JioHotstar: Streaming Giant Merges Hotstar and JioCinema in India

Hotstar and JioCinema, popular streaming services in India, have combined to form JioHotstar. With a vast content library, JioHotstar offers viewers a wide range of entertainment. The app features local content, international movies and TV shows, and over 100 TV channels. Reliance, the parent company of both Hotstar and JioCinema, aims to reach over 500 million users in India with JioHotstar.

The merger consolidates Reliance’s dominant position in the Indian streaming market. JioHotstar houses exclusive sports rights, including cricket, soccer, and FIFA World Cup matches. Existing JioCinema users will seamlessly transition to JioHotstar upon subscription expiration.

The consolidation highlights the challenges faced by foreign streaming giants like Netflix and Amazon Prime in India’s competitive market. Despite investing heavily in local content, these platforms have struggled to gain paid subscriptions. Amazon’s recent acquisition of MX Player signals their determination to expand their reach in India’s streaming landscape.

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