It is no secret that Jio Cinema is gunning for Disney Plus Hotstar’s place in the Indian streaming space. The fast-rising OTT platform has been getting more and more aggressive in the way it is grabbing lucrative and attractive streaming properties right from under Disney Plus Hotstar’s nose. These include HBO’s prestigious slate, IPL streaming rights, Formula 1 Racing, all of the cricket played by the Indian National Team in India and abroad, and more.
In the midst of Jio Cinema’s aggressiveness, the beleaguered Disney Plus Hotstar is banking on hot cricket properties Asia Cup 2023, and the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 to lure subscribers to their platform. The most attractive thing about the Asia Cup 2023 is definitely the India Vs Pakistan matches. It is Disney Plus Hotstar’s trump card in this tournament – one guaranteed to grab maximum eyeballs.
Canny Jio Cinema knows. And it is watching.
Cross that. Cunning Jio Cinema is not just watching. It is also trying to rain on Disney Plus Hotstar’s parade in the sneakiest, most underhanded way possible.
Everyone knows that an India vs Pakistan match is a money-spinner – both offline and online. The traditional rivals and sworn cricketing enemies have faced-off against each other twice in this edition of the Asia Cup up till now. And both times, Jio Cinema has tried to take the attention away from Disney Plus Hotstar, using cheap tricks.
Here’s how –
Jio Cinema puts up aggressive posts on its social media handles, tom-tomming the India vs Pakistan face-off. Gullible viewers who have gotten used to watching cricket on Jio Cinema get fooled into thinking that the India Vs Pakistan Asia Cup match is also streaming on Jio Cinema. They click on the attached link in the hopes being led to the India vs Pakistan match.
But whaddaya know – instead of being guided to the Jio Cinema app, they are instead led to the Jio Cinema YouTube channel. Here, in the name of the India vs Pakistan match, two unknown dudes stand and blabber in front of a massive screen that “writes down” the commentary ball-by-ball. For example, if it’s a dot ball, the screen will have “dot ball” written on it for that particular over and ball.
In this way, Jio Cinema is showing a written commentary for the match on its YouTube, since it obviously doesn’t have the rights to “show” the match live. The deep-pocketed platform has even roped in former cricketer Suresh Raina to give his intelligent inputs on the match, who chatters away on the match, again ball-by-ball.
Have a look at a few tweets showcasing Jio Cinema’s aggressive promotion of its Asia Cup India Vs Pakistan coverage –
https://twitter.com/JioCinema/status/1700849896654569787?t=vnESVGaBbMESW8DbrPsTFg&s=19
๐ป๐๐ โ๏ธ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐!
Suresh Raina, Aakash Chopra, Abhinav Mukund & Abhishek Nayar will share their expertise & you cannot miss it ๐๏ธ
Set your โฐ for the stream LIVE on #JioCinema YouTube channel from 2:30 PM โณ#INDvPAK #InsidersLiveonJioCinema pic.twitter.com/rKY7AwgqCm
— JioHotstar Reality (@HotstarReality) September 2, 2023
It's #INDvPAK! Grab some ๐ฟ & watch along with our experts Suresh Raina, Aakash Chopra, Abhinav Mukund & Abhishek Nayar.
Send in your queries using #InsidersLive & follow the stream LIVE on the #JioCinema app & on our YouTube channel.#InsidersLiveonJioCinema #TeamIndia
— JioHotstar Reality (@HotstarReality) September 2, 2023
It'sโฐfor #InsidersLIVE
As ๐ฎ๐ณ clash with ๐ต๐ฐ, Suresh Raina, Aakash Chopra, Abhinav Mukund & Abhishek Nayar will bring to us everything about this iconic rivalry.
Catch the stream LIVE on the #JioCinema Youtube channel from 2:30 PM!#INDvPAK #InsidersLiveonJioCinema #TeamIndia
— JioHotstar Reality (@HotstarReality) September 2, 2023
How smart. And sneaky. And cheap.
Poor Disney Plus Hotstar is trying its hardest to keep Jio Cinema at bay, and make the most of this opportunity. It is after all one of the last cricket tournaments that Disney Plus Hotstar has the rights for.
But naughty Jio Cinema is determined to rain on its parade.
It’s true that all’s fair in love and war. But this is not war, Jio Cinema. How about playing fair for a change?
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