JioCinema, Disney+ Hotstar Unite Under JioHotstar Banner

Ending months of speculation, JioStar, the newly formed joint venture between Viacom18 and Star India, has officially announced the launch of JioHotstar, a unified streaming platform that merges JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar. 

The move marks a major consolidation in India’s OTT space, bringing together a vast library of content from the two streaming giants under one banner.

JioHotstar will initially offer consumers free access to shows, movies, and live sports for select hours. The platform will also introduce a range of subscription plans tailored to diverse audience preferences, starting at INR 149. 

The company said that existing JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar subscribers will be able to transition smoothly to JioHotstar.

“At the core of JioHotstar is a powerful vision—to make premium entertainment truly accessible to all Indians. Our promise of Infinite Possibilities ensures that entertainment is no longer a privilege, but a shared experience for all. By integrating AI-driven recommendations and offering streaming in over 19 languages, we are personalising content like never before,” said Kiran Mani, CEO of JioStar’s digital business, in a statement.

After the integration, JioHotstar will boast a content library spanning 10 languages, featuring a lineup of TV programming, original shows, reality entertainment, films, anime, and international premieres.

Strengthening its position as a major sports destination, JioHotstar will also stream premier tournaments, including ICC events, Indian Premier League (IPL), and Women’s Premier League (WPL), among others. 

Beyond cricket, the platform will showcase global sporting content such as Premier League and Wimbledon, alongside domestic league matches of Pro Kabaddi and Indian Super League (ISL).

“… Whether it’s the high-octane IPL, the drama of the Champions Trophy, or the electric atmosphere of a Premier League showdown, we are committed to delivering an experience that is as immersive as being in the stadium itself. We saw this innovation extend beyond sports with the overwhelming response to Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres livestream, and we are excited to continue breaking new ground,” said CEO of JioStar’s sports vertical Sanjog Gupta.

Meanwhile, Reuters reported that the joint venture is set to revamp its streaming strategy for IPL cricket matches, moving away from completely free access. Instead, JioHotstar will adopt a hybrid model, allowing users to stream matches for free up to a certain threshold, after which a subscription will be required for continued viewing.

This follows Reliance and Walt Disney, last year, signing a $8.5 Bn deal to merge their India media operations. The transaction, which was greenlit by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) in August 2024 and completed in November last year, has created a media juggernaut that encompasses more than 100 TV channels, two streaming platforms and a reported user base of more than 750 Mn.

As Viacom18 integrates its operations under the newly formed JioHotstar, the company has been reinforcing its leadership team to steer the merged entity. While former Google and erstwhile JioCinema top boss Mani has been given the charge of the head of the digital arm of JioStar, Ishan Chatterjee, a former YouTube executive, was appointed the erstwhile JioCinema’s chief business officer (CBO) in October 2024 to drive growth.

Now for the merged OTT platform, the real battle will be against international giants like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. Amazon, following its MX Player merger, is aggressively targeting India’s mass-market audience, while the failed Zee-Sony merger has left Zee5 and SonyLIV trailing as distant contenders in the streaming race.