JioHotstar brings together the best of JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar into India’s top streaming powerhouse. Launched in February 2025, it delivers live sports, movies, TV shows, and Disney originals to over 500 million users.
What is JioHotstar?
JioHotstar is a subscription video-on-demand service owned by JioStar, a joint venture between Reliance Industries (63.16% stake) and Disney (36.84%). It merged JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar on February 14, 2025, creating a platform with over 300,000 hours of content in 19 languages.
Users access Bollywood blockbusters, Hollywood hits, regional films, Hotstar Specials, Disney, Marvel, Pixar, Star Wars, HBO, Peacock, and Paramount content. Live sports draw massive crowds, especially cricket fans. The app supports Android, iOS, smart TVs, and web browsers.
This merger ended a rivalry, combining JioCinema’s free IPL streams with Hotstar’s premium sports rights for IPL (2023-2027), ICC events, and more. JioHotstar now leads India’s OTT market with 31% SVOD share.
Brief History Behind the Merger
Hotstar started in 2015 as a mobile-first app by Star India. Jio’s cheap data exploded its growth to 150 million users by 2019. Disney bought it in 2019, adding global hits. JioCinema disrupted with free IPL in 2023. The 2024 merger sealed the deal.
History of JioHotstar
Hotstar launched in 2015 by Star India, riding mobile broadband growth from Jio’s LTE rollout. It hit 150 million monthly users by 2019, boosted by IPL streams peaking at 25 million concurrent viewers.
Disney acquired Star in 2019, rebranding to Disney+ Hotstar in 2020 with global originals. JioCinema challenged it by streaming 2023 IPL free, prompting Hotstar’s mobile-free sports push.
The 2024 $8.5 billion merger formed JioStar, launching JioHotstar in 2025 with Kiran Mani as digital CEO. It unified 50 crore users and added AI recommendations, short-form “Sparks” content, and 1,100 hours of annual regional originals.
By 2026, monthly plans rolled out, reflecting connected TV trends.
Key Features of JioHotstar
JioHotstar packs features for seamless viewing.
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Live Sports Streaming: Ultra-HD 4K, multi-angle views, AI insights, real-time stats for IPL, Premier League, Pro Kabaddi.
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Content Library: 300,000+ hours including Hindi shows (Anupamaa), English (Shogun, The Bear), regional (Bigg Boss), Disney+ (Loki, Moana).
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Multi-Language Support: 19 languages with dubs and subs for broad reach.
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Offline Downloads: Available on most titles for mobile.
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AI Personalization: Recommendations based on viewing habits.
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Kids Profiles and Controls: Safe Disney/Pixar zone.
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4K HDR and Dolby Audio: On supported devices like Android TV, Apple TV.
Plans cater to budgets: ad-supported mobile to ad-free premium.
Download and Device Support
Get the app from Play Store (100Cr+ installs) or App Store. Works on phones, tablets, TVs, browsers. Jio set-top boxes integrate natively.
JioHotstar Subscription Plans
JioHotstar updated plans in January 2026 for flexibility, effective January 28 for new users. Existing subscribers keep old rates if auto-renewing.
| Tier | Monthly (₹) | Quarterly (₹) | Annual (₹) | Devices | Ads | Hollywood/Disney Included? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile | 79 | 149 | 499 | 1 mobile | Yes | Add-on (₹49/month) |
| Super | 149 | 349 | 1,099 | Up to 2 | Yes | Yes |
| Premium | 299 | 599 | 2,199 | Up to 4 | No (except sports) | Yes |
Mobile suits single-phone users; Premium fits families with 4K. Bundles with Jio prepaid offer discounts.
Jio Bundle Deals
Recharge Jio plans get 3-12 months free JioHotstar. Example: ₹1,198 annual prepaid includes Premium annual.
Content Categories on JioHotstar
Explore diverse libraries.
Movies
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Bollywood: 12th Fail, Brahmastra, Kill.
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Hollywood: Avatar sequels, Planet of the Apes, Titanic.
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Regional: Manjummel Boys (Malayalam), Salaar (Telugu).
TV Shows and Specials
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Hindi: Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, Hotstar Specials like Aarya.
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English: Only Murders in the Building, Billions.
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Regional: Cooku with Comali (Tamil), Bigg Boss variants.
Disney+ Hub
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Marvel: Deadpool & Wolverine, Loki.
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Pixar/Star Wars: Encanto, The Mandalorian.
Live Sports
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Cricket: IPL, BBL, ICC.
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Football: Premier League, ISL.
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Others: Wimbledon, Pro Kabaddi, NBA highlights.
Short-form Sparks from creators add viral clips.
JioHotstar Features Comparison
Compare tiers for smart choices.
| Feature | Mobile | Super | Premium | Benefit | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price (Monthly) | ₹79 | ₹149 | ₹299 | Affordable entry to full access | Budget cricket fan picks Mobile for IPL |
| Devices | 1 mobile | 2 any | 4 any | Family sharing | Premium for home TV + phones |
| Ads | Yes | Yes | No (non-sports) | Uninterrupted binges | Watch Shogun ad-free |
| Resolution | HD | HD | 4K HDR | Crisp visuals | 4K Planet of the Apes |
| Offline Download | Yes | Yes | Yes | Travel viewing | Download Anupamaa episodes |
| Hollywood Add-on | Required | Included | Included | Customize costs | Mobile user adds for ₹49 |
Super balances cost and convenience.
Live Sports on JioHotstar
Sports drive 75% male, 25-34 audience. JioHotstar owns IPL digital rights (2023-2027), ICC events, BBL, SA20, WPL.
Football: Premier League 2025-26, ISL. Others include Wimbledon, Pro Kabaddi, FIH Hockey.
Features like multi-feeds, stats overlays enhance immersion. IPL went paid post-merger.
IPL Viewing Tips
Cast to TV for big screen. Use multi-angle for key moments. AI highlights save time.
Statistics and Market Trends
JioHotstar dominates India’s OTT scene.
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Over 500 million total users; 160 million unique viewers.
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31% SVOD market share in 2025, ahead of Prime Video (23%), Netflix (19%).
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300 million paying subscribers projected by end-2025 per HSBC.
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27.8 million monthly Google Play downloads.
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Q2 2025: 25% overall streaming share.
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75% male users; 36% aged 25-34.
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$900 million+ annual revenue in India.
India’s OTT grows 20-25% yearly, fueled by cheap data. JioHotstar captures 85% streaming + TV via JioStar.
Global trends show sports streaming up 30%, regional content 40% demand rise.
Pros and Cons of JioHotstar
Pros
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Massive content variety across languages/genres.
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Affordable plans from ₹79/month.
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Top sports rights, live in 4K.
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Jio bundle savings for prepaid users.
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Frequent originals (40-50/year).
Cons
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Ads plague lower tiers (3-4 breaks/episode).
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Login/buffering issues post-updates.
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IPL now paid, not free.
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Hollywood add-on for Mobile.
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No US service; diaspora uses Hotstar elsewhere.
Neutral pick for sports/movies fans; rivals like Netflix excel in globals.
How to Get Started with JioHotstar
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Download app from Google Play (100Cr+ downloads) or App Store.
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Sign up with phone/email; Jio users auto-login.
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Choose plan: Pay via UPI, card, net banking.
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Explore home screen for recommendations.
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Enable downloads, profiles for family.
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Link Jio for bundle deals.
Stream on Fire TV, Apple TV too.
Best Tips
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Use Premium for ad-free non-sports.
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Check Jio recharge for free access.
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Update app regularly despite glitches.
Common Issues and Fixes
Users report ads, logins.
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Too Many Ads: Upgrade to Premium.
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Login Loops: Clear cache, reinstall.
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Buffering: Use WiFi, lower quality.
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No Content: Check plan tier (e.g., Hollywood add-on).
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Download Fails: Free up space, retry.
Contact hello@hotstar.com.
Trending FAQs
What is JioHotstar?
India’s leading OTT platform merging JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar, offering sports, movies, shows in 19 languages.
How does JioHotstar work?
Download app, subscribe (₹79+), stream live/download content on mobiles/TVs. AI personalizes feeds.
Is JioHotstar worth it?
Yes for sports fans (IPL, EPL); value at ₹79 with vast library, but ads annoy free tiers.
What are JioHotstar plans?
Mobile ₹79/mo (1 device, ads), Super ₹149 (2 devices), Premium ₹299 (4 devices, ad-free).
Common JioHotstar problems?
Excess ads, login issues, buffering—fix via upgrade, cache clear, stable net.
Best tips for JioHotstar?
Bundle with Jio, use Premium for families, download for travel, watch sports live.
Beginner mistakes on JioHotstar?
Sticking to Mobile for multi-device, ignoring bundles, not updating app.
Does JioHotstar have IPL?
Yes, exclusive digital rights 2023-2027 with 4K, multi-angle. Paid now.
JioHotstar vs Netflix?
JioHotstar wins on sports/Indian content/price; Netflix better for Hollywood originals.
Future of JioHotstar?
More AI, regional originals, global expansion; 300M subs by 2025-end.
Can I share JioHotstar?
Up to 4 devices on Premium; no official family share beyond.
JioHotstar free trial?
No standard trial; Jio recharges often include free access.
Conclusion
JioHotstar redefines streaming in India with unmatched sports, content depth, and affordability. Pick a plan matching your needs—Mobile for basics, Premium for premium—and dive into endless entertainment. For SEO boosts, link internally to “IPL on JioHotstar,” “Best Hindi Shows”; externally to BCCI, Disney sites.