Reliance's JioHotstar goes global in UK, Canada, Singapore
Reliance's JioHotstar streaming platform replaces Hotstar in the UK, Canada, and Singapore starting September 2, launching with 160,000 hours of content.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- JioHotstar expands outside India, replacing Hotstar in the UK, Canada, and Singapore
- Launches with over 160,000 hours of entertainment content without live sports
- Existing Hotstar users can log in with current credentials on the new app
- Quarterly and annual subscription tiers are set for each respective market
Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries is taking its streaming platform JioHotstar outside India for the first time, replacing Hotstar in the U.K., Canada, and Singapore as part of a broader international expansion starting September 2, 2026.
The streaming service will debut with more than 160,000 hours of entertainment content. However, it will launch without the live sports that fueled its massive popularity in India, such as the Indian Premier League (IPL), Women’s Premier League (WPL), and national cricket matches. JioStar explained that sports are omitted at launch due to existing content deals, though future additions have not been ruled out.
JioStar confirmed that Hotstar will officially cease to exist in those three markets, with users transitioning over to JioHotstar. While the old Hotstar app will no longer grant access, users' existing login credentials will work seamlessly on the new platform available via the App Store, Google Play Store, and connected TVs.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
The initial content lineup features Indian films, original TV series, and reality shows like "Bigg Boss," alongside live TV channels under the Star banner, including Star Plus, Colors, Star Vijay, Asianet, Star Jalsha, and Star Pravah. Content is accessible in 12 languages, including English, Hindi, Gujarati, Malayalam, Kannada, and Marathi, complete with dubs and translations.
This global push follows Reliance's 2024 merger of its media assets with Disney into an $8.5 billion joint venture, which combined Hotstar and JioCinema to capture 85% of India's streaming audience. Data from India's Ministry of External Affairs estimates a target audience of over 4 million people across the UK, Canada, and Singapore, largely appealing to the South Asian diaspora.
Pricing for JioHotstar in the U.K. is set at £19.99 quarterly and £69.99 annually. In Canada, subscriptions cost CA$19.99 quarterly and CA$49.99 annually, while Singapore pricing stands at SG$29.98 and SG$69.98 respectively. These rates match previous Hotstar pricing, though sports fans will need to look elsewhere or pay extra for sports content.
Source: TechCrunch
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