World Cup streaming remains free on Hotstar as Disney Star gets a big win, source says
World Cup on their OTT platform Disney+ Hotstar.
In September, the All India Digital Cable Federation (AIDCF) had urged TDSAT to instruct Star India to discontinue the free cricket streaming on Disney+ Hotstar.
They contended that customers serviced by their members also expect to access live cricket content without any charges.
«The TDSAT has denied interim relief to the AIDCF seeking an injunction against Disney Star from making available the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 for free on mobile. The TDSAT found that prima facie OTT is not covered by the TRAI Act,» an industry source aware of the development told ET Online.
Disney Star, the official broadcaster of World Cup 2023 both on TV and digital, had announced that they will stream the marquee tournament for free on mobile devices via their Disney+ Hotstar app.
The federation had lodged a complaint with the TDSAT regarding Walt Disney-owned company's move to provide free access to the recently concluded Asia Cup and the upcoming ICC Men's Cricket World Cup for mobile users through its streaming service.
The tribunal had notified Star India about this complaint and requested a response by October 3. On television, Star India is broadcasting the matches through the paid Star Sports network.
ET had reported that the federation, in its petition, had contended that the broadcaster is discriminating between sets of consumers by charging cable TV subscribers for the same content while offering it free to Disney+ Hotstar users.
It noted that charging for the same content on TV while making it free online goes against the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's regulatory framework, which aims to establish a comprehensive environment that ensures transparency and
