JioStar breaks viewership records as TATA IPL 2025 opens with a historic weekend

The 18th edition of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) has set a new benchmark for sports viewership in India, with JioHotstar and Star Sports Network recording unprecedented engagement in the opening weekend.

With a staggering 4,956 crore minutes of watch time across TV and digital, the IPL’s latest season has proven once again why it remains India’s most-watched sporting event.

JioHotstar registered its highest-ever reach for the opening weekend, with 137 crore views and an astounding 3.4 crore peak concurrency during the first three matches. The surge in digital consumption was largely driven by a 54 percent increase in CTV viewership, signaling a shift in how fans engage with live cricket. The streaming platform alone accounted for 2,186 crore minutes of watch time, reflecting the growing dominance of digital platforms in live sports consumption.

Television viewership also witnessed record-breaking growth. According to BARC data, over 25.3 crore viewers tuned in for the opening matches, marking the biggest start in IPL history. The total watch time on TV crossed 2,770 crore minutes, reflecting a 22% jump from last year. The average TV rating (TVR) for the first three matches shot up by 39%, reinforcing IPL’s massive appeal among traditional viewers.

JioStar’s groundbreaking approach to sports broadcasting has played a key role in this phenomenal success. With 25+ feeds in 12 languages, powered by 170+ experts, the tournament has been designed to cater to a diverse and dynamic audience. JioHotstar’s interactive features—live chats, polls, predictions, and virtual watch parties—have transformed IPL into a community-driven experience.

One of the most exciting new additions this season is the MaxView feature, offering an edge-to-edge immersive display for a richer viewing experience. The digital-exclusive Hangout feed, featuring quirky commentary by stand-up comedians and new-age creators, has also been a major hit among younger audiences. Additionally, JioHotstar has introduced a second-screen engagement feature, allowing fans to scan a QR code for instant replays, ensuring they never miss a key moment.

The record-breaking viewership has made IPL 2025 the ultimate marketing platform, with over 30 marquee brands partnering with JioStar, including My11Circle, Campa Energy, PhonePe, Amazon Prime, SBI, Thums Up, Google Pay, Dream11, and Parle. While television remains a powerhouse for advertising, JioHotstar is reshaping digital advertising with advanced targeting, personalized ad formats, and deeper audience engagement.

JioStar’s CEO – Sports, Sanjog Gupta, highlighted how IPL 2025 has redefined the cricketing experience, stating, “This record-breaking viewership reaffirms IPL’s unmatched popularity, amplified by our platforms’ extensive reach and deep fan engagement. With 4,956 crore minutes of cumulative watch time, we are committed to making this season even more immersive and unforgettable.”

Adding to the excitement, Kiran Mani, CEO – Digital, JioStar, emphasized how digital innovations are shaping the future of live sports, “The opening weekend proved that IPL is more than just a cricket tournament—it’s an entertainment phenomenon. With interactive features and hyper-personalized engagement, we are creating a new era of fan experience, bringing the game closer to a billion screens.”

After a record-breaking ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, JioStar has delivered an electrifying start to IPL 2025, setting the stage for what promises to be the biggest and most immersive IPL season ever.

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Amazing and grim battle for survival. Guess it will end up in Supreme Court. All that NCLT asked Zee to do was to file a reply to Invesco petition for a EGM. Now this is getting too serious. So far Invesco has been hammered for demanding an EGM. What is Zee upto? Ofcourse my lawyer community knows better!