Key facts
- JioHotstar is expanding into the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) via a partnership with Starzplay.
- The deal will feature Indian films, TV shows, originals, and reality franchises in multiple languages.
- JioHotstar's sports offering in India will not be available in MENA.
- A bundled plan with Starzplay's sports offering, including cricket, costs AED 49.99 ($13.60) per month.
- JioHotstar is also available on Starzplay's Plus plan for AED 34.99 ($9.50) per month.
- New JioHotstar originals will premiere in MENA simultaneously with India, with audio in up to 10 languages.
JioHotstar, the Indian streaming platform backed by Reliance Industries, is expanding its reach into the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region through a strategic partnership with Starzplay, one of the area's largest streaming services. This move follows JioHotstar's earlier international debuts in the U.K., Canada, and Singapore.
Under the agreement, JioHotstar will feature a dedicated section within the Starzplay app and website, showcasing a variety of Indian content including films, television series, original productions, and reality shows in multiple languages. This approach differs from its previous launches in the U.K., Canada, and Singapore, where it operated as a standalone service.
The expansion is a key component of Reliance's strategy to establish JioHotstar as a global streaming entity, leveraging its substantial audience base in India. The MENA region is targeted due to its significant South Asian diaspora population, presenting a ready audience for Indian entertainment.
While JioHotstar's sports content available in India will not be accessible in MENA, a bundled package including Starzplay's sports offerings, such as cricket, is available for AED 49.99 (approximately $13.60) per month. Alternatively, JioHotstar can be accessed through Starzplay's Plus monthly plan for AED 34.99 (around $9.50).
New JioHotstar original series are slated to premiere in the MENA region concurrently with their release in India, with audio options available in up to 10 languages. The content library spans languages like Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, and Bangla, featuring popular shows such as "Bigg Boss" and "Koffee with Karan." The platform is placing particular emphasis on Malayalam programming, acknowledging the large Malayali community in the region.
JioHotstar was formed in 2024 as an $8.5 billion joint venture between Reliance and Disney, merging their Indian media operations. The service, a combination of JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar, was launched in India in February of the previous year.
Previously, Hotstar was accessible in MENA. Disney Star had extended its distribution agreement with e&'s media and entertainment arm, evision, in 2024, making it the regional provider for Hotstar Specials. Evision also holds a significant stake in Starzplay, which will now host JioHotstar's dedicated streaming presence in the region. Starzplay boasts over 2.3 million subscribers and has cultivated a substantial South Asian viewership, partly due to its cricket content. Financial details of the partnership were not disclosed, but Starzplay CEO Maaz Sheikh characterized the integration of JioHotstar as a "strategic investment."