Jio Hotstar and IPL 2025 champions - (Source: X.Com)
In a significant development, cricket fans have dealt a massive blow as Jio Hotstar, which is the official broadcaster in India for the T20 World Cup 2026 and IPL, have increased their subscription plans. The streaming platform took to social media to confirm the change, and it has left the cricket fans heartbroken.
Hotstar serves three plans for users: Mobile, Super, and Premium. Now, the premium plan, which was priced at 1500 rupees annually, the user will now have to pay 2200 rupees for a 12-month plan, increasing a whopping 700 rupees for the top-most subscription.
Similarly, the super plan will now be priced at 1100 rupees, a jump from 900 rupees. However, the streaming platform have not changed the price for the mobile plan, which is still available at 500 rupees.
However, the increase in prices in a big jolt to cricket fans, who love to watch the games with their families on TVs, because the mobile plan only allows streaming on smartphones.
Jio Hotstar also helps fans with a new monthly plan
Interestingly, despite the increase in subscription plans, the streaming partners have also looked after the passionate fans and introduced a monthly plan for the first time. Fans can now buy a monthly plan for 80 rupees.
Therefore, cricket fans, who want to watch the T20 World Cup and IPL, they can buy monthly plans for the next few months, which wouldn’t be a big burden on the pocket.
Jio Hotstar’s financial woes force it to take hard decisions
Notably, a couple of months ago, there were reports that Hotstar are looking for an exit from ICC’s media rights because of financial woes. However, in a major clarification that puts an end to days of speculation, the ICC and JioStar have confirmed that their massive four-year, $3 billion media rights deal is fully intact.
“The International Cricket Council (ICC) and JioStar have noted recent media reports concerning the status of the ICC’s media rights agreement in India. These reports do not reflect the position of either organisation. The existing agreement between the ICC and JioStar remains fully in force, and JioStar continues as the ICC’s official media rights partner in India. Any suggestion that JioStar has withdrawn from the agreement is incorrect," both parties said in an ICC release.
For the unversed, JioStar reportedly felt that the deal was overvalued after suffering from losses during the T20 World Cup 2024 and Champions Trophy 2025, following which the streaming partners reevaluated their plans.
How could this be detrimental to ICC?
JioHotstar already faces financial pressures from costly ICC rights deals valued at $3 billion through 2027 and higher price might affect subscriber count and viewership. Reduced subscribers lowers ad revenue and average revenue per user.
Fewer viewers diminish JioHotstar's negotiating power, potentially forcing the ICC to accept 30-50% lower bids in the next cycle starting 2028.
