Hotstar has taken advantage of the Akamai cloud delivery platform during the recently concluded VIVO IPL 2018 between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on April 10 in Chennai. Akamai is a popular CDN and Hotstar has leveraged the benefits of the platform to provide uninterrupted delivery of the content.
According to reports, Hotstar witnessed a record 5.5 million peak concurrent viewers during the match. The company sources revealed to us that the spike in the viewership is the largest on the Akamai platform for any live sporting event in the world. Moreover, it is also the largest for any single event online by a broadcaster.
Previously, the highest viewership was recorded as 4.8 million witnessed during the India and Pakistan ICC Champions Trophy Final in June 2017. Moreover, the live streaming of the US President Donald Trump assuming office in January 2017 fetched 4.6 million.
The Hotstar app has been refreshed exclusively for the VIVO IPL 2018 with the integration of Watch’NPlay in addition to VR and social features. The Watch’NPlay is a game used to test the viewer’s cricket smarts as they watch a match.
Commenting on the development, Ajit Mohan, CEO, Hotstar disclosed that crossing 5 million on a live sporting event is like breaking the 10-second barrier in the 100-meter dash. he said that the company is excited that fans have embraced the immersive sports experience on Hotstar that has brought together the goodness of live streaming, fan emoticons in addition to an interactive always-on game.
Hotstar is the future of video online and they are excited to be part of it. Mohan added that they will continue to test the ability of different parts of the Internet to keep up with the dramatic growth in fan followership. The company is happy to establish a partnership with Akamai in the quest to deliver a premium experience.
Responding to media, Parimal Pandya, Vice President, Media, APJ, Akamai Technologies added that Hotstar is one of the pioneers in the live streaming industry in India. The app has changed the way hundreds of millions of people consume content. The partnership with Hotstar has changed how people enjoy a variety of content ranging from general entertainment to live sports anytime, anywhere irrespective of any device.
VIVO IPL 2018 is a 60-day tournament, which will end on May 27. The tournament is streaming live on Hotstar in six languages, including Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Kannada, Hindi, and English.
