JioHotstar launched in India, with content mixed from Jiocinema and Disney Hotstar on one platform. From today, Disney+ Hotstar officially has a new logo. Jiocinema and Disney+ Hotstar officially collaborated and launched an all-new OTT platform — JioHotstar. The new OTT platform, as per the announcement, will feature content for 10 languages. Apart from content from the two companies combined, JioHotstar will also feature content from other first-rate studios and streaming platforms. JioHotstar will feature content from streaming platforms such as NBCUniversal Peacock, Warner Bros, Discovery, HBO and Paramount, which other streaming platforms have not yet incorporated.
JioHotstar is currently ad-free to watch, and thus the consumers are able to watch the content for free. But between the movies or television shows, there will be ads promoted. That was also the same strategy Jiocinema had prior to the merger. But for the ad-free model, the company has ensured that the plans of subscription would be made public for the customers who are ready to pay a bit more for the higher resolution streaming, and it will be in action from Rs 149 per quarter. Let us move on to pricing and subscription plans.
JioHotstar landed in India: Subscription plan information and prices
JioHotstar has confirmed that the app comes with two types of subscriptions: Super and Premium. The difference here is that if you are subscribed to Super plan, you will receive all the premium content but ad-supported. Premium plans is going to provide ad-free experience.
If you catch it on your mobile phone, then users will receive the JioHotstar app for Rs 149 for every 3 months, so it will be renewed every 3 months. You can even purchase the plan for Rs 499 annually. The plan will make you utilize the website on a single device at one time.
For mobile: Rs 149/3 months and Rs 499/year.
Other than this, JioHotstar has lowest Rs 299 per quarter. Super plan (with advertisements) is Rs 299 per 3 months and Rs 899 yearly. Premium plan (without ads) is Rs 299 monthly, Rs 499 for 3 months and Rs 1,499 yearly.
Super plan – Rs 299/3 months and Rs 899/year
Premium plan – Rs 299/month, Rs 499/3 months and Rs 1,499/year
It should be noted that you can stream content on 2 devices at the same time using the Super plan while Premium allows you to stream content on 4 devices at the same time.
For Jio members, JioHotstar Plan activation via Jio recharge is a done deal. When they recharge their Jio numbers using vouchers, the JioHotstar subscription gets activated on the number within minutes. They are then able to login to the Web or App via Phone number, verify OTP and view the content. In case your subscription has not been activated, do get in touch with Jio Support team and get your activation status verified.
JioHotstar sports livestream
Even though these plans will allow you to view all the original and other international content like HBO content, the live sporting tournaments will be available for everyone for free. Just like Jiocinema, users won’t require a subscription to view a livestream of any sporting tournament, whether it is Cricket, Tennis grand slams, Premier Leagues and so on. But will there be some kind of paywall in the future, only time will tell.
The revolutionary nature of the platform in sports is also very much highlighted, Sanjog Gupta, CEO – Sports, JioStar, stated, “Sports in India is not a game—it’s a shared experience that unites millions.”.
JioHotstar is changing live sports viewing among the fans by making the most of technology, accessibility, narrative and innovation around the fan and holding him at the core of things.” Whether pride and pleasure of India Cricket, Premier League’s exciting atmospherics, India’s own indigenous sporting passions or visibility for grassroot-level competition, we shall have an array of experiences, inviting ‘lean in’ and ‘lean back’ inclinations on a billion screens.” He added additionally that the platform now “extends this philosophy beyond sport and delivers culture-defining live moments to our audiences.”
