive viewership, making it a global sensation and a hotspot for advertisers looking to make a splash.

Since the inception of IPL, big-name companies have always made their mark, but now even startups are joining the excitement to tap into cricket fever. In IPL 2024, a whopping 32 startups are participating, showing a significant 68% jump from last year’s 19. The mega event, co-presented by Dream11 on Start Sports, has seen JioCinema bringing in startups like CRED, Upstox, and Rapido as associate sponsors.

And it doesn’t stop there—modern tech companies are also backing various teams, with their logos proudly displayed on players’ jerseys. It’s all about blending tradition with innovation on the cricket field!

Earlier, Dream11 gave a glimpse into the bustling activity swarming its gaming platform during the inaugural match. It proudly announced the addition of 1.1 million new users on the tournament’s opening day and witnessed a staggering 15.01 million users simultaneously engaged.

Meanwhile, JioCinema appears primed to leverage the sporting extravaganza. Fresh from revealing its $8.5 billion merger with rival Disney+ Hotstar, the Reliance-backed OTT platform has been securing streaming rights for sports tournaments at a rapid pace. Bolstered by ample resources, it has inked consecutive content agreements with HBO and NBC, offering premium English content to entice users from competitors. This frenzy revolves around the burgeoning Indian OTT streaming landscape, forecasted to balloon to a market value of $5.8 billion by 2029.

The debut of IPL 2024 on JioCinema saw a surge in viewership, with over 11.3 crore viewers, a 51% increase from the previous year. This was accompanied by 59 crore views and 660 crore watch minutes. Additionally, 12 major brands launched an ad blitz on the first match day, demonstrating the tournament’s marketing value. The rise in startup participation, with 32 startups joining IPL 2024, reflects the growing trend of startups tapping into cricket fever. JioCinema has significantly advanced its strategic position in the sports streaming landscape, projected to be a $5.8 billion market by 2029.