JioHotstar launches in UK, Canada and Singapore with new shows and live features

JioHotstar has launched in the UK, Canada and Singapore, bringing its Indian entertainment catalogue to audiences outside India. In a press release, the company said that the “launch goes beyond taking JioHotstar’s extensive entertainment catalogue to new markets” and “brings audiences a new way to discover, watch and engage with entertainment combining 160K+ hours of content across 12+ languages and multiple genres with personalized recommendations, interactive features, flexible subscription options and a delightful product experience”.JioHotstar brings 160,000+ hours of Indian entertainment to international audienceJioHotstar offers content across several categories, including television, films, regional programming, non-fiction, kids' content and anime. The platform's library includes popular shows and originals such as Criminal Justice, Special Ops, Asur, Aarya, Pritam & Pedro, Heartbeat, Kerala Crime Files and Resort.Its film catalogue includes titles such as Dhurandhar, 12th Fail, Chhichhore, Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh, Kill, Jab We Met and Vaazha. JioHotstar said it plans to add more than 30,000 hours of fresh content every year, giving users access to a continually expanding catalogue. The platform has kicked off its international launch with a diverse line-up of entertainment that includes:New Originals & Blockbuster Premieres: A slate of originals including Ali Baba Aur Chaalis Bhoot, Prince of Mollywood, Part Timers, The Court and more alongside blockbuster movie premieres through the year.Bigg Boss, Now Interactive: The iconic reality franchise Bigg Boss returns across six languages, and for the first time, audiences across Singapore, Canada and the UK will be able to vote LIVE across every edition, giving them the power to actively participate in and influence the game in real time. While audiences in Canada and the UK will have access to the 24x7 LIVE Feed, Canada will also be able to watch Bigg Boss Hindi 7 days ahead of its TV broadcast.A New Game Show Format: Audiences in Canada and Singapore can witness the magic of Anil Kapoor hosting India Ka Top 1 Percent, a new format that tests contestants’ logic and reasoning.Content from JioStar TV Channels with Early Access: Audiences can access content from JioStar television channels, including Star Plus, Colors, Star Vijay, Asianet, Star Jalsha and Star Pravah, with Before-TV access to popular shows in Singapore and Canada, including Anupama, Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, Seher Hone Ko Hai, Azhagae Azhagu, while audiences in the UK can watch popular shows simultaneously with their TV broadcast, alongside regional and daily entertainment.JioHotstar subscription plans for UK, Canada and SingaporeJioHotstar is also introducing new quarterly subscription plans across all three markets for the first time. The updated pricing effective 2 nd September across markets is as follows:Commenting on JioHotstar’s international expansion and vision for global streaming, Amit Malhotra, Head – International Business, JioStar, said: “Streaming has spent the last decade competing on the size of its catalogue. We believe the bigger opportunity now is to reimagine how audiences experience entertainment; not just what they watch, but how they discover, engage with and shape the experience in real time. South Asian audiences have a deep connection with Indian entertainment across languages, generations and households. At the same time, audiences globally are increasingly seeking stories and cultures beyond their own. We see an opportunity to build for this broader, underserved global audience - not simply export an Indian streaming service to new markets.”He further added, “As we expand internationally, our ambition is to show what becomes possible when scale, language, cultural diversity, personalisation and deeper audience participation are built into the streaming experience from day one.”Get the latest technology news and updates. Download the TOI App.