Times haven’t been the most kind to Disney+ Hotstar as they are hit with more and more challenges with time. Especially after the emergence of Reliance-backed JioCinema, they have been acquiring more and more ‘bragging rights’ from Hotstar.
The previous quarter’s report states that Hotstar also lost 2.8 million subs, taking the annual toll to 23.8 million. Losing out on IPL and ISL contributed a lot to it, and freebie streaming of the Wild Cup won’t really make the subscription count increase.
So, after a chain of events, everyone expected Disney to sell their Hotstar venture. Shockingly, the speculated buyer was JioCinema and Reliance. But like most modern Disney films, life isn’t that predictable, as Disney is adamant about their Indian wing.
Recently, Hotstar is seen to observe a breath of fresh air as on Wednesday, the CEO stated that they would like to hold onto their Hotstar business and keep on exploring the Indian market.
“In India, our linear business actually does quite well. It’s making money. But we know that other parts of that business are challenging for us and… we are looking. I’ve said this before… we’re considering our options there. We have an opportunity to strengthen our hand,” stated Iger during a call.
Also, talking exclusively about India’s prospect, Iger stated, “It is now maybe the most populous country in the world and we’d like to stay in that market. But we’re also looking to see whether we can strengthen our hand obviously, improve the bottom line”.
In terms of stats, though Hotstar is indeed having a bumpy ride, in terms of the global market, it is unparalleled. And obviously, though the sports aspect is almost vanishing from the service (in India), the entertainment aspect is indeed promising.
Even the recent viewership of the World Cup is hitting it off the park. It is indeed free streaming, and that screams enormous numbers, but from Hotstar’s side, it is a massive statement of hope about their future.
We’re hiring!
We are hiring two full-time junior to mid-level writers with the option to work remotely. You need to work a 5-hour shift and be available to write. Interested candidates should email their sample articles to [email protected]. Applications without a sample article will not be considered.
