Disney Hotstar free for Asia Cup and World Cup matches for mobile users in India 2023
The Asia Cup and ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup will be available for free viewing to over 540 million smartphone users across India.
Disney Hotstar free has announced that it will be streaming the upcoming Asia Cup and ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup tournaments for free on its mobile app. This move comes after JioCinema, which acquired the IPL digital rights, offered all IPL matches on its streaming platform for free in the 2023 season. Disney+ Hotstar hopes to retain its user base, which was largely built on live cricket and IPL.
The decision to lift the paywall for mobile-only viewers of both tournaments is part of Disney+ Hotstar’s strategy to democratize cricket and make it accessible to as many mobile users in India as possible. There are over 540 million smartphone users in India, according to a FICCI E&Y report. Nita Ambani, after acquiring IPL digital media rights, had also talked about democratizing cricket.
Sajith Sivanandan, Head of Disney+ Hotstar, said that the platform has remained at the forefront of the rapidly evolving OTT industry in India and has introduced various innovations to enhance the viewer experience, which has allowed them to delight audiences across the region. Making the Asia Cup and ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup available to a wider audience, they believe, will help grow the overall ecosystem.
Disney+ Hotstar has created strong viewership momentum for cricket properties, with successful tournaments such as the Asia Cup 2022, ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022, and ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023. The recently concluded India vs Sri Lanka, India vs New Zealand, and India vs Australia tournaments also fared well on the platform.
In conclusion, Disney+ Hotstar’s move to stream the Asia Cup and ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup tournaments for free on its mobile app is a strategic decision aimed at democratizing cricket and making it accessible to a wider audience in India. With over 540 million smartphone users in the country, this move is sure to attract a large number of viewers and help grow the overall cricket ecosystem.