JioCinema's IPL 2023 Streaming: A Free Hit or a Strategic Sixer?

In recent years, the Indian Premier League India (IPL) has become one of the most popular sporting events in India, attracting a huge audience both in stadiums and on TV. This year, the IPL streaming service on JioCinema, owned by Reliance Industries Limited , has been made free to viewers, costing Mukesh Ambani 's company an estimated 23,000 crore rupees. However, there are suspicions that this move is not just a generous gesture to sports fans, but part of a bigger strategy by Reliance Industries Limited .

There are two possible scenarios that have been suggested. The first is that Reliance Industries Limited wants to pitch their 5G network Jio to 5G, by streaming IPL matches in 4K. By offering viewers a higher quality viewing experience, the company aims to make 4K streaming the new standard and create a demand for the Jio to 5G network. This strategy is similar to what Reliance did with GSM technology in 2002, offering two years of free service to gain a foothold in the market.

The second scenario is that Reliance Industries plans to introduce a subscription service for IPL streaming next year, called Jio One or something similar. By offering the service for free this year, the company is using a loss leader strategy to create a moat for its other products. This means that next year, viewers without a Jio sim network will have to pay for the subscription plan to watch IPL matches, while Jio users will continue to get it for free. By doing this, Reliance Industries hopes to create customer loyalty and encourage viewers to switch to their products in different segments, such as My JioMart .

While there is no concrete evidence to support either scenario, both have their merits. However, it's clear that Reliance Industries is using the IPL as a way to promote its other products and services. This is not a new strategy for the company, which has been using its huge cash reserves to create a dominant position in various sectors, from telecoms to retail.

Despite the suspicions, there is no doubt that offering free IPL streaming on JioCinema is a smart move by Reliance Industries. The IPL is hugely popular in India, and by offering it for free, the company is likely to attract a significant number of new users to its platform. This will increase the company's reach and influence in the market, as well as provide a platform to promote other products and services.

In conclusion, while there are suspicions about the motives behind Reliance Industries' decision to offer free IPL streaming on JioCinema, it's clear that the company is using this as a way to promote its other products and services. Whether this is part of a long-term strategy to dominate the market remains to be seen, but for now, Reliance Industries is certainly winning over fans with its free IPL streaming service.

References:

1. "Reliance offers free IPL 2023 streaming on JioCinema, could this be a bigger play?" by Anmol Sachdeva, Business Today, September 22, 2022.
2. "Reliance Jio offers free IPL streaming on JioCinema" by Press Trust of India, The Economic Times, September 22, 2022.

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