JioHotstar Crosses 100 Mn Subscriber Mark

Streaming giant JioHotstar said it has crossed the 100 Mn subscriber milestone. This comes a month after the erstwhile Disney+ Hotstar and JioCinema merged together to launch the new platform under the banner of JioStar. 

In a statement, the company attributed the numbers to its free-viewing sampling proposition, wide array of shows, pricing strategy, tech-led features and “deep partnerships” with telecom operators. 

“We have always believed that world-class entertainment should be accessible to all, and crossing 100 Mn subscribers is a testament to that vision. This milestone not only underscores India’s limitless potential but also strengthens our commitment to pioneering category-first experiences at an unprecedented scale,” said CEO of JioStar’s digital arm Kiran Mani. 

He added that the platform will continue to focus on “driving accessibility and unlocking infinite possibilities for a billion screens”.

JioHotstar’s Multi-Pronged Strategy

Instead of focussing on just one segment, JioHotstar has gone all out by tapping into online content creators to launch new shows while leveraging its deals with Hollywood studios to bring premium English language shows to the streaming major.

It has also been helped by the content library of Star India and Viacom18, which have dominated India’s TV landscape for the past many decades. 

But, the biggest attraction appears to be JioHotstar owning the streaming rights of almost all major sports tournaments in the country, including Indian Premier League (IPL), Women’s Premier League (WPL) and International Cricket Council (ICC) events. 

In the statement, the OTT major said its features like AI-powered insights, live chats, multi-angle viewing, and voice-assisted navigation have brought more users to its fold. 

Not stopping there, telecom major Jio Infocomm has also rolled out recharge plans to provide existing and new customers with a subscription of JioHotstar.

Focus Turns To Revenues 

Having created a stranglehold over the OTT space, the platform has also been aggressively scaling up its revenue play. Inc42 reported earlier that JioHotstar was providing flexible options to advertisers for multiple placements and impressions during IPL 2025.

With an eye on onboarding startups and small businesses, JioHotstar introduced exclusive advertising package plans starting from INR 15 Lakh to help brands attract more customers, boost visibility, and cement their credibility in their local areas.

The might of JioHotstar appears to have left its competitors way behind. As per reports, Amazon Prime Video had 65 Mn paid users in India as of 2024 while Netflix was far behind with a mere 12 Mn subscribers as of June 2024. 

Nevertheless, the Indian streaming market continues to grow and is reportedly projected to become a $2.77 Bn market opportunity by 2027.