JioHotstar Launched as JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar Merge
JioStar has launched its new streaming platform, JioHotstar, after the merger of JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar. The platform will be the biggest in the Indian market with a combined user base of more than 50 crore and a vast content library of over three lakh hours.
JioHotstar will offer a plethora of entertainment in the form of international content from Disney, NBCUniversal's Peacock, Warner Bros., Discovery, HBO, and Paramount. Sport streaming will also be one of the biggest highlights, with the rights to key cricket tournaments like the IPL, WPL, and other ICC events. Other major sporting events like the English Premier League, Wimbledon, Pro Kabaddi League, and ISL will also be there.
The service launches cutting-edge features like ultra HD 4K streaming, multi-angle video viewing, AI-driven insights, and real-time stats overlays that make the viewer experience richer.
JioHotstar will be based on a freemium model, with an ad-supported free variant and paid membership plans from Rs 149. Existing users of JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar will be migrated automatically to the new service.
The move has already taken place, as the Disney+ Hotstar application on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store both now incorporate the JioHotstar name and logo. While the user interface currently in use is unchanged from Disney+ Hotstar, the next wave of updates will see changes perhaps added. The Hotstar.com portal now transfers traffic to JioHotstar, suggesting an inclusion of content from JioCinema.
The merger received the approval of the Competition Commission of India (CCI) and the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) last year in August. A joint company was formed in November, wherein Reliance retains a 60% interest 16% of it directly and 47% indirectly through Viacom18 while Disney retains a 37% interest in the new combined entity.
