Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) is said to be planning a merger between Disney+ Hotstar and its own streaming service, JioCinema, in the wake of the Star India and Viacom18 merger. This initiative is part of RIL’s strategy to unify content and resources into a single, stronger platform. The objective is to streamline operations, lower costs, and boost efficiency by combining the two separate streaming services into one.
The proposed merger of Disney+ Hotstar and JioCinema is anticipated to enhance RIL’s competitive edge against global OTT giants such as YouTube, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video. According to data from the Google Play Store, Disney+ Hotstar boasts over 500 million downloads, while JioCinema has exceeded 100 million downloads. By combining these platforms, RIL could potentially expand its reach to a broader audience.
The merger of Disney+ Hotstar with JioCinema is set to create India’s largest streaming app, offering over 125,000 hours of entertainment, sports, and Hollywood content. The platform will include significant cricket rights, such as the Indian Premier League (IPL), along with content from Disney, NBCUniversal, and Paramount Global.
In February, RIL and Walt Disney announced their agreement to merge Star and Viacom18, forming an $8.5 billion media powerhouse. This deal is currently awaiting approval from regulatory authorities, including the Competition Commission of India (CCI).
