Indian streaming platform JioHotstar is expanding into the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) through a partnership with Starzplay. Backed by Reliance Industries (릴라이언스 인더스트리), JioHotstar has more than 500 million monthly active users. Rather than launching a separate app, it will offer Indian films, TV shows, original content and reality programs in multiple languages through a dedicated section on the Starzplay app and website.

Background and context

This expansion differs from JioHotstar’s earlier international launches. Last September, it replaced the existing Hotstar service and launched as a standalone streaming service in the UK, Canada and Singapore. In MENA, however, it will supply content through Starzplay, a local service. In other words, this is a partner-led expansion that uses a local platform’s distribution network, rather than an overseas expansion of JioHotstar’s own service.

MENA has a large South Asian diaspora—that is, communities of people who have left their home countries and settled elsewhere. JioHotstar is also targeting potential viewers of Indian and South Asian origin in the region. Starzplay has more than 2.3 million subscribers and has built an audience among South Asian viewers through sports content, including cricket. The partnership is significant for JioHotstar because it can leverage Starzplay’s local user base and established audience to broaden access to Indian content.

However, this is not the first time Hotstar content has been introduced in MENA. According to the original report, Hotstar was previously available in the region, and Disney Star expanded its distribution agreement with evision in 2024 to make Hotstar Specials available there. evision is also a major shareholder in Starzplay. The difference with this partnership is that JioHotstar will have a dedicated streaming space within Starzplay.

JioHotstar was created as part of an $8.5 billion joint venture formed when Reliance and Disney combined their Indian media businesses in 2024. The service, which brings together JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar, launched in India last February. This MENA expansion can be seen as the next step in distributing the content catalog assembled in India to audiences overseas.

What this news means

The catalog includes Hindi-, Malayalam-, Tamil-, Telugu- and Bengali-language content, as well as ‘Bigg Boss’ and ‘Koffee with Karan.’ The offering puts particular emphasis on Malayalam-language programming, given the large Malayali population in MENA. New JioHotstar originals will premiere in MENA at the same time as in India, and audio will be available in up to 10 languages.

It is important to distinguish the terms for sports from those for other content. JioHotstar’s own sports service in India will not be available in MENA. Instead, a plan bundling sports content from JioHotstar and Starzplay costs 49.99 dirhams (AED) per month, while JioHotstar is available for 34.99 dirhams (AED) per month with a monthly Starzplay Plus plan. The two plans should not be assumed to have the same content, so viewers should compare them based on whether they want to watch sports.

For example, a viewer living in MENA who wants to watch Indian dramas and variety shows may find the dedicated JioHotstar section on Starzplay a new way to access them. But they should not expect to be able to watch JioHotstar’s sports content available in India in the same way. The partnership provides content through Starzplay and a separately described sports package, so viewers should check whether the programs they want are included.

What is confirmed and what remains unknown

Confirmed

  • JioHotstar content will be available in a dedicated section of the Starzplay app and website.
  • The catalog includes Indian films, TV shows, originals and reality content in multiple languages.
  • New originals will premiere simultaneously in India and MENA, with audio available in up to 10 languages.
  • JioHotstar’s sports service in India will not be available in MENA.
  • A plan bundling Starzplay sports content costs 49.99 dirhams per month, while the monthly Starzplay Plus plan costs 34.99 dirhams per month.

Still unknown

  • The announced information does not specify the date when the partnership service will actually launch in MENA.
  • The specific financial terms of the partnership have not been disclosed.
  • The original report does not confirm the detailed content included in each plan or the terms of availability in individual markets.

What readers should check

  • Anyone considering the service should check when it actually launches and whether it will be available where they live.
  • Those interested in watching sports should separately compare the content included in the 49.99-dirham monthly plan and the 34.99-dirham monthly Starzplay Plus plan.
  • Viewers should check the language of the programs they want to watch and whether audio is available in that language. Audio has been announced in up to 10 languages, but that does not necessarily mean the same language options will be available for every title.