JioHotstar’s Entry Disrupts India’s Streaming Market, Challenges Netflix & Prime Video
India’s streaming landscape just got a major shake-up with the launch of JioHotstar, a super app combining JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar. The platform promises to be a one-stop destination for entertainment, offering movies, shows, sports, and more.
What makes JioHotstar a serious competitor to Netflix and Amazon Prime Video is its budget-friendly pricing. Subscribers can access the service for just ₹149 per month (ad-supported mobile plan) or ₹1,499 annually for ad-free premium content. This aggressive pricing opens the door to millions of viewers.
Despite the merger, Disney+ Hotstar subscribers will see no price changes, and JioCinema users will be upgraded to the premium service for free. While JioHotstar offers a vast library of free content to its 50 crore audience, Hollywood movies remain behind a paywall.
With its mix of free and premium content and massive local reach, JioHotstar is set to put added pressure on Netflix and Prime Video, which have been refining their strategies to capture a larger share of the Indian market. This could mark a major turning point in the country’s OTT landscape.
