UK Canada Singapore Services Launch
Key Highlights
- JioHotstar has launched services in the UK, Canada and Singapore.
- The platform offers more than 1,60,000 hours of content.
- Content is available across 12-plus languages.
- JioHotstar has more than 500 million active users.
- The service will target the South Asian diaspora.
- More than 30,000 hours of fresh content are planned annually across the markets.
- The platform is operated by JioStar.
JioHotstar has expanded its international presence with the launch of its streaming service in the United Kingdom, Canada and Singapore, marking a significant step in the platform’s ambition to develop into a global entertainment destination.
The platform, operated by JioStar, said its international offering will provide access to more than 1,60,000 hours of content across more than 12 languages.
The expansion is aimed primarily at the South Asian diaspora while also seeking to attract a broader international audience interested in Indian entertainment and stories from across the region.
JioHotstar said the service will combine its extensive content catalogue with personalised recommendations, interactive features and flexible subscription options. The platform also plans to introduce more than 30,000 hours of fresh content annually across the three markets.
The offering will include original productions, established entertainment franchises and television programming. The company believes that demand for Indian entertainment extends beyond the South Asian diaspora as international audiences increasingly seek stories and cultural content from markets outside their own.
Amit Malhotra, Head of International Business at JioStar, said the streaming industry had traditionally competed largely on the size of content libraries, while the next opportunity lies in changing how audiences discover and engage with entertainment.
The international expansion gives JioHotstar an opportunity to build a presence in markets where Indian-language entertainment already has an established audience base.
The United Kingdom, Canada and Singapore are home to significant South Asian communities, creating a natural customer base for Indian television, films and original programming.
At the same time, the platform’s strategy extends beyond simply exporting an Indian streaming product. JioStar said it wants to develop a broader entertainment proposition for international audiences.
The launch comes after the creation of JioStar through the merger of Reliance’s media business with the India business of global entertainment company Walt Disney. The combination brought together significant television, digital and entertainment assets.
JioHotstar already has a large domestic user base, with the company stating that it has more than 500 million active users. Its international rollout represents an effort to leverage that scale and content ecosystem in overseas markets.
Personalisation is expected to be a major component of the service. As streaming competition increases globally, platforms are increasingly relying on recommendation systems and interactive experiences to help viewers discover content.
JioHotstar’s international launch also comes at a time when streaming services are increasingly looking beyond domestic audiences for growth. Content produced in one country can now reach viewers across multiple regions, particularly when supported by subtitles, dubbing and multilingual catalogues.
The company’s planned addition of more than 30,000 hours of fresh content every year is expected to help maintain engagement and strengthen the platform’s competitive position.
The success of the international expansion will depend on subscriber acquisition, pricing, content localisation and the platform’s ability to compete with established global streaming services.
For JioStar, however, the launch represents an important step toward building a global entertainment business around Indian content and the growing international demand for South Asian stories.
