The telecommunication engine of India’s streaming market
Reliance Jio’s vertical integration amidst regulatory silence
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 6434935 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Mahima Singh (0000-0002-1727-4230, Indian Institute of Technology Indore), Akshaya Kumar (0000-0003-1309-2947, Indian Institute of Technology Indore) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Publication date | 2025-03-13 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Digital Media & Policy (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2516-3523 • E-ISSN: 2516-3531 |
| Publisher | Intellect (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1386/jdmp_00169_1 |
| OpenAlex | W4408462011 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 2 |
| References cited | 23 |
This article examines the transformative impact of Reliance Jio, an Indian telecommunications company, on the digital media landscape in India. By securing the digital rights for the immensely popular Indian Premier League (IPL), a cricket tournament known for its massive viewership and cultural significance, and streaming it for free on JioCinema, Jio disrupted the over-the-top (OTT) video platform market. This move highlights Jio’s strategy of leveraging vertical integration and regulatory leniency to dominate the market. The research delves into the historical context of India’s digital policies and the government’s role in fostering a liberalized market environment through ‘regulatory silence’. It also explores the implications of media convergence and platformization, where digital giants shape the production and distribution of media content. The article argues that Jio’s control over the internet infrastructure and its extensive content library position it as a formidable player in the Indian media industry, influencing both market dynamics and regulatory frameworks. By analysing Jio’s ascent and the broader media policy environment, this study provides insights into the evolving power structures and economic strategies within India’s digital media sector, offering a critical perspective on the interplay between telecommunications and media in a rapidly digitalizing economy
Business · Industrial organization · Physics · Silence · Telecommunications · Vertical Integration · Asian Industrial and Economic Development · Computer Science · Indian Economic and Social Development
Regulating Dominant Platforms
Curating Video-on-Demand
Media economics
Media Portfolios after Credit Scoring
Platform policies in the European Union
Media Policy Silences
The changing shape of the Indian recorded music industry in the age of platformisation
India's convergence policy within its communication sector
Telecom, National Development and the Indian State
Dynamics of power in contemporary media policy-making
Media power in digital Asia
The rise of national programming
Globalization and policy choice
The Cultural Logic of Media Convergence
Approaching media industries comparatively
Two Faces of Power
| Unique citing works | 2 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 2 |
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 1 |