JioHotstar Crosses ₹31,000 Crore Revenue in FY26 as User Growth and IPL Viewership Drive Scale
JioHotstar posted ₹31,048 crore revenue and ₹3,228 crore PBT in FY26, driven by IPL 2026 viewership, 500 million MAUs, and record streaming concurrency, highlighting the rapid rise of digital sports and entertainment in India.
Reliance-backed streaming platform JioHotstar has reported strong financial and user growth for FY26, highlighting the rising dominance of digital sports and entertainment consumption in India.
The platform, part of the broader JioStar media venture, recorded ₹31,048 crore in operating revenue and ₹3,228 crore in profit before tax (PBT) for the financial year ending March 2026, according to company disclosures.
This marks a significant jump from the previous year, supported by rapid expansion in digital viewership, subscription growth, and strong monetisation of premium sports content.
JioHotstar Key Financial and Operational Highlights (FY26)
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Operating Revenue | ₹31,048 crore |
| Profit Before Tax (PBT) | ₹3,228 crore |
| EBITDA | ₹4,885 crore |
| Q4 Revenue | ₹9,784 crore |
| Q4 EBITDA | ₹827 crore |
| Monthly Active Users (MAUs) | 500 million |
| Peak Concurrency | 72.5 million |
| Total TV Viewers | 810+ million |
| IPL 2026 Opening Viewership | 515+ million |
Strong FY26 Financial Performance Led by Digital and Sports Growth
JioHotstar’s parent entity, JioStar, delivered one of its strongest financial performances since its formation following the Reliance–Disney India media merger in late 2024.
- Operating revenue: ₹31,048 crore
- EBITDA: ₹4,885 crore
- Profit before tax: ~₹3,200+ crore
The March quarter alone contributed ₹9,784 crore in revenue and ₹827 crore in EBITDA, reflecting continued momentum in the business.
Growth was largely driven by sports-led monetisation, especially cricket properties, alongside rising digital subscriptions and advertising income.
Importantly, FY25 numbers are not directly comparable due to the merger timeline, making FY26 the first full year of consolidated operations.
JioHotstar Hits 500 Million MAUs, Sets Global Streaming Records
A key highlight of the year was JioHotstar’s massive user scale.
- 500 million monthly active users (MAUs) on average
- Over 810 million TV viewers across the network
- 72.5 million peak concurrency, the highest ever recorded globally for a live stream
The record concurrency was achieved during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final, underlining the platform’s ability to handle large-scale live events.
Additionally, the opening weekend of IPL 2026 crossed 515 million viewers, showing the continued pull of cricket as a key driver of engagement and revenue.
Connected TV consumption also rose sharply, reflecting a shift from traditional TV to digital streaming.
IPL, Advertising Boom and Subscription Growth Power Revenue
Sports content, particularly the Indian Premier League (IPL), remained central to JioHotstar’s revenue strategy.
The company saw:
- Record digital advertising revenues
- Strong subscription growth across digital and TV
- Increased monetisation through premium live content
While traditional TV advertising saw some pressure, especially from FMCG brands, digital ad growth more than offset the decline, signalling a structural shift in the media industry.
Direct-to-consumer subscriptions also reached an all-time high, supported by new pricing plans and bundled offerings.
Rishi Mundra
AI, Micro-Content and In-App Commerce: Next Phase of Growth
Looking ahead, JioHotstar is investing heavily in technology to deepen engagement and unlock new revenue streams.
Key initiatives include:
- AI-led content discovery, aimed at improving user experience
- Expansion into short-form and micro-content formats
- Integration of in-app commerce during live events
The platform has already begun rolling out AI-powered features in collaboration with global technology partners, positioning itself as more than just a streaming service.
Current Position: India’s Largest Digital Entertainment Platform
With its scale, content library and sports rights portfolio, JioHotstar is now among the largest streaming platforms globally by user base.
Its hybrid model, combining:
- free and paid content,
- sports and entertainment,
- TV and digital distribution
All this has helped it reach both urban and mass audiences.
As digital consumption continues to rise in India, JioHotstar’s FY26 performance signals a clear trend: streaming platforms anchored in live sports and technology-led engagement are shaping the future of media.
