JioHotstar Streaming Service Goes Global With Launches Across UK, Canada & Singapore
JioStar has launched its JioHotstar streaming brand in the UK, Canada and Singapore, replacing the existing Hotstar service and rolling out upgraded interactive and user-experience features across those three markets. The move, effective 2 September, forms part of a wider push to build a global streaming offering aimed particularly at the South Asian diaspora while also attracting broader international audiences, according to the company.
The relaunch brings over 160,000 hours of content to the three markets, including Hotstar Originals such as Asur and Criminal Justice, films including Dhurandhar and 12th Fail, and the Bigg Boss reality franchise across six languages with live voting. Regional features vary: UK and Canadian viewers get a 24/7 live feed, Canadian audiences can watch Bigg Boss Hindi a week before its TV airing, and UK subscribers gain simultaneous streaming of shows with their broadcast. JioHotstar is also moving away from monthly subscriptions outside India, instead offering quarterly and annual plans priced at £19.99/£69.99 in the UK, CAD19.99/CAD49.99 in Canada, and SGD29.98/SGD69.98 in Singapore, though existing UK monthly subscribers can keep their plans until renewal. The service, formed from the merger of Disney India and Reliance's Mukesh Ambani-led group, already has more than 500 million monthly active users globally.
In short
- JioHotstar replaces Hotstar in UK, Canada and Singapore from 2 September
- Offers 160,000+ hours of content, including Bigg Boss with live voting
- Monthly subscriptions scrapped abroad in favour of quarterly/annual plans
Explained simply
JioStar was formed by combining Disney’s business in India with Reliance’s media group, led by Mukesh Ambani. Its JioHotstar service brings together films, scripted series and television programmes, including Indian-language content that may be familiar to South Asian audiences abroad.
The service is aimed partly at people living outside South Asia who want to watch this programming, while also seeking a wider international audience. Its content and viewing features vary by country, and the change also affects how subscriptions are offered in the UK, Canada and Singapore.
The launch matters because it extends JioStar’s streaming operation beyond India and replaces Hotstar in these three markets. The company says its services have more than 500 million monthly active users worldwide.
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