HIGHLIGHTS
- JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar are merging to form a new platform.
- The merger is driven by Hotstar’s technological advantage in streaming content.
- It will be the largest OTT platform in India.
Reliance Industries intends to merge JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar into a single platform and retain Disney+ Hostar as the duo’s sole streaming platform, according to a report by the Economic Times.
Jio Cinema, Disney+ Hotstar merger
According to an Economic Times report, Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) will integrate JioCinema into Disney+ Hotstar as part of a larger merger between Star India and Viacom18. Sources familiar with the matter indicated that Disney+ Hotstar was chosen as the primary platform due to its superior technology. Initial discussions considered the possibility of operating separate platforms for sports and entertainment, but this approach has reportedly been abandoned.
The 2025 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is expected to stream on the newly merged platform. While JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar employees have been informed about the merger, an official announcement from Reliance is still pending.
