JioStar—a joint venture between Reliance Industries and Walt Disney that operates JioHotstar—recorded a net profit of ₹581 crore in Q1 FY26 (ended June 2025), marking a sharp rise from ₹229 crore in Q1 FY25
The company achieved revenue from operations of ₹9,601 cr and gross revenue of ₹11,222 cr, bolstered by an exceptionally strong Indian Premier League (IPL) season
🎯 Key Growth Drivers: IPL & Digital Momentum
- IPL Viewership Bonanza
- Combined OTT and TV audience hit 1.19 billion—marking IPL 2025 as the most-watched ever
- JioHotstar alone attracted 652 million digital viewers, a 28% YoY increase, with a peak concurrency of 55.2 million during the final
- Surging Subscriptions & Ad Revenue
- The streaming platform surpassed 287 million subscribers, driven by IPL engagement
- Despite weak FMCG advertising, sports-driven subscription and ad revenue offset the headwinds
- Improved Profitability
- EBITDA reached ₹1,017 cr, with Operating Revenue of ₹9,601 cr signaling robust margins
📊 Broader Context: Reliance’s Q1 Report
- Jio Platforms posted a 25% rise in PAT to ₹7,110 cr, with revenue up 19% to ₹41,054 cr
- Reliance Industries recorded record ₹26,994 cr consolidated profit, driven by strong digital, retail, and energy-business performance The Economic Times
🔍 Implications for the Market
- Streaming as a growth pillar: Disease‑driven sports viewership highlights JioHotstar’s evolving monetization model.
- Sports-centric ad strategy: The IPL season underscored the power of live sports in VIP ad revenue and subscriber acquisition.
- Strategic content investment: With sports at the core, JioStar might invest further in exclusive leagues and originals for sustained growth.
