iWorld
Foxtel to launch streaming service on 25 May
MUMBAI: Australian pay TV company Foxtel will launch a new entertainment streaming service on 25 May, entering the crowded streaming market.
The official announcement has ended all speculations regarding the launch that have been doing the rounds.
The next-generation streaming service, which will offer more than 10,000 hours of content including movies and dramas, will be competing with giants like Netflix, Amazon and Disney+.
Though there has not been any official announcement of the name, Foxtel had recently registered ‘Binge’ brand name and logo trademarks.
It is still not known the kind of subscription model the new streaming service will adopt. Media reports say it could be similar to that of Kayo, Foxtel’s sports streaming platform, which works on a monthly subscription free model.
The platform will be hosting content from Sony, BBC Warner Bros, and HBO Max. Over the last one-and-half years, Foxtel has been renegotiating content deals with studios to get SVOD rights for the new streaming service.
“There has been a lot of speculation about our new streaming service and its name, and we are pleased to finally be ready for the big reveal to Australia next week,” says Foxtel Group CEO Patrick Delany.
He termed the streaming service as Foxtel’s ‘growth engine’. The purpose of the new OTT, he said, will be to target consumers who seek to consume the premium content offered by the company.
“We have been beta-testing the service for a few weeks and we are sure Australians will love everything about it. It brings an exciting new brand to younger streaming audiences with a very different and compelling product experience, and a distinctly curated mix of the best drama and movies from the world’s best entertainment brands,” he added.
He said that the launch will be another milestone in the Foxtel Group’s strategy to transform itself and bring its unparalleled catalogue of entertainment and sports to even more viewers in Australia. “Our goal is to consolidate our position as Australia’s preeminent subscription television and streaming provider,” he said.
Foxtel’s subscription television service has 2.5 million customers, providing premium experience – the best of television and on-demand services.
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.
