Hotstar and JioCinema, Two of the Most Widely Used and Popular Video Streaming Apps in India, Have Announced Their Merger Into a Single Unified Platform Called JioHotstar. This Consolidation Marks a Major Shift in India’s Streaming Landscape, Combining the Strengths and Extensive Content Libraries of Both Services to Create a More Robust Offering. The Merger Aims to Deliver a Wider Variety of Content to the Indian Audience, Including Local and International Films, TV Shows, and Sports Programming, While Enhancing the User Experience with More Seamless Access to Popular Shows and Exclusive Sports Events.
JioStar Integrates JioCinema’s Content Into Hotstar Platform
JioStar, a Joint Venture Between Reliance-Owned Viacom18 and Star India, Announced on Friday That It Had Integrated JioCinema’s Vast Library of Content Into a Revamped Version of Disney’s Hotstar Platform.
New Features of the Merged JioHotstar App
The Merged App, Live as of Early Friday Local India Time, Will Feature Hundreds of Thousands of Hours of Local Content, More Than 100 TV Channels, and Movies and TV Shows From Disney, Warner Bros, HBO, NBCUniversal, and Paramount. JioHotstar Aims to Reach More Than 500 Million Users in the Country.
Subscription Plans and Viewing Options
JioHotstar, Which Offers Content in 19 Languages and Produces 30,000 Hours of Television Programming Annually, Has Subscription Plans Starting at ₹149 ($1.71) for Three Months (Ad-Supported) and ₹299 ($3.45) per Month for an Ad-Free Experience. The Ad-Free Tier Allows Simultaneous Viewing Across Four Screens, While the Cheapest Ad-Supported Model Limits That to One Screen.
The Impact of Reliance’s Merger With Disney’s Indian Assets
The Consolidation Follows Reliance’s $8.5 Billion Merger With Walt Disney’s Indian Assets Last Year, Which Created a Joint Venture That Controls About 85% of India’s Streaming Market and Half of Television Viewership.
Quote From JioStar’s Digital CEO Kiran Mani
“Entertainment Is No Longer a Privilege, But a Shared Experience for All,” Said Kiran Mani, JioStar’s Digital Chief Executive. The Group Said Existing JioCinema Subscribers Would Transition to JioHotstar Once Their Current Subscriptions Expire.
The Merger Brings Valuable Sports Rights Under One Platform
The Merger Brings India’s Most Valuable Sports Rights Under One Platform, Including Cricket Properties Such as the Indian Premier League and International Cricket Council Tournaments, Alongside the Soccer Premier League and FIFA World Cup.
Phasing Out JioCinema and Transition to JioHotstar
JioCinema’s App Will Be Phased Out After Existing Customers’ Subscriptions Expire. JioCinema Subscribers Will Be Able to “Seamlessly” Transition and Set Up Their JioHotstar Subscriptions, the Company Told TechCrunch.
Challenges Foreign Media Groups Face in India
The Consolidation Reflects the Difficulties Foreign Media Groups Have Faced in India’s Price-Sensitive Market. Netflix and Amazon Prime Have Also Struggled to Grow Paid Subscriptions Despite Heavy Investment in Local Content.
Amazon’s Expansion Into Video Streaming With MX Player
Amazon, Which Last Year Acquired MX Player, Is Aggressively Expanding the New Video Streaming App With More Than 100 Original Shows and Movies This Year. MX Player Was the Third Most Popular Video Streaming App in December, Right Behind Hotstar and JioCinema, According to Sensor Tower.