IPL 2023 promises to be a one-of-a-kind experience this year for its fan base in India and across the globe. With every new season, expectations of viewers keep growing in the quest to experience something new. To fulfil the ‘Dil Maange More’ needs, JioCinema has stepped in with a bouquet of offers this season.
Apart from free streaming of IPL on JioCinema, audiences will witness features including 4K streaming, multiple camera angles for enhanced interactivity, special interest feeds catering to all kinds of viewers etc. Irrespective of streaming device, a level up on quality, diversity and flexibility is the promise.
JioCinema offerings creating history
The 4K streaming technology promises ultimate clarity and detail that is four times the resolution of HD. Thus viewers will get to experience IPL in highest quality, 10 times more than before. This is a first of its kind experience for the fans.
The multiple camera angle viewing offers audiences to choose the angle of their choice like the stump cam, cable cam, bird’s eye view, batters cam etc. thus helping in getting the best possible viewing experience. Also on ‘Hype’ mode, they can see ‘live statistics’ of the match and all the other analytics in one place, thus enhancing their understanding of the game.
The coverage of 74 matches will be in 12 different languages: English, Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Bengali, Gujarati, Bhojpuri, Odia and Punjabi. This strategy will ensure that every IPL franchise’s fan base will be able to access the IPL in their own language. It will also enable access to a broader audience with no language barrier.
The platform has created customised and dedicated feeds for various cohorts like avid fans, urban women, fantasy enthusiasts and cricket purists.
Insider Feed for avid fans is a chat-based coverage of the IPL where legends of the game take the viewers through the tournament with some insights of the game that they have played – till as recently as last year.
A Lifestyle Feed is being curated to give viewers an insight into the personal lives of cricketers, including their diets, training methods, and what they’re like off the field. Experts in this feed will be former female cricketers, influencers, and cricketers’ partners and family members.
Fantasy enthusiasts are not left out either. For those who are fans of cricket fantasy gaming apps, the Fantasy Feed will provide different analyses to help viewers make better teams and improve their craft in the game. This feed will also feature the best players in the fantasy gaming industry.
For die-hard fans of specific teams, JioCinema has a Fan Feed that provides coverage that is biased and opinionated towards their respective teams. This allows fans to immerse themselves in the game, cheering on their favourite players and teams with like-minded individuals. Every match will have two fan feeds.
The digital audience will experience specifically curated pre and post-match shows for the first time ever. This marks a significant shift from the traditional approach, in which pre and post-match shows were only available to TV sponsors, and the same show was simultaneously streamed on the digital platform. This new format provides opportunities for digital sponsors to display their branding and product integrations, enabling brands to reach new heights with a highly engaged audience base.
The panel of experts for the IPL 2023 coverage on JioCinema will feature some of the biggest names in cricket including Anil Kumble, AB de Villiers, Suresh Raina, Robin Uthappa, Chris Gayle, and Eoin Morgan, amongst others. With unique viewpoints and insider information from various franchises, the panel promises to add to the thrill of the cricket-viewing experience.
Jio Cinema is also working to provide engagement during the event through gamification, such as play along and creating IPL fan zone parks that will take IPL to every corner of the country.
We asked industry experts to weigh in with their views on the wide range of offers by JioCinema and if such innovations on digital become the norm for sports viewing in India.
Wish innovation becomes a norm
Any innovation is good for the sport and the viewers. Multiple feeds is good as India is not a homogenous cohort of 1.4bn people. Cricket is the most loved sport in India and hence “multiple angles” of all kinds would work! I do hope and wish that innovation becomes a norm so that entertainment is redefined every season.”
– Manav Sethi, Head – Media Martech & Growth, Vida World
Will attract eyeballs if marketed well
Multiple feeds, 12 languages, multi-camera mode, focus camera mode are definitely innovations that can enhance viewers’ experience resulting into delighted consumers. Getting a personalised feed whether its language or camera view definitely will attract eyeballs, provided it is marketed well to the audiences.
This is a first of its kind. I am sure there will be adoption of these innovations and they potentially could become a norm in coming years, provided there is data on consumption of such products which we will know post IPL.
– Vishal Chinchankar, CEO – Madison Digital & Madison Media Alpha
Increased viewership and reach critical to drive ROI for advertisers
Multi language sports feeds has helped to expand the reach of the sports as preference for regional content viewing is increasing. Now Jio offering almost 12 language and some additional specialised feeds keeping specific TG in view on digital medium, seems a step in direction of not only expanding the reach and also engage with cohorts of viewers like women, gamers etc.
Jio’s offering of VR and camera angle option will enhance the viewing experience of IPL. It will be interesting to see the response of viewers for these innovations as it will surely pave the way for adoption of more such innovations.
From the advertisers’ perspective since IPL is one of the major sporting events of the year with huge advertising budgets at stake across mediums, increased viewership and reach is extremely critical to drive ROI of association with the event.
– Shashank Srivastava, Senior Executive Director, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd.
This is just the beginning
The sports entertainment business is getting more and more immersive… this is just the beginning, as 5G and high speed internet becomes more accessible, the need to innovate will increase. The idea of controlling the angle is brilliant… gives so much to the viewer sitting at home. It’s true personalisation at scale. This will surely boost the viewership and subscription amongst all, especially the younger audience.
As more broadcasters try to gain a share of subscribers, these innovations will only increase. Every player needs to have some unique feature to keep stickiness with the younger users.
– Ankur Pujari, Co-Founder & Business Lead, Hyper Connect Asia
With a wide range of innovative features and offerings, IPL 2023 free streaming on JioCinema promises a lot for the viewer. The IPL viewer base could well be in for an expansion we have not witnessed till date.
(Think Through features may be initiated and funded by stakeholders with content inputs.)
