KOLKATA: Disney+ Hotstar is gearing up for Vivo IPL 2021 and has already signed 10 sponsors for this year's tournament. Last year’s title sponsor, Dream11, has returned as the co-presenting sponsor this time, while Upstox and Vimal Elaichi are the ‘co-powered by’ sponsors. Phone Pe, Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI), Unacademy, Pharmeasy, Livspace, Swiggy, and Parle Agro have come on board as associate sponsors. 

“IPL is a prime sporting property that provides advertisers an opportunity for real-time consumer engagement on Disney+ Hotstar. Going by the response from the market, IPL 2021 promises to be an even more significant opportunity for brands. All key features such as Super 4s, Super 6s, Fall Of Wickets, Milestones, and Super Savers have sold out within a short period, and we see early closures across categories,” Star & Disney India ad sales president Nitin Bawankule said.

“With a host of innovative advertising formats, targeting on connected TVs, and custom branded content solutions, brands have the unique opportunity to reach a highly engaged and affluent audience through the sharp targeting options available on live sports,” he added.

IPL 14 will be streamed on Disney+ Hotstar in five languages – English, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, and Tamil and will be exclusively available to subscribers of Disney+ Hotstar VIP (Rs 399 for 12 months) and Disney+ Hotstar Premium (Rs 1499 for 12 months).

The last season of the IPL was a blockbuster event for the network after resumption of live sports in post-Covid times. Top global disney executives have also emphasised the league’s contribution to Disney+ Hotstar's success. In the tournament’s thirteenth edition, the platform innovated around user experience and interactivity in the absence of live audiences.