Reliance-backed streaming platform JioHotstar is expanding beyond India for the first time, replacing Hotstar in the UK, Canada and Singapore from September 2. The international launch marks a major step in Reliance Industries’ plans to take its growing digital entertainment business to overseas markets.
Read More | JioStar Secures Exclusive The Hundred 2026 Broadcast Rights in India
The global version of JioHotstar will offer more than 160,000 hours of entertainment content. However, unlike its Indian service, it will not carry live sports.
JioHotstar launches internationally without live sports
Sports have been a major part of JioHotstar’s success in India. The platform streams popular events such as the Indian Premier League (IPL), Women’s Premier League (WPL) and Indian cricket matches. It also carries international sporting events, including the English Premier League and major tennis tournaments such as Wimbledon and the US Open.
These sports will not be available on the international version when it launches. JioStar said existing content agreements are the reason for the absence of sports, while leaving the possibility open for sports content to be added in the future. In India, JioHotstar says it has more than 500 million monthly active users, with live sports playing an important role in attracting viewers.
What will JioHotstar offer overseas?
Instead of sports, the international service will focus on Indian films, television programmes, original shows and reality content. Viewers will also get access to live channels from the Star network, including Star Plus, Colors, Star Vijay, Asianet, Star Jalsha and Star Pravah.
Read More | Zee Entertainment Bags Exclusive Serie A Broadcast Rights in India Until 2031, Strengthening Football Push
The platform will offer content across 12 languages, including Hindi, English, Malayalam, Gujarati, Kannada and Marathi. Dubbing and translated content will also be available. Popular programmes such as Bigg Boss will form part of the entertainment offering. JioHotstar is also expected to add more content over time as Reliance looks to build a broader international streaming business.
Hotstar users will move to JioHotstar
The launch will also bring an end to the Hotstar brand in the UK, Canada and Singapore. Existing Hotstar users in these markets will no longer be able to access the Hotstar app from September 2. However, their existing login credentials will work on JioHotstar.
The new application will be available through the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, as well as on connected TVs. The three countries are not completely new markets for the Hotstar brand. Hotstar has operated in the UK and Canada for several years. The US version, meanwhile, was shut down in 2021.
Read More | JioCinema and Hotstar Merge to Form JioHotstar: A New Streaming Giant
JioHotstar is not launching in the US as part of this first international expansion, but Reliance has indicated that more overseas markets could follow.
Reliance targets the Indian diaspora
The international expansion gives JioHotstar access to a sizeable South Asian audience. According to data cited by TechCrunch from India’s Ministry of External Affairs, the three launch markets together could provide a potential audience of more than four million people. The platform is also looking beyond the Indian diaspora and hopes its multilingual content will attract viewers interested in Indian stories and culture.
JioStar’s international business head Amit Malhotra said the company sees an opportunity to serve audiences looking for stories and cultures from outside their own markets. This suggests that Reliance’s strategy is not simply to take an Indian streaming service overseas. It is aiming to position JioHotstar as a wider international entertainment platform.
Indrani Priyadarshini is a journalist and editorial professional specialising in technology, artificial intelligence, smart cities, green energy, and digital transformation. With over four years of experience in tech journalism and digital media, she is known for turning complex industry developments into clear, engaging, and insightful stories. Her expertise spans reporting, editorial strategy, digital publishing workflows, and in-depth coverage of emerging technologies shaping the future.
