Hotstar and JioCinema, popular video streaming apps in India, have merged to form JioHotstar. This merger, announced by JioStar, a collaboration between Reliance-owned Viacom18 and Star India, combines JioCinema’s extensive content library with Disney’s Hotstar platform. The newly integrated app, launched early Friday, offers a vast selection of local content, over 100 TV channels, and movies and TV shows from major studios like Disney, Warner Bros., HBO, and more. JioHotstar aims to reach over 500 million users in India.
JioHotstar provides content in 19 languages and produces 30,000 hours of television programming annually. Subscription plans start at ₹149 ($1.71) for three months with ads, and ₹299 ($3.45) per month for an ad-free experience. The ad-free tier allows simultaneous viewing on four screens, while the ad-supported model limits it to one screen.
The merger follows Reliance’s merging with Walt Disney’s Indian assets last year, establishing a joint venture controlling a significant portion of India’s streaming and television market. JioCinema’s app will be phased out as subscribers transition to JioHotstar, bringing together India’s most valuable sports rights under one platform, including cricket properties like the Indian Premier League and FIFA World Cup.
This consolidation highlights the challenges faced by foreign media companies in India’s competitive market. Despite heavy investments in local content, platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime have struggled to grow paid subscriptions. Amazon, having acquired MX Player, is expanding the video streaming app aggressively with over 100 original shows and movies this year. According to Sensor Tower, MX Player was the third most popular video streaming app in December, trailing behind Hotstar and JioCinema.
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