iWorld
Online video surpasses 1 billion subscriber mark globally
KOLKATA: For the first time ever, online video services have surpassed the one billion subscriber mark globally. In the pandemic hit year 2020, the overall subscriber base has reached 1.1 billion, recording a 26 per cent year-on-year growth, according to a report from Motion Picture Association.
The global home/mobile entertainment market has raked in $68.8 billion in revenue, marking a 23 per cent increase over 2019. In the United States, subscriptions have crossed 308.6 million, representing a 32 per cent growth from 2019, and the home/mobile market increased 21 per cent, reaching $30 billion.
While the global market for theatrical and home/mobile entertainment distribution fell 18 per cent to $80.8 billion, the surge in the digital entertainment market has helped partially offset the decrease in the global box office caused by theatre closures during the pandemic.
“Despite the challenges to the global economy brought on by the Covid2019 pandemic, the film television, and streaming industry has once again risen to the occasion,” said Motion Picture Association chairman and CEO Charles Rivkin.
“Streaming experienced another huge boom, with new entrants into the market and more than one billion subscriptions worldwide for the first time ever. We kept audiences connected and entertained wherever they were and whenever they desired. Theatrical and home entertainment remain two essential parts of this dynamic and iconic industry, and I am confident that movie theatres will experience a great comeback in the months ahead,” he added.
However, cable TV revenue is still larger than the online video market. Cable revenues for global industry stood at $116 billion.
55 per cent of US adults reported that their viewing of movies or shows/series through an online subscription service increased, while 46 per cent reported that their viewing via pay TV increased. More than 85 per cent of children and over 55 per cent of adults watch movies or shows/series on mobile devices.
Daily viewers of movies or shows/series on mobile devices skew more heavily towards the 18-24 and 25-39 year-old age groups, as well as the Hispanic/Latino and African-American/Black ethnicity groups.
The global box office market for all films around the world was $12 billion in 2020; Within that number, the US/Canada box office market was $2.2 billion. The top three box office markets outside the US and Canada were China ($3 billion), Japan ($1.3 billion ), and France ($500 million ).
iWorld
T20 World Cup ’26: India–England semi-final sets global streaming record of 619 million views on JioHotstar
India–England semi-final records 65.2 million peak streams
MUMBAI: The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 set a new milestone in global sports streaming, as the India–England semi-final drew record digital audiences on JioHotstar.
The match on 5 March registered 65.2 million peak concurrent viewers, the highest ever recorded for a live event on any streaming platform worldwide. The semi-final also generated 619 million views, making it the most streamed T20 international match in history.
The landmark audience numbers were driven largely by viewers in India, setting a record achieved within a single market, rather than through aggregated viewership across multiple countries.
The high-scoring encounter between India national cricket team and England cricket team produced 499 runs across both innings, fuelling widespread fan engagement across platforms.
According to the International Cricket Council, the digital record surpassed the previous global benchmark of 65 million concurrent viewers, set in November 2024 by another international streaming platform.
Across television and digital platforms combined, the semi-final reached more than 320 million viewers, while total watch time exceeded 23 billion minutes, making it the most watched T20 international match ever.
“This World Cup demonstrates the immense passion of cricket fans and the progress made in bringing the game closer to audiences worldwide,” said ICC chairman Jay Shah.
“This moment reflects the scale of cricket fandom in India and the technological capability required to serve hundreds of millions of viewers simultaneously.”
JioStar vice-chairman Uday Shankar, said the audience surge underscored the future of large-scale digital entertainment.
“One in every three Indians tuned in to watch the second semi-final. Delivering such an experience at scale requires the very best of technology,” he said.
The 619 million views during the match also eclipsed the 533 million views recorded during the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.
With the final yet to be played, the 2026 tournament has already set multiple benchmarks in audience reach and digital engagement.
India will face the New Zealand national cricket team in the final on 8 March at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The match will be broadcast on the Star Sports Network and streamed on JioHotstar.
