On June 9, 2023, Disney+ Hotstar announced free mobile streaming in India for the 2023 Asia Cup and ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. It was a targeted response to Reliance-backed JioCinema’s free IPL strategy—not a decision to make every cricket match, the IPL, or the whole Hotstar service free. The two competitors later became part of the same business, and the successor platform launched as JioHotstar in February 2025.
The short answer
Disney+ Hotstar removed its subscription paywall for viewers watching the 2023 Asia Cup and ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup on mobile devices in India. The announcement applied to those named tournaments and that audience. It did not establish unlimited free cricket, free television or laptop viewing, free premium entertainment, or a permanent end to subscriptions.
The announcement was made while JioCinema was streaming the 2023 Indian Premier League without a subscription paywall. The move was therefore both a consumer-access decision and a competitive response in India’s streaming market.
What Disney+ Hotstar announced on June 9, 2023
- Territory: India.
- Eligible viewing: mobile viewers.
- Free programming: live coverage of the 2023 Asia Cup and ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
- Business model: a tournament-specific free-access offer, alongside Hotstar’s broader subscription service.
Disney+ Hotstar leadership presented the decision as a way to broaden access and grow the overall streaming ecosystem. Contemporary reporting described the move and its competitive context in TechCrunch’s June 9, 2023 report.
#1 Best Overall
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
What the offer did not include
The announcement should not be read more broadly than the programming and device limits reported at the time.
- It did not make every cricket match on Hotstar free.
- It did not restore free IPL streaming on Hotstar.
- It did not automatically make viewing on smart TVs, televisions or computers free.
- It did not unlock Hotstar’s premium films and series.
- It did not apply to viewers outside India.
- It did not permanently abolish Disney+ Hotstar subscriptions.
“Free streaming” also meant no platform subscription fee for the qualifying offer, not free mobile data. Viewers could still pay their carrier for the internet connection, and the available reporting does not establish a specific resolution, bitrate, account requirement or advertising load.
Why Disney responded to JioCinema
JioCinema had the IPL
JioCinema streamed the 2023 IPL without a subscription paywall, giving Reliance’s service one of India’s most powerful audience-acquisition tools. The 2023 report said JioCinema’s IPL streaming rights ran for a five-year period through 2027, while Disney+ Hotstar had lost those digital rights for the relevant cycle.
Rank #2
- Carrier: This phone is locked to Tracfone, which means this device can only be used on the Tracfone wireless network. Tracfone plan required, activating is easy, just 3 steps.
- DISPLAY: Immersive viewing on a 6.7-inch super-bright 120Hz display with powerful stereo speakers and Bass Boost for cinematic entertainment.
- CAMERA SYSTEM: Advanced 50MP Quad Pixel camera captures sharp, detailed photos and videos in any lighting condition
- PERFORMANCE: Lightning-fast 5G connectivity paired with a powerful processor and RAM Boost for smooth multitasking.
- BATTERY LIFE: Long-lasting 5000mAh battery with TurboPower charging technology delivers hours of power in minutes.
A record-sized audience was at stake
TechCrunch reported that JioCinema exceeded 32 million simultaneous viewers during the 2023 IPL final. That surpassed Hotstar’s previously reported peak of 25 million concurrent viewers. These are peak concurrent-viewer comparisons, not total users, viewing hours or subscriber counts.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsHotstar was under subscription pressure
The same 2023 reporting put Disney+ Hotstar at about 53 million subscribers in India and said it had lost 8.4 million subscribers since October of the previous year. It also reported that average revenue per subscriber fell from 74 cents to 59 cents in the March quarter. Those figures describe the period covered by the 2023 report and are not current audience metrics.
Major cricket tournaments could help Hotstar remain a habitual destination even without the IPL. A free mobile stream lowered the trial barrier, preserved reach among India’s mobile-first audience and created advertising inventory. Those are strategic interpretations of the move, not a published promise of a particular revenue result.
Rank #3
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
Why make only mobile viewing free?
A mobile-only offer could widen access while limiting the value given away across larger screens and premium programming. It also focused the promotion on the device through which many Indian viewers consume live video.
- Lower sampling barrier: people could watch a major event without first buying a subscription.
- Controlled rights exposure: two named tournaments cost less to give away than an unrestricted sports tier.
- Advertising potential: a larger free audience can support ad sales, although the sources do not quantify the result.
- Paid differentiation: subscriptions could continue to matter for other content, features and screens.
Eligibility could still depend on the particular match rights and platform rules. Tournament rights are territorial and can include format, screen or sublicensing restrictions.
How JioCinema’s strategy differed
| Service and period | Free cricket proposition | Strategic emphasis |
|---|---|---|
| JioCinema, 2023 IPL | The 2023 IPL was streamed without a subscription paywall. | Use a premium domestic league to build rapid scale and concurrent-viewer records. |
| Disney+ Hotstar, June 2023 announcement | Free mobile access in India to the 2023 Asia Cup and ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. | Recover reach around major international tournaments after losing the IPL’s digital rights. |
| JioCinema, 2023 entertainment tier | A premium plan was reported at approximately ₹999 per year for international content. | Monetize entertainment separately; the cited report did not clearly establish whether cricket would sit behind that tier. |
JioCinema was also expanding its entertainment catalogue through Warner Bros. and NBCUniversal partnerships. Its free-sports strategy carried a risk: viewers might become less willing to pay for cricket, making premium entertainment and advertising more important.
