Over the next 12 months, Hotstar will stream for US audience 160 days of cricket, including a number bilateral clashes and the 2019 World Cup.
Hotstar, India’s largest premium television streaming platform, will telecast the upcoming Asia Cup tournament in the United Arab Emirates, featuring defending champions India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Hong Kong.
The tournament begins in Dubai on September 15, with Bangladesh facing Sri Lanka.
One of the most eagerly awaited contests will be the India-Pakistan clash on September 19 — the first match between the two South Asian rivals since the 2017 Champions Trophy final, which was won by Pakistan.
Both teams are in Group A, which also has Hong Kong. Group B consists of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
Top two teams from each group will play in the Super 4. The final will be on September 28.
KEY GROUP MATCHES
Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka, September 15, 2018, 7:30 a.m. EST
India vs Pakistan, September 19, 2018, 7:30 a.m. EST
Ahead of the Asia Cup, Hotstar is unveiling a $99 annual package for US viewers featuring cricket and entertainment. According to the company, subscribers can watch 160 days of cricket in the next 12 months.
The following tournaments and bilateral series will include in the package: India vs. West Indies series in October, ICC Women’s World T20 championship in November, India vs. Australia series in February 2019, the 12th edition of the IPL in April 2019, and the ICC Cricket World Cup in May 2019.
The company said the annual subscribers will have access to, besides its cricket calendar, the entertainment library “throughout the year.”
Hotstar also has a monthly subscription plan, with the entertainment pack available for $9.99 a month, and a sports and entertainment combo for $19.99 a month.
Hotstar, a subsidiary of Star India and 21st Century Fox, was launched in India in 2015. It was launched in the United States and Canada last year.
“Hotstar has just completed its first year in the United States, and the response from the Diaspora has been phenomenal,” said Ipsita Dasgupta, President of Hotstar International and Strategy at Star India. “As we embark on our second year, we have a comprehensive cricket calendar for fans and enthusiasts in the US, who have come to expect this level of engaging and premium programming from our platform.”