The Reliance and Disney JV has launched JioHotstar, merging India’s two largest streaming platforms, taking on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
The new platform, which combines JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar content library, is a revamped version of Disney+ Hotstar.
Merger brings together India’s most valuable sports rights under one roof, including the Indian Premier League cricket and International Cricket Council tournaments, alongside the English Premier League soccer.
The joint venture will also feature content from major international studios including Disney, Warner Bros., HBO, NBCUniversal Peacock, and Paramount.
What does the new JioHotstar app brings for users: No free IPL, new subscription plans, and more
The new JioHotstar ends the era of completely free IPL cricket streaming, as the joint venture moves to convert its massive user base into paying subscribers. The streaming platform will adopt a hybrid model where users can initially watch content for free before being required to subscribe based on their viewing patterns.
Subscription plans start at ₹149 for three months with ads, while an ad-free premium tier is available at ₹499.
The JioCinema app will be phased out, and existing subscribers of both JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar will automatically transition to the new app once their current subscriptions expire.
JioStar, formed through Reliance’s $8.5 billion merger with Disney’s Indian assets in late 2024, now controls approximately 85% of India’s streaming market and half of its television viewership. The combined platform boasts over 300,000 hours of content in 10 Indian languages and claims a user base of 500 million viewers.