Starting September 2, JioHotstar, operated by Reliance Industries, will take over from Hotstar as the primary streaming service for Indian content in the UK, Canada, and Singapore. This expansion represents the platform’s first significant entry into the international market and highlights a new global approach aimed at millions of overseas Indians and the South Asian community.
International Launch for JioHotstar—No Live Sports at Start
During its debut outside India, JioHotstar plans to offer an extensive library of more than 160,000 hours of video, featuring Indian movies, a wide variety of original series, and fan favorites like “Bigg Boss.” However, live sports—a major attraction for Indian viewers—will be missing from the global rollout. JioStar, the entity managing the launch, attributed the lack of live sporting events to current content agreements but acknowledged that sports might be added down the line.
Unlike the Indian catalogue—where the service reaches over 500 million monthly users and is known for streaming premium events such as the Indian Premier League (IPL), Women’s Premier League (WPL), international cricket, English Premier League matches, Grand Slam tennis, and local kabaddi and hockey—JioHotstar’s initial offering in the UK, Canada, and Singapore will revolve fully around entertainment content. Viewers will find programming in 12 regional Indian languages plus English, with both dubbed and subtitled options for increased accessibility.
Transition Plans and Subscriber Migration
JioStar has confirmed that the Hotstar platform will be discontinued in the UK, Canada, and Singapore from September 2. Existing subscribers’ account details will be automatically transferred to the new JioHotstar service. Customers will be able to access the revamped streaming platform on both iOS and Android devices through the App Store and Google Play Store, as well as on compatible smart TVs.
For years, Hotstar has catered to Indian expatriate communities in numerous countries. While the US lost its individualized Hotstar service in 2021, this renewed focus on international growth will, for now, exclude the US, though JioStar has indicated future plans to reach additional global markets.
Content Variety, Regional Focus, and Subscription Pricing
Subscribers will also get access to live TV channels via JioHotstar, including networks like Star Plus, Colors, Star Vijay, Asianet, Star Jalsha, and Star Pravah. Reliance anticipates that its audience will stretch beyond Indians, aiming to serve a broader South Asian diaspora surpassing 4 million people across the three launch countries. Amit Malhotra, International Business Head at JioStar, highlighted the company’s goal to unite different communities with Indian stories that span languages and generations—aspiring to make JioHotstar more than just another Indian export.
Pricing for JioHotstar will mirror the current rates for Hotstar. The UK version will cost £19.99 (approximately $27) every three months or £69.99 (roughly $95) per year. Customers in Canada can subscribe for CA$19.99 (almost $14) each quarter or CA$49.99 (about $36) annually, while in Singapore, the rates are SG$29.98 (close to $24) per quarter and SG$69.98 (around $55) annually. These packages are considerably costlier than those in India, where monthly plans start as low as ₹79 (around $0.80) and a full year of premium access is priced at ₹2,199 (about $23).
Live sports coverage will not be part of these base plans, so viewers interested in sports will need to look for additional subscription options elsewhere.
Joint Venture with Disney and Expanding Global Goals
The transformation follows a major development in early 2024, when Reliance merged its media operations with Disney, forming a $8.5 billion joint venture. This agreement combined Hotstar and JioCinema into JioHotstar for Indian audiences, bringing together platforms that previously commanded 85% of the streaming market in India. Now, Reliance is strategizing to use its expanded library and reach to gain traction abroad.
Even though JioHotstar’s initial overseas entry will not offer the live sports that drive much of its popularity in India, this launch lays the groundwork for Reliance’s ambitions in the global streaming market. With further plans to introduce sports coverage and increase international availability, the company aims to accelerate its growth well beyond India’s borders.