Star India’s digital platform, Hotstar has created a new world record for concurrent viewership on any streaming platform.
The platform saw a peak 5.5 million viewers watching the match between Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders.
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The stats are officially verified by Akamai Technologies, the world’s largest and most trusted cloud delivery platform. Star India have been aggressively advertising Indian Premier League this season after acquiring the rights last year.
The media group are currently providing the cash-rich league in six different languages. They have also stuck some major sponsorship deals with partners to provide a new experience to the fans. However, the numbers are still jaw-dropping.
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Star India could be up for more celebrations in the coming days. Some reports are suggesting the 2018 opening ceremony had seen a 40-50 percent rise in viewership on TV compared to last year.
Star targeting 700 million viewers (TV + Hotstar)
Star are also targeting a massive 700 million viewers this year and are also trying to achieve Rs. 2000 crore in ad sales. They had already sold 90 percent of their ad inventories, which will further boost revenue in the coming days.
“Crossing 5 million on a live sporting event is like breaking the 10-second barrier in the 100-meter dash. We are proud that we are the first to get here. But, of even more importance, we are excited that fans have embraced the immersive sports experience on Hotstar that has brought together live streaming, the expression of fan emotions and an interactive always-on game.
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“This is the future of video online, and we are excited to shape it. At this scale, we will be clearly testing the ability of different parts of the Internet to keep up with the dramatic growth in fan followership. And, we are delighted that Akamai has been a partner that has always walked in step with our ambitions and delivered the scale that we seek,” said Ajit Mohan, CEO, Hotstar.
The broadcaster is currently using ten channels for TV broadcast in six different languages. If the start is anything to go by, we might see even bigger numbers during the play-off stages.
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Akamai Happy with Hotstar Partnership
“Hotstar is one of the pioneers in the live streaming industry in India and has changed the way hundreds of millions of people consume content. With the hyper growth of mobile-first users, it’s important that platforms catering to them factor in the right technology to provide an experience that rivals, if not supersedes, a traditional broadcast experience.
“Akamai’s partnership with Hotstar has changed how people enjoy a variety of content ranging from general entertainment to live sports anytime, anywhere and on any device,” said Parimal Pandya, Vice President, Media, APJ, Akamai Technologies.
The strategies of the company are clearly working out. They were quite successful on the way to engage users to the league this summer. With many exciting matchups coming in the upcoming days, there could only be better days for Star India in the next few weeks.
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