Reliance’s JioHotstar Expands Global Streaming Reach — Excluding Sports Content

JioHotstar, the streaming platform overseen by Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries, is broadening its brand reach beyond India for the first time, taking over the Hotstar service in the UK, Canada, and Singapore as part of its global expansion strategy.

At launch, the streaming service will provide more than 160,000 hours of entertainment content, although it will lack live sports, which have been crucial in attracting a substantial audience in India, featuring events like the Indian Premier League (IPL), Women’s Premier League (WPL), and national cricket matches. JioStar noted the absence of sports content at launch is due to existing content agreements, but they are open to potential future additions.

The omission of sports during its international launch significantly contrasts with JioHotstar’s Indian service, which enjoys over 500 million monthly active users, where sports significantly enhance its appeal. The service broadcasts top-tier cricket events in India, the English Premier League, tennis tournaments including Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, and local sports leagues such as kabaddi and hockey.

JioStar has informed TechCrunch that starting September 2, Hotstar will gradually be “phased out” in the UK, Canada, and Singapore, with JioHotstar taking over. Users in these regions will lose access to the Hotstar app but will be able to use their existing login information for JioHotstar, according to the company. The JioHotstar app will be available in all three markets via the App Store and Google Play Store on mobile devices, as well as on smart TVs.

Hotstar has been operating internationally for several years, including in the UK and Canada, and previously had a separate service in the U.S. before winding it down in 2021. However, the rollout of JioHotstar will not include the U.S. at this initial stage, with plans for potential future expansion into more international markets.

JioHotstar is launching with a vast library featuring Indian films, original TV shows, and reality series like Bigg Boss, in addition to live TV channels under the Star brand, such as Star Plus, Colors, Star Vijay, Asianet, Star Jalsha, and Star Pravah. The company reports that their content will be available in 12 languages, including English, Hindi, Gujarati, Malayalam, Kannada, and Marathi, along with dubbing and translations provided.

In 2024, Reliance merged its media assets with Disney to form an $8.5 billion joint venture, resulting in the integration of Hotstar and JioCinema to create JioHotstar for Indian viewers. At that point, the combined platforms accounted for 85% of all streaming audiences in India.

According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs, JioHotstar could target an audience exceeding 4 million across the three countries where it is launching. The content is also expected to appeal to the wider South Asian diaspora.

“South Asian audiences have a deep connection to Indian entertainment across different languages, generations, and households. Meanwhile, global viewers are increasingly drawn to stories and cultures that go beyond their own. We see an opportunity to serve this larger, underserved global audience, rather than simply transferring an Indian streaming service to new markets,” remarked JioStar’s Head of International Business, Amit Malhotra.

The subscription price for JioHotstar has been set at £19.99 (approximately $27) quarterly and £69.99 (around $95) annually in the UK. In Canada, the rates are CA$19.99 (approximately $14) quarterly and CA$49.99 (around $36) annually, while in Singapore, the prices are SG$29.98 (approximately $24) and SG$69.98 (around $55), respectively. These prices are in line with what Hotstar previously offered; however, JioHotstar will concentrate initially on entertainment content, meaning subscribers desiring sports may need to choose an additional service.

In contrast, JioHotstar subscriptions in India start at ₹79 (around $0.80) monthly for a single mobile device and can reach up to ₹2,199 (approximately $23) annually for the premium plan.