India’s streaming landscape just witnessed a tectonic shift as JioHotstar officially launched on 14 February 2025 following the $8.5 billion merger of Disney+ Hotstar and Reliance’s JioCinema platforms. This combined entity now boasts over 500 million downloads and 150 million monthly active users – making it India’s undisputed OTT king.
The rebranded platform merges Disney’s premium Hollywood content with Reliance’s cricket dominance, offering live coverage of marquee events like:
- 2025 Champions Trophy cricket
- Premier League football
- U19 Women’s World Cup
- Exclusive streaming rights to HBO Max originals
Content strategists have created three verticals:
| Category | Offerings |
|---|---|
| Sports | 75+ live events/month |
| Entertainment | 100K+ hours of movies/shows |
| Disney+ Hub | Marvel, Star Wars & Pixar exclusives |
JioAirFiber subscribers get 30% discounts on premium plans (₹999-₹1,499/month), while mobile users can access free cricket streams – a direct counter to Amazon Prime Video’s IPL strategy. The platform now hosts 17 regional language interfaces and AI-powered dubbing for 40+ international shows.
