The world of streaming entertainment in India was left in a state of shock at the beginning of this month of March, when we at Binged broke the news of the confirmed date for when HBO content would finally leave Disney Plus Hotstar. For those who still don’t know, HBO leaves Disney Plus Hotstar on 31st March, 2023, which is but a few days away.
As most digital viewers will know, HBO’s departure from Disney Plus Hotstar has been on the anvil since long. HBO is home to the most popular and prestigious entertainment in the world, such as Game Of Thrones, Succession, Euphoria, The Sopranos, The Wire, and more. HBO’s exit from Disney Plus Hotstar is nothing less than disaster for fans of streaming entertainment.
So, now what? Every HBO fan is agog with curiosity over just one thing – where will HBO titles stream in India, once HBO leaves Disney Plus Hotstar?
Let’s get into the why, when and what next of HBO’s exit from Disney Plus Hotstar, in easy-to-digest points –
Why is HBO leaving Disney Plus Hotstar – the timeline of events:
1. HBO had initially signed a ten-year content deal with Disney Plus Hotstar.
2. The deal comes to an end at the end of March.
3. HBO would likely have agreed to renew the deal with Disney Plus Hotstar.
4. But then HBO Max happened – the streaming platform for HBO content.
5. Initially, HBO Max planned to launch their streaming platform in India, so it became obvious that HBO content would move from Disney Plus Hotstar to its own HBO Max.
6. Meanwhile, HBO Max, which was also distributed as part of Prime Video Channels in the US, got into various revenue issues with Prime Video in the US. So HBO Max left Prime Video Channels in a huff in the US.
7. Soon, HBO Max ran into rough weather, due to mounting expenses and debts, and its India launch got delayed indefinitely. Hope rekindled that HBO would extend its deal with Disney Plus Hotstar, and continue to stream on it for some more time.
8. But in the second half of 2022, a new development happened. HBO Max sorted out its issues with Prime Video Channels, and returned to its folds.
9. Wham! HBO Max had a new and established avenue to make its long-delayed launch in India – through Prime Video Channels.
10. And so finally – HBO’s exit from Disney Plus Hotstar is signed, locked and confirmed — and the Indian streaming viewer is the ultimate loser!
When will HBO content leave Disney Plus Hotstar?
HBO leaves Disney Plus Hotstar on 31st March, 2023, which is this Friday – but a few days away.
Where will HBO content stream in India now that it is leaving Disney Plus Hotstar?
Though there’s no official word yet, as per our understanding, HBO Max will most likely launch in India as part of Prime Video Channels. Prime Video has a well-set and well-entrenched streaming service in India, with excellent reach and infrastructure.
Until parent company Warner Bros. Discovery succeeds in sorting out the mess at HBO Max and its International launch, leveraