Disney+ Hotstar has set a global record, with 50 million viewers, during the ICC Men's ODI World Cup 2023 semi-final between India and New Zealand.
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Record
It surpasses the previous record of 44 million concurrent viewers during the India versus South Africa match on November 5.
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Free cricket streaming
Hotstar's success is attributed to offering free, ad-supported streaming of cricket events to mobile users in India.
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Subscriber loss
Disney+ Hotstar has lost approximately 23.7 million paid subscribers within a year, mainly due to losing access to crucial content like IPL streaming rights and premium HBO content.
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Alternatives
Disney is currently assessing alternatives for its India operations, including selling or forming a joint venture for its Star India business.
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Pro Kabaddi
Separately, Hotstar announced that the upcoming Pro Kabaddi League will be available for free to mobile users in India starting December 2.