The transition marks a strategic shift for the platform, which emerged from an $8.5 billion joint venture between Reliance and Disney in 2024. Despite the success of cricket and other sports in driving over 500 million monthly active users in India, JioStar confirmed that existing content licensing agreements prevent a similar sports offering in the new international markets for now. Existing Hotstar users in the UK, Canada, and Singapore will have their credentials migrated to the new app, which will be accessible via mobile devices and connected TVs.
Reliance’s JioHotstar Begins Global Expansion Without Sports
Starting September 2, Reliance Industries will replace the Hotstar brand in the UK, Canada, and Singapore with its newly unified JioHotstar platform. While the service brings over 160,000 hours of Indian entertainment to these markets, the rollout notably excludes the live sports that anchor its massive domestic audience.
The service aims to capture a target audience of over 4 million people by offering a vast library of films, reality shows, and live channels like Star Plus and Asianet. Amit Malhotra, head of international business, stated the company intends to appeal to both the South Asian diaspora and broader global audiences seeking diverse cultural content. Pricing structures remain consistent with previous Hotstar tiers, though the absence of sports may force some subscribers to seek alternative platforms for live events. While the U.S. remains excluded from this initial phase, the company plans to continue its international footprint expansion over time.
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