Rank #4
- PRIVACY DISPLAY: Automatically hide your screen from those beside you. The built-in privacy display can be preset¹ to turn on when receiving notifications, typing passwords, or using specific apps
- TYPE IT IN. TRANSFORM IT FAST: Enhance any shot in seconds on your smartphone by using Photo Assist² with Galaxy AI.³ Add objects, restore details, or apply new styles by simply typing or tapping
- NIGHTS, CAPTURED CLEARLY: From gigs to city lights, record and capture moments after dark with clarity using Nightography so your photos and videos stay crisp and clear on your Samsung Galaxy
- MAKE IT. EDIT IT. SHARE IT: Turn everyday moments into something personal with creative tools built right into your mobile phone, whether it’s a special contact photo, custom wallpaper, an invitation or more⁴
- HELP THAT KEEPS UP: Stay in the moment while Now Nudge with Galaxy AI helps you respond faster and stay organized with smart suggestions⁵ that appear exactly when you need them on your phone
What happened to the Disney–Reliance rivalry?
February 28, 2024: planned joint venture
Disney and Reliance announced a planned Indian media joint venture combining Disney’s Indian operations with Reliance and Viacom18 assets. The announcement is documented in Disney’s February 28, 2024 release.
November 14, 2024: transaction completed
The transaction combined Star India, Disney+ Hotstar’s Indian business and Reliance’s relevant media assets, including JioCinema. At closing, ownership was listed as Reliance Industries 16.34%, Viacom18 46.82% and Disney 36.84%; Reliance controlled the venture. The completion filing is available in JioStar’s official document.
February 14, 2025: JioHotstar launched
The combined streaming products were brought together under the JioHotstar brand. JioStar’s launch announcement described a service combining JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar content, including live sports such as the IPL, ICC events and the Women’s Premier League. See JioStar’s launch announcement.
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallBest Value
- Carrier: This phone is locked to Tracfone, which means this device can only be used on the Tracfone wireless network. Activating is easy, just 3 steps.
- ACTIVATION Promotion: Includes 1500 min, 1500 texts & 1500 MB Data + add more as you need it
- CAMERA SYSTEM: 50MP Quad Pixel camera. Capture sharper, more vibrant photos day or night with 4x the light sensitivity.
- PERFORMANCE: Blazing-fast Qualcomm performance. Get the speed you need for great entertainment with a Snapdragon 680 processor and 4GB of RAM.
- 64GB built-in storage. Get plenty of room for photos, movies, songs, and apps. Made for US
What JioHotstar means for viewers now
As of 2026, the 2023 Disney-versus-Reliance framing is historical. Disney+ Hotstar and JioCinema are no longer independent Indian competitors; JioHotstar is the successor platform operated through the combined JioStar business.
JioStar’s February 2025 announcement promoted access without a subscription while also offering paid plans for an uninterrupted and enhanced experience. It listed plans starting at ₹149 per quarter. A later JioStar newsroom listing showed monthly Mobile, Super and Premium plans beginning at ₹79 per month. Both figures are dated official signals, not guaranteed prices for every viewer in 2026; check the live offer at the official Indian service page before subscribing.
Free access does not mean every title, match, feature or screen is unrestricted. Current cricket availability depends on event-specific rights, geography, device eligibility and the plan attached to the stream. The 2023 Hotstar announcement cannot establish rights for later tournaments.
Timeline at a glance
| Date | Event | What it changed |
|---|---|---|
| June 9, 2023 | Disney+ Hotstar free-mobile announcement | Asia Cup and ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup streams made free for mobile viewers in India. |
| 2023 IPL season | JioCinema free IPL streaming | JioCinema used the IPL to build very large live audiences. |
| February 28, 2024 | Disney–Reliance joint venture announced | The competing Indian media businesses were slated for combination. |
| November 14, 2024 | Joint venture completed | Disney’s Indian streaming business and JioCinema-related assets entered the same controlled venture. |
| February 14, 2025 | JioHotstar launched | JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar were presented through one successor streaming platform. |
What viewers should check before watching
- Confirm that the match or tournament is listed in the current Indian JioHotstar offering.
- Check whether the stream is available on your intended device; the 2023 free offer was specifically mobile-focused.
- Verify whether a subscription, account or particular plan is required for that event.
- Budget for mobile or broadband data: removing a subscription charge does not remove connectivity costs.
- Expect commercial monetization on free viewing, while recognizing that the researched announcement does not specify an ad load.
- Check the current price and terms on the official signup page, because plan prices and availability can change.
The Bottom Line
Disney+ Hotstar’s June 2023 decision was a limited, mobile-only free offer for the Asia Cup and Men’s Cricket World Cup in India, designed amid pressure from JioCinema’s free IPL strategy. It was never an all-cricket-free policy. After the 2024 Disney–Reliance combination, both services became part of JioHotstar, making the original rivalry a historical chapter rather than the market’s current structure.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
