The story of Jio Hotstar and the Indian Premier League (IPL) has changed a lot in recent years. What used to be streaming on one service moved, merged, and then became part of a bigger platform. Fans who just want to watch matches need clear, simple information: where the games stream, whether they must pay, and what the new platform offers. Below I explain the changes, what Jio Hotstar is now, how IPL streaming works on it, and what viewers should expect this season and going forward.
What is Jio Hotstar now?
Jio Hotstar is the new, combined streaming service that brought together two big Indian platforms: JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar. The merger happened after a bigger corporate re-organisation and the services were brought under a new joint venture. The new platform relaunched under the name JioHotstar and aims to offer a very large library of movies, shows, and live sports in one place. This means users who used to go to either JioCinema or Disney+ Hotstar will now find most of that content on the single JioHotstar app and website. (Wikipedia)
Who holds the IPL streaming rights?
The IPL’s digital streaming rights were won and held in recent years by the Viacom18 / Jio side, and after the merger the tournament continued to stream on the joint platform. In short: the IPL is available on JioHotstar (the merged service) for viewers in India. The platform is the official place for live matches, highlights, replays, and related programming. For confirmation of matches and schedules, the JioHotstar sports pages list the IPL tournament and live match pages. (Hotstar)
Has the model for “free streaming” changed?
Yes — there was a clear shift from the early 2020s model. Before the merger, JioCinema had offered a lot of IPL streaming for free during some seasons, which many users appreciated. After the merger into JioHotstar, the company introduced a hybrid model: some access options are free or bundled with telecom offers, but a paid subscription is required for full, uninterrupted access for most users. Major news outlets reported the end of completely free streaming and the launch of subscription plans (for example, a basic paid tier was announced at around ₹149). Some telecom recharge plans from Reliance Jio also included access as a bundled benefit for certain recharges, so some users can still watch matches without a separate streaming payment if they meet those conditions. (Reuters)
Why did streaming change?
The changes came from business decisions tied to the merger and how the joint company planned to monetise its huge investment in sports rights. Running high-quality live streams to tens of millions of viewers at once costs a lot — the companies that run the platforms therefore moved from a fully-free model to one that mixes subscriptions, partnerships with telecom plans, and ad revenue. This approach helps them pay for rights, improve streaming quality, and invest in new features. Reliable reporting around the time of the merger explained that the shift was deliberate and tied to long-term strategy. (Reuters)
How to watch IPL on Jio Hotstar — step by step (simple)
If you want to watch IPL matches on JioHotstar, the steps are straightforward:
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Install the JioHotstar app on your phone, smart TV, or open the JioHotstar website on a computer. The company consolidated its apps so the new JioHotstar entry is where you should look.
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Check whether your mobile or broadband plan includes JioHotstar access. If you use Reliance Jio and recharge with certain plans, you may already have streaming included. Otherwise, choose one of the paid subscription plans on the app.
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If you have the correct plan or a subscription, open the sports section and find the Tata IPL or Indian Premier League listing to see live matches, start times, and full match pages. The platform also provides highlights and scorecards. (Hotstar)
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For best results, use a stable Wi-Fi or strong mobile data connection — live cricket needs consistent bandwidth to avoid buffering, especially during peak moments like the final overs.
What the platform offers during matches
JioHotstar presents IPL matches with all the usual elements fans expect: real-time scoreboard, multiple camera feeds for some matches, halftime/interval analysis, and short highlight clips right after big moments. The service often adds programming around matches — pre-match shows, expert discussions, and post-match interviews. For those who miss the live game, full-match replays and curated highlight reels are available. The official IPL pages on the platform are kept up to date with schedules and results. (Hotstar)
Viewer numbers and scale
Streaming the IPL is one of the biggest technical tasks any platform faces because of huge audience numbers. JioHotstar reported record viewership numbers for recent IPL seasons and weekends, often reaching hundreds of millions of streams in total and very high concurrency during top matches. These numbers show both how popular the IPL is and how large-scale the streaming infrastructure needs to be. Big view counts also explain why companies want to monetise matches carefully — the audience size is extremely valuable for advertisers and partners. (Indiatimes)
Tips to avoid common problems
Many viewers run into a few predictable issues during live cricket. Here are easy tips, explained plainly:
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Make sure your app is updated before the match starts. App updates often fix playback problems.
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If the stream buffers, switch from 4G/5G to a strong Wi-Fi or lower the stream quality temporarily.
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Log in early — sometimes high demand close to match start can make it slower to sign in.
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If your telecom plan promises free access and it does not work, check your recharge details or contact customer support — sometimes benefits need activation.
These steps fix most playback troubles quickly.
What this means for fans
For fans used to free access, the new model can feel frustrating; but there are some positives too. The subscription money can help platforms invest in better streams, more camera angles, improved commentary options, and additional programming. Telecom bundles can also make access effectively free for many users who already pay for phone or broadband. In short, the viewing experience should improve technically, but some viewers will now have to either pick a subscription or rely on bundled offers. (Reuters)
Short FAQ (quick answers)
Will I always need to pay to watch IPL? Not always — some telecom bundles include access. For many viewers, a paid plan or a qualifying recharge will be required for full, ad-free streaming. (Reuters)
Can I watch highlights for free? Platforms often keep highlights and short clips accessible with fewer restrictions than full live match streaming, but this can vary. Check the app’s sports pages. (Hotstar)
Where do I check match schedules? The JioHotstar IPL pages list full schedules, start times, and related editorial content on the app and website. (Hotstar)
Final thoughts
The relationship between IPL and streaming platforms shows how sport and streaming business models evolve together. JioHotstar is now the central home in India for IPL live coverage after the merger, and the platform’s approach mixes subscriptions with partnerships to balance free access and paid plans. For most fans, the simplest path is to check whether their current phone or broadband plan includes access, and if not, pick the JioHotstar plan that fits their needs. Expect robust streaming quality for big matches and plenty of extra content around the tournament — but also expect that the completely free era of mass live streaming may be rarer than before.