MUMBAI: Now, it’s got an endorsement from leading research and data anslysis firm Ampere Analysis. JioHotstar formed through the merger of Disney+ Hotstar and JioCinema, has been given the stamp of the largest subscription video-on-demand (SVoD) services in the market, boasting over 14,000 movies and TV seasons at launch.
JioHotstar has a significant advantage in the Indian SVoD market by combining extensive local content with premium Hollywood titles, says the research and data analysis firm in an insight post released on its portal yesterday. Over 60 per cent of its library consists of locally-produced content, including hit TV shows from Star and Colors TV networks.
This aligns with Indian viewers' strong preference for domestic entertainment, with 62 per cent of surveyed audiences reporting they watch locally-produced movies “very often.” Notable titles in its library include Hanu-Man, the Baahubali films, and reality TV favorite Bigg Boss.
However, JioHotstar also addresses India’s growing demand for Hollywood movies, a key battleground against Netflix, says Ampere.
While 41 per cent of surveyed Indian viewers watch Hollywood films “very often,” JioHotstar delivers a vast selection, leveraging Disney’s franchises such as Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars, alongside exclusive content from Universal (Oppenheimer, Despicable Me 4), Warner Bros. (Harry Potter, The Dark Knight), and Paramount (Mission: Impossible, Transformers). Additionally, the platform offers popular US TV shows from HBO, Showtime, and Nickelodeon.
Beyond movies and TV, JioHotstar is set to dominate India’s sports streaming space. The platform holds exclusive rights to three of the country’s most-followed sports events: the Indian Premier League (IPL), Premier League soccer, and Wimbledon.
Cricket, India’s most popular sport, is a crucial driver for subscriptions—43 per cent of surveyed respondents follow it avidly. The IPL, in particular, was pivotal to Disney+ Hotstar’s previous subscriber growth, and its loss in 2023 led to a significant decline in subscriptions.
With a well-balanced mix of local productions, Hollywood blockbusters, and top-tier sports content, JioHotstar emerges as a formidable force in India’s competitive SVoD market.
