Reliance Considers Shutting Disney+ Hotstar and Keeping Only JioCinema

Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL), poised to control the Star-Viacom18 merged entity, is contemplating a strategic move: shuttering Disney+ Hotstar and retaining only JioCinema as the preferred OTT app. Despite Disney+ Hotstar’s higher download numbers, this decision could reshape the Indian streaming landscape.

The Merger and Its Implications

Following the merger, RIL aims to consolidate the offerings of Disney+ Hotstar and JioCinema, potentially hosting them on the latter platform. Disney+ Hotstar, owned by Walt Disney’s Star India, has garnered over 500 million downloads, while JioCinema, under Viacom 18, boasts more than 100 million downloads.

Cost Efficiency and Competition

The rationale behind this move lies in cost reduction and market competitiveness. By creating a unified OTT platform, RIL seeks to compete with YouTube in the advertising video on demand (AVOD) segment and challenge Netflix and Prime Video in the subscription VOD space.

A Robust Content Catalogue

The combined catalog of Disney+ Hotstar and JioCinema will be formidable, offering over 125,000 hours of entertainment, sports, and Hollywood content. Cricket enthusiasts will also benefit, as the platform will retain cricket rights, including coverage of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Additionally, viewers can expect content from Disney, HBO, NBCUniversal, and Paramount Global.