JioCinema Ends Free IPL Streaming: Here’s What You Need to Know About the New Subscription Plans

Reliance Jio has announced a major shift in its streaming policy for the Indian Premier League (IPL). On Monday, March 17, 2025, the company revealed that it will start charging users for IPL streaming, bringing an end to two years of free access to India's most-watched sporting event. This move marks a significant change for cricket fans who have enjoyed complimentary streaming, signaling a shift towards a subscription-based model for premium sports content.

The company stated that Jio's mobile users will need to subscribe to a new recharge plan, starting at ₹299, to watch IPL matches on the recently merged JioHotstar streaming platform, a collaboration between Reliance and Disney. The 2025 IPL season, India's most-streamed content, is set to take place from March 22 to May 25.  

This decision follows a Reuters report last month stating that the Reliance-Disney joint venture will discontinue free IPL streaming, which was previously available in 2023 and 2024 on the JioCinema platform. Instead, the platform will adopt a hybrid model, where users can access content for free up to a certain limit, after which a subscription will be required. The new plan also offers a 50-day trial of Reliance Jio’s broadband internet services, aiming to strengthen its presence in the home internet market by providing high-speed sports streaming.

Mukesh Ambani's pricing strategy for the IPL and other cricket events is closely monitored, as the media rights for these tournaments have cost the merged entity India's largest entertainment conglomerate—almost $10 billion in recent years.

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