JioHotstar Launches Operations in UK, Canada and Singapore with Quarterly Subscription Plans
Key Takeaways
- •JioHotstar has launched streaming services in the UK, Canada, and Singapore as part of its international expansion.
- •The platform was formed by the merger of Reliance-backed JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar in India, creating one of the country's largest streaming services.
- •Quarterly subscription plans have been introduced in the new markets, differing from the monthly and annual options typically offered by rivals.
- •The expansion puts JioHotstar in competition with Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and ZEE5 for South Asian audiences abroad.
- •The UK, Canada, and Singapore were chosen for their large Indian and South Asian populations, which drive demand for Indian entertainment and cricket coverage outside India.
JioHotstar has launched in the UK, Canada, and Singapore, expanding its international footprint as it seeks to serve the South Asian diaspora with diverse content and interactive features. Alongside the rollout, the streaming platform has introduced quarterly subscription plans in these markets.
JioHotstar is the streaming platform formed after the merger of Reliance-backed JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar in India, a deal that created one of the country's largest streaming services. The overseas push places it in competition with global services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and ZEE5, which also target South Asian audiences abroad with Indian film and sports content. The choice of the UK, Canada, and Singapore aligns with markets that have large Indian and South Asian populations, a demographic that has long underpinned demand for Indian entertainment and cricket coverage outside India. The quarterly billing option differs from the monthly and annual plans commonly offered by rivals, giving subscribers a mid-term commitment choice in the new markets.
The expansion marks a significant step in JioHotstar's strategy to grow beyond India, targeting overseas audiences with access to its broad entertainment catalogue and interactive viewing features.
Disclosure: Reliance Industries Ltd, which owns JioStar, is the sole beneficiary of the Independent Media Trust that controls Network18, the parent company of CNBCTV18.com.
Source: CNBC-TV18
