Hotstar and JioCinema Merge into JioHotstar

Two widely used video streaming apps in India, Hotstar and JioCinema, have merged into a single platform, JioHotstar. This move is part of a joint venture between Reliance-owned Viacom18 and Star India.

Integration of Content Library

JioStar, the parent company, has integrated JioCinema’s vast library of content into a revamped version of Disney’s Hotstar platform. This move brings together hundreds of thousands of hours of local content, over 100 TV channels, and movies from Disney, Warner Bros, HBO, NBCUniversal, and Paramount.

Subscription Plans and Features

JioHotstar offers subscription plans starting at ₹149 ($1.71) for three months (ad-supported) and ₹299 ($3.45) per month for ad-free experience. The ad-free tier allows simultaneous viewing across four screens at once, while the cheapest ad-supported model limits it to one screen.

Market Consolidation

The consolidation follows Reliance’s $8.5 billion merger with Walt Disney’s Indian assets last year, creating a joint venture that controls about 85% of India’s streaming market and half of television viewership.

Joint Venture’s Vision

JioStar’s digital chief executive, Kiran Mani, said, "Entertainment is no longer a privilege, but a shared experience for all." The group aims to reach more than 500 million users in the country.

Phasing Out JioCinema App

JioCinema’s app will be phased out after existing customers’ subscriptions expire. Existing JioCinema subscribers will be able to seamlessly transition to JioHotstar and set up their new subscriptions.

Market Challenges

The merger reflects the difficulties foreign media groups have faced in India’s price-sensitive market. Netflix and Amazon Prime have struggled to grow paid subscriptions despite heavy investment in local content.

Competition from Amazon

Amazon, which acquired MX Player last year, is aggressively expanding its new video streaming app with more than 100 original shows and movies this year. MX Player was the third most popular video streaming app in December, behind Hotstar and JioCinema, according to Sensor Tower.