JioHotstar Launches Globally in UK, Canada, Singapore
Original: Reliance’s JioHotstar takes its streaming empire global — without sports
Why This Matters
JioHotstar's global push signals Indian streaming platforms competing directly with Netflix and Disney+ for diaspora audiences.
Reliance Industries' JioHotstar will replace Hotstar in the UK, Canada, and Singapore starting September 2, 2026, offering 160,000+ hours of Indian entertainment in 12 languages — but without live sports due to existing rights deals.
JioHotstar, the streaming platform controlled by Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries, is making its first international brand debut by replacing Hotstar in the UK, Canada, and Singapore on September 2, 2026. The service will launch with over 160,000 hours of content spanning Indian films, TV originals, reality shows like Bigg Boss, and live Star-branded TV channels including Star Plus, Colors, and Asianet — available in 12 languages with dubs and translations. Notably absent at launch is live sports, including IPL cricket, which is a major audience driver in India. JioStar attributed this to existing content rights agreements but did not rule out future additions. Existing Hotstar users in these markets can log in with the same credentials via the new JioHotstar app on iOS, Android, and connected TVs. JioHotstar reports over 500 million monthly active users in India. The platform emerged from a 2024 merger of Reliance's media assets with Disney, forming an $8.5 billion joint venture that combined JioCinema and Hotstar. India's diaspora population across the three launch markets is estimated at over 4 million. The company plans further international expansion over time but confirmed no U.S. launch as part of this initial rollout.