JioHotstar: What the JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar Merger Means

On February 14, 2025, JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar officially merged to form JioHotstar under JioStar, a joint venture between Reliance Industries and The Walt Disney Company. The platform brings together content from both services, combining Bollywood, Hollywood, regional entertainment, and sports into one app.

With close to 3 lakh hours of entertainment, live sports coverage, and more than 50 crore users, JioHotstar is expected to redefine entertainment, the company said.

Subscription Plans and Changes for Existing Users

JioHotstar will continue with a mix of free and paid content. Existing Disney+ Hotstar users will retain their current plans, with pricing remaining at ₹149 for mobile, ₹299 for the Super plan, and ₹349 for the Premium (ad-free) plan for three months as per news reports.

JioCinema Premium users will be upgraded to JioHotstar Premium for the remaining duration of their subscription.

End of Free IPL Streaming

The Reliance-Disney joint venture will no longer offer completely free IPL streaming. Since JioCinema acquired IPL rights for five years in 2023 for $3 billion, matches have been streamed without charge. However, the new model will allow free streaming only up to a certain limit, after which users will need a subscription. 

Plans will start at ₹149 per quarter, with an ad-free option priced at ₹499 per quarter.

Features and Content Library

JioHotstar introduces 4K streaming, AI-powered recommendations, multi-angle viewing, and real-time stats overlays for sports. The platform also includes content from Disney, Warner Bros., Discovery, NBCUniversal’s Peacock, HBO, and Paramount.

In addition to films and series, it will stream IPL, WPL, ICC tournaments, English Premier League, Wimbledon, Pro Kabaddi, and ISL.

Merger Details and Ownership

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) and the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) approved the merger in August 2024. Reliance holds 60% ownership (16% directly and 47% through Viacom18), while Disney owns 37% of the new entity.

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