The Indian Premier League (IPL) is more than just cricket—it’s a mega-platform for brands to connect with millions of engaged viewers across India. With IPL 2025 set to captivate audiences yet again, advertisers have access to a variety of innovative ad formats that maximize impact and deliver exceptional ROI.
From interactive carousels to native companion ads, JioCinema’s advanced ad formats cater to every marketing objective, making IPL a game-changer for digital advertising. This article explores the most impactful ad formats for IPL 2025 and how brands can use them to achieve their goals.
1. The Importance of Choosing the Right IPL Ad Formats
1.1 Ad Formats Designed for Engagement
JioCinema’s IPL platform offers ad formats tailored for immersive engagement, leveraging personalization and interactivity to create memorable experiences for viewers. Advertisers can now create campaigns that resonate with audiences based on their preferences, behavior, and device type.
1.2 ROI-Driven Campaigns
With flexible ad options, IPL 2025 allows brands to optimize budgets by selecting formats that align with their campaign goals—whether it’s brand awareness, audience engagement, or direct conversions.
2. IPL 2025 Ad Formats and Their Benefits
2.1 Pre-Roll Ads
- What Are They?
Short ads that play before live matches or on-demand IPL content begins. - Benefits:
- High visibility as they’re the first thing viewers see.
- Excellent for creating strong first impressions and building awareness.
- Example Use Case:
A premium smartphone brand showcased a sleek 15-second teaser before key IPL matches, generating a 20% increase in purchase intent.
2.2 Mid-Roll Ads
- What Are They?
Ads displayed during match breaks, such as timeouts or innings changes. - Benefits:
- Captures attention when viewers are actively engaged.
- Allows for actionable CTAs like order now or shop now.
- Example Use Case:
A food delivery app used mid-roll ads to promote time-sensitive offers during match breaks, resulting in a 50% increase in orders.
2.3 Native Companion Ads
- What Are They?
Ads integrated into the user interface, such as persistent banners or branded overlays. - Benefits:
- Non-intrusive yet highly effective for continuous brand visibility.
- Boosts recall as viewers see the ad repeatedly during matches.
- Example Use Case:
A financial services brand ran companion banner ads, maintaining constant visibility throughout the IPL season and driving 15% more app downloads.
2.4 Carousel Ads
- What Are They?
Ads that showcase multiple products or messages in a single, interactive placement. - Benefits:
- Enables brands to highlight product diversity.
- Encourages viewers to explore multiple offerings.
- Example Use Case:
An e-commerce platform highlighted deals across categories like fashion and electronics through carousels, achieving a 150% higher click-through rate (CTR) compared to static banners.
2.5 Interactive Polls and Quizzes
- What Are They?
Ads inviting viewers to participate in live polls, answer questions, or predict match outcomes. - Benefits:
- Creates deeper engagement by involving the audience.
- Provides valuable audience insights for brands.
- Example Use Case:
A beverage brand conducted a “Who will win today’s match?” poll, offering prizes for participants. The campaign boosted brand recall by 30% among younger audiences.
2.6 Sponsored Content
- What Is It?
Ads integrated into premium IPL content, such as match highlights or player statistics. - Benefits:
- Creates a strong association with key IPL moments.
- Ideal for luxury brands seeking exclusivity.
- Example Use Case:
A luxury watch brand sponsored the “Man of the Match” segment, aligning their brand with excellence and boosting premium customer inquiries by 25%.
3. How Brands Can Maximize ROI with IPL Ad Formats
3.1 Align Ad Formats with Campaign Goals
- Awareness: Use pre-roll ads or native banners for maximum visibility.
- Engagement: Choose carousels and polls for interactive experiences.
- Conversions: Leverage mid-roll ads with strong CTAs to drive immediate action.
3.2 Optimize Ads for Digital Viewership
With over 70% of IPL viewers watching on mobile devices, creating mobile-first ad designs is crucial. Short, impactful videos and interactive elements are particularly effective.
3.3 Monitor and Adjust Campaigns
JioCinema’s real-time reporting tools allow advertisers to track performance metrics like impressions, CTRs, and engagement rates.
- Example: An e-commerce platform optimized their carousel ads mid-season, replacing underperforming products with trending deals, leading to a 20% boost in engagement.
4. Case Studies: Brands Achieving High ROI with IPL Ad Formats
Case Study#1: A cryptocurrency exchange brand, focused on young, tech-savvy investors (18–24 years) by sponsoring IPL 2021 on Disney+ Hotstar. It used mid-roll advertisements and an interactive companion carousel to maximize visibility and engagement. The campaign was designed to resonate with viewers by leveraging contextual ads that aligned cricket strategies with cryptocurrency investments.
Results:
- 18% increase in aided brand awareness, rising to 27% among the younger demographic.
- 12% uplift in message association with its campaign tagline “Trade kar befikar.”
- 20% growth in purchase intent among the younger audience, showing a strong connection with its target group.
Case Study#2: PhonePe leveraged IPL 2021 to enhance brand visibility across India. The campaign strategically targeted young adults aged 18–24 and 25+ through digital streaming on Disney+ Hotstar. By associating its brand with high-impact moments like in-stadium visibility and player jerseys, PhonePe created a strong emotional connection with cricket fans. Additionally, the campaign incorporated multi-faceted media strategies, including short video ads, banner ads, and personalized messaging. Interactive moments, such as giveaways during peak excitement, and collaborations with cricketers further boosted engagement.
Results:
- Achieved 49.3 million unique viewers.
- Garnered 1.6 billion ad impressions.
- Increased aided brand awareness by 11% in the 18–24 demographic.
- Boosted purchase intent by 10% among young adults.
5. Future Trends in IPL Advertising
5.1 Growth of Gamified Ad Experiences
Brands are expected to launch interactive games tied to IPL matches, such as predictions or fantasy leagues.
- Example: A sportswear brand creating an “IPL Fantasy League” ad format within JioCinema.
5.2 Augmented Reality (AR) Ads
AR ads will allow viewers to interact with products during live matches, such as trying on virtual sunglasses or placing furniture in their homes.
5.3 Integration of AI for Personalized Ads
AI-driven recommendations based on viewer preferences will enable hyper-targeted campaigns, ensuring maximum ROI.Ready to explore the most innovative ad formats for IPL 2025? From pre-rolls to interactive carousels, JioCinema offers endless possibilities to maximize your ROI. Visit this page to explore ad options and submit your details today!
