iWorld
Hotstar clocks 25.3 mn concurrent viewers to set new global record
MUMBAI: Hotstar, India’s largest premium streaming platform, continued to raise the bar in live streaming, setting a new global benchmark during the India vs New Zealand semi-final on 10th July 2019. The platform registered an unprecedented 25.3 million concurrent viewers, shattering its own previous world record of 18.6 million set during the VIVO IPL 2019 final. Hotstar also witnessed upwards of 15 million concurrent viewers across multiple matches through the ICC Cricket World Cup.
Built to handle immense scale, Hotstar had previously crossed the milestone of 100 million daily users during the India vs Pakistan match. Even with the massive cricket consumption, the entertainment consumption on Hotstar remains extremely high. 60% of cricket viewers also consume entertainment content on the platform and the past 12 months have seen a 2X growth in entertainment consumption. The watch time on entertainment content is 1.5 times that of sports content on the platform. These astounding numbers are a resounding testimony to Hotstar’s immense technology prowess, with the platform continuing to be the preferred destination for sports and entertainment for millions of Indians across the country.
Commenting on the development, Varun Narang, Chief Product Officer, Hotstar, said, “We are thrilled about, once again, re-writing the global record for the highest concurrent video viewership anywhere in the world.
Using tech in creating a delightful consumer experience is at the core of what we do. From building scalable services that enable massive concurrency to managing complexities of live streaming from video acquisition to authentication to delivery, we prepare for failure in the system. We load test our infrastructure extensively to identify failure points.
With a robust technology backbone, and expertise in driving scale by changing behaviour and growing the category, we look forward to setting new benchmarks and delivering unmatched experiences to all our users.”
Commenting on the record, Vinod Thadani, Chief Digital Officer, Mindshare South Asia, said, “Achieving 25.3 million simultaneous viewers in any match is no mean feat. The nail-biting semi-final saw Hotstar’s viewership rise steadily and during the last leg of the game, the viewership increased nearly with every ball! Also, what’s remarkable is the fact that these numbers were attained for a disrupted semi-final played over two days. It’s anyone’s guess what the figures would’ve been had India made it to the finals. Hotstar would’ve definitely surpassed these numbers and set new global standards.”
In addition to India, Hotstar brought the ICC Cricket World Cup to consumers in the US and Canada as well, who tuned in to the platform via the app, on the web (us.hotstar.com & ca.hotstar.com), Google play store, app store, as well as on living room devices like Roku TV, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Android TV, and Samsung Smart TV.
iWorld
Mastercard expands concert series with comedy and music format
Vir Das, Zakir Khan and Papon headline multi-city shows across India.
MUMBAI: From punchlines to power chords, the stage is getting a genre upgrade. Mastercard has unveiled the next phase of its multi-city concert series in India, blending stand-up comedy with live music in a format that mirrors the country’s evolving entertainment tastes. The new line-up brings together a diverse mix of performers, including comedians Vir Das and Zakir Khan, alongside singer Papon. The shift marks a departure from earlier editions that were primarily music-led, featuring global and Indian acts such as Enrique Iglesias, A. R. Rahman and Sunidhi Chauhan.
Curated in collaboration with Tribe Vibe and EVA Live, the expanded series is designed to create a broader cultural platform that brings humour, storytelling and music into a single live experience.
Vir Das will kick off the comedy segment in New Delhi with four shows across two days at Yashobhoomi on 9 and 10 May. Meanwhile, Zakir Khan is set for an extended run in Mumbai, with nine shows scheduled at Dome SVP Stadium across 12, 13, 14, 19 and 20 June, with additional dates expected.
On the music front, Papon will headline a six-city tour, beginning in Chandigarh on 16 May, followed by Ahmedabad on 29 May and Lucknow on 30 May. The tour will then move to Bengaluru on 6 June, Hyderabad on 7 June, and conclude in Indore on 14 June.
The series continues to offer exclusive benefits for Mastercard cardholders, including priority ticket access and premium lounge experiences at venues positioning the platform as both an entertainment and lifestyle proposition.
Beyond the spotlight, the initiative carries a social dimension. Through its partnership with Learning Links Foundation, Mastercard has enabled nearly 90 students from underserved communities across cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Jaipur and Chandigarh to experience live events often for the first time aiming to spark interest in careers within the experience economy.
As live entertainment becomes increasingly hybrid and experiential, Mastercard’s latest move signals a simple insight: today’s audience doesn’t just want a show, they want a story, a laugh and a memory, all rolled into one.
