iWorld
IPL 2025 blows the roof off as JioStar makes a smashing start to the season
MUMBAI: What do you get when you mix cricket, chaos, and cutting-edge tech? A weekend that made broadcasting history. As the 18 edition of the Tata IPL exploded onto screens across India, JioStar didn’t just steal the show—it rewrote the playbook. Fans were glued, data broke dance moves, and TVRs soared higher than a Virat Kohli six.
JioStar’s opening weekend went full throttle. Digital and TV viewership blew past all previous records, with a jaw-dropping 4,956 crore minutes of collective watch time. That’s right—India’s cricket-obsessed millions clocked in for what might be the most-watched IPL opening weekend ever. JioHotstar alone racked up 137 crore views, including 3.4 crore peak concurrency and 2,186 crore minutes of binge-worthy action. Someone give those data servers a pat on the back.
Television wasn’t left behind either. The Star Sports Network scored 25.3 crore viewers for the first three matches, according to BARC data. That’s a 22 per cent jump from last year, with average TVR shooting up 39 per cent like a Hardik Pandya bouncer.
JioStar CEO – sports Sanjog Gupta said the silent part out loud, “The record-breaking viewership across digital and TV platforms over the opening weekend of Tata IPL 2025 reaffirms the tournament’s unmatched popularity…” In short, they knew this beast would be big—and it didn’t disappoint.
JioStar CEO – digital Kiran Mani chimed in like a proud parent at a school play, “IPL 2025 is setting a new benchmark for how India engages with live sports and entertainment at an unmatched scale…” Basically, if it’s got a screen, JioStar wants to light it up with cricket.
And advertisers? They’re salivating. Over 30 marquee brands have pitched their tents in JioStar’s prime-time jungle, including Amazon Prime, Google Pay, SBI, Dream11, Phonepe, and Thums Up. Why? Because it’s where the eyeballs—and the wallets—are. Digital ads now come with targeting sharper than a Jasprit Bumrah yorker, personalised formats, and juicy insights.
But wait, there’s more. The new season isn’t just big—it’s loud, flashy, and personal. With 25+ feeds in 12 languages and over 170 experts adding spice, JioStar’s coverage is part circus, part cinema. Fans aren’t just watching—they’re chatting, predicting, partying virtually, and basically turning passive viewing into a digital cricket mosh pit.
JioHotstar’s ‘MaxView’ feature stretches visuals edge-to-edge like an extra-cheese pizza, while the quirky ‘Hangout’ feed brings gen z creators and stand-up comics to the commentary box. And for the younger lot, ‘Motu Patlu Presents Super Funday’ dishes out family-friendly fun, because apparently even cartoons can’t resist the IPL fever.
In a hat-tip to tech-savvy fans, JioStar added a second-screen engagement gimmick: miss a big moment on telly? Just scan a QR code and boom—you’re watching the highlight before the next ball is bowled. Who needs a remote when your phone’s doing all the heavy lifting?
Fresh off its successful run with the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, JioStar is already claiming IPL 2025 will be the “biggest ever”. Infinite possibilities? Sure. But for now, let’s just say they’ve smashed it out of the park.
iWorld
Parineeti Chopra hosts new parenting series Mom Talks on Zee5 and Bullet
Celebrity parents share honest stories in 9-episode show launching 4 April 2026.
MUMBAI: Parineeti Chopra is stepping into a brand-new role not on the big screen, but as the warm, relatable host helping parents navigate the beautiful chaos of raising children. Bullet microdrama and Zee5 have announced the launch of Mom Talks, a fresh content-led IP hosted by the popular actress. The 9-episode series brings together celebrity parents including Imran Khan, Neha Dhupia, Vikrant Massey & Sheetal, and Gauahar Khan & Zaid Darbar to share candid, real-life perspectives on everyday parenting.
Positioned as a high-engagement format, Mom Talks taps into the growing demand for authentic and credible parenting content. It also offers seamless, contextual integration opportunities for brands. The series is backed by a strong lineup of partners including Johnson’s Baby, GSK, Aveeno Baby, Mini Klub, Titan Eye+ and Cordelia Cruises.
Bullet microdrama app, co-founder & chief business officer Azim Lalani said the show exemplifies how content is evolving towards more rooted, sustained engagement. “It’s about bringing content that people come back to, while creating a natural space for brands to be part of the narrative,” he noted.
Mom Talks creator Bullet head of AVOD & partnerships Munaf Merchant explained the core idea, “We wanted to build a safe, honest, one-stop destination for parents seeking real answers to everyday questions.”
The first episodes will stream for free on ee5 AVOD starting 4 April 2026, with new episodes dropping every Friday and Saturday. The series will also be available on the Bullet microdrama app.
Speaking about their association, Peeyush Unikkat from Johnson’s Baby highlighted the brand’s focus on supporting modern parenting journeys, while Aakash Mehta from GSK emphasised the show’s role in making important health conversations more relatable for new parents.
In a digital space often filled with filtered perfection, Mom Talks promises something refreshingly real honest conversations, celebrity insights, and practical wisdom, all wrapped in Parineeti Chopra’s engaging presence. For Indian parents, this could be the parenting series they’ve been waiting to binge.
