Key facts
- JioHotstar, controlled by Reliance Industries, is expanding internationally for the first time.
- The service will launch in the UK, Canada, and Singapore on September 2, replacing Hotstar.
- It will offer over 160,000 hours of entertainment content, including Indian films, TV originals, and reality shows.
- Live sports, a major draw in India, will not be available at launch due to existing content deals.
- Existing Hotstar users will be able to use their login credentials on the new JioHotstar app.
Reliance Industries' streaming platform, JioHotstar, is set to launch internationally, marking its first expansion outside of India. The service will replace the existing Hotstar brand in the UK, Canada, and Singapore starting September 2. While JioHotstar will offer a vast library of over 160,000 hours of entertainment content, including Indian films, TV originals, and reality shows, it will notably omit live sports at its global debut. This absence of major draws like the Indian Premier League (IPL) and other cricket matches differentiates it from its highly successful Indian offering, where sports are a significant audience driver.
JioStar has stated that the exclusion of sports is due to existing content deals, but has not ruled out their future inclusion. The company aims to appeal to a broader, underserved global audience seeking stories and cultures beyond their own, not just exporting an Indian streaming service. The content will be available in 12 languages, with dubs and translations provided. Existing Hotstar users in the targeted markets will be able to use their current login credentials on the new JioHotstar app, which will be accessible on mobile devices and connected TVs.
This international push follows Reliance's 2024 merger of its media assets with Disney, forming an $8.5 billion joint venture that combined Hotstar and JioCinema into JioHotstar for the Indian market. This merged entity previously accounted for 85% of India's streaming audience. The new JioHotstar service is priced competitively in its launch markets, with quarterly and annual subscription options available in the UK, Canada, and Singapore, comparable to Hotstar's previous pricing. The company anticipates a target audience of over 4 million people across the three countries, potentially appealing to the broader South Asian diaspora.