Indian media powerhouse JioStar is celebrating a jaw-dropping victory of its own after the opening weekend of cricket’s Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 shattered viewership records across both digital and traditional platforms.
The 18th edition of the wildly popular cricket tournament kicked off with unprecedented audience numbers, amassing 49.56 billion minutes of cumulative watch time across JioHotstar‘s streaming platform and the Star Sports Network.
Digital viewership on JioHotstar jumped 40% compared to last season’s opening, powered by a 54% surge in connected TV consumption. The platform registered 1.37 billion views, reached a peak concurrency of 34 million simultaneous viewers, and racked up 21.86 billion minutes of watch time from just the first three matches.
Television metrics were equally impressive. According to BARC data, the opening weekend drew over 253 million viewers to their TV screens, with 27.7 billion minutes of watch time – representing a 22% year-over-year increase. The average television viewership rating (TVR) skyrocketed by 39% compared to last season’s opening.
“The record-breaking viewership across digital and TV platforms over the opening weekend of IPL 2025 reaffirms the tournament’s unmatched popularity bolstered significantly by the wide reach of our platforms and our commitment to creating deeper fan connections, in turn redefining how India experiences sports,” said Sanjog Gupta, CEO – sports, JioStar.
JioStar’s digital chief, Kiran Mani, added: “IPL 2025 is setting a new benchmark for how India engages with live sports and entertainment at an unmatched scale. The opening weekend showcased the power of innovation in creating richer, more interactive experiences, allowing fans to connect with the game like never before.”
JioStar has reimagined cricket viewing with a multi-dimensional presentation featuring 25+ feeds in 12 languages across both platforms, supported by more than 170 experts. JioHotstar has integrated interactive features including live chats, polls, predictions, and virtual watch parties, transforming passive viewing into a community experience.
For the 2025 season, JioStar is bringing back the popular digital-exclusive “Hangout feed” with commentary from creators and stand-up comics. They’ve also introduced “Motu Patlu Presents Super Funday,” an entertainment feed targeting younger audiences and families.
A second-screen engagement feature allows TV viewers who miss key moments to scan a QR code for instant access to highlights on JioHotstar.
