IPL 2023: On Thursday, Viacom18 announced a new multi-year agreement with Warner Bros Discovery Inc. Making JioCinema India’s new streaming home of HBO, Max Original, and Warner Bros content starting next month. This move comes after JioCinema secured IPL rights from Disney-Hotstar earlier this year. By bringing Hollywood content onto the platform, JioCinema is making a big push to compete against Disney+ Hotstar, Netflix and Amazon. Follow All Sports News Live Updates with InsideSport.IN.
JioCinema to Stream Warner Bros and HBO Content
As per the joint statement by the companies, the deal would see Warner Bros as well as its HBO content becoming available on Reliance’s JioCinema app, including popular movies and shows. The partnership is exclusive and will make JioCinema the house of Warner Bros, and HBO in India. Warner Bros cannot offer most of its popular titles to other Indian rivals including Amazon Prime Video and Disney+ Hotstar.
“It’s a deep exclusive arrangement which will make JioCinema the house of Warner, HBO in India,” the source said.
According to Clement Schwebig, President for India, Southeast Asia and Korea for Warner Bros, the agreement is part of the company’s commitment to the South Asia market, as the company looks to further strengthen the scale of its regional business.
Viacom18 won the IPL digital streaming rights from 2023 to 2027 for around $2.9 billion, rights which Disney previously held. Viacom18’s shareholders include Reliance, Paramount Global as well as Bodhi Tree.
JioCinema has gained popularity by offering free streaming of the IPL cricket tournament on its platform during the ongoing season. With the new content deal, JioCinema will add thousands of hours of additional streaming content to its library.
JioCinema is seeking to compete with rivals including Disney+ Hotstar, Netflix and Amazon. While Netflix outperforms rivals in the subscription video-on-demand market, commanding a 39% share by revenue in 2021 compared to nearest rival Hotstar’s 23%, according to Media Partners Asia.
The content partnership is set to start next month, with HBO Original, Max Original and Warner Bros. Television series premiering on JioCinema on the same day as the U.S. The marquee deals from IPL to HBO are expected to drive user acquisition and stickiness.
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