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Reliance Jio, India's largest telecom firm by users, said on Monday certain tariff plans will continue to give subscribers free streaming access to IPL 2025 matches, among the country's most-watched sporting events.
The plan is applicable to users recharging their accounts with Rs 299 ($3.44) or more and will enable them to watch matches on Reliance-Disney's newly merged JioHotstar streaming platform, the Reliance Group-owned firm said.
IPL, a money spinner and among the country's most-streamed content, is scheduled to be held between March 22 and May 25.
The move comes a month after Reuters reported that the Reliance-Disney JV will no longer offer completely free streaming for IPL cricket matches, as was the case in 2023 and 2024 in the old JioCinema platform, and will adopt a hybrid model where subscription kicks in after content consumption reaches a threshold.
The new plan also includes a 50-day trial of Reliance Jio's, broadband internet services, to help boost home internet dominance with high-speed sports streaming.
Billionaire Mukesh Ambani's pricing strategy for the IPL and other cricketing events are closely watched - media rights for those have cost the merged group, India's biggest entertainment giant, nearly $10 billion in recent years.
The JV runs more than 100 TV channels and streaming apps in India's $28-billion media and entertainment market.
