Variety: JioHotstar Reaches 100 Million Subscribers, Transforming India’s Streaming Market

Story from Variety:

Streamer JioHotstar has surpassed 100 million subscribers, the company revealed Thursday, marking a significant development in India’s digital entertainment sector.

The milestone underscores the platform’s successful strategy in converting streaming services from a premium offering to an essential component of daily media consumption for many Indian viewers. The achievement reflects the company’s approach to content accessibility through strategic pricing models and telecommunications partnerships that have expanded its reach across the country.

The streaming service has established itself particularly in sports broadcasting, securing rights to major cricket tournaments including ICC events, the Indian Premier League (IPL), and the Women’s Premier League. JioHotstar has implemented technical innovations in its sports coverage, including 4K ultra-HD streaming, AI-enhanced analytics, real-time statistical displays, interactive features, multi-camera perspectives, and voice command functionality. These technologies have been deployed during recent major sporting events such as the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 and the current IPL 2025 season.

JioHotstar’s content portfolio has been instrumental in its subscriber growth. The platform offers what it describes as the world’s most extensive selection of television programming, a comprehensive Hollywood library, digital specials in multiple Indian languages, year-round unscripted content, and “Sparks,” a recent initiative featuring India’s popular content creators.

The platform has extended its live streaming capabilities beyond traditional sports broadcasting to include cultural events, notably streaming Coldplay’s “Music of the Spheres” concert and “Mahashivratri: The Divine Night,” which featured ceremonies from 12 Jyotirlinga temples across India.

“We have always believed that world-class entertainment should be accessible to all, and crossing 100 million subscribers is a testament to that vision,” said Kiran Mani, CEO of digital at parent company JioStar. “This milestone not only underscores India’s limitless potential but also strengthens our commitment to pioneering category-first experiences at an unprecedented scale.”

JioStar was formed through the $8.5 billion merger of Disney’s Star India with Reliance’s Viacom18 and streaming platforms JioCinema and Hotstar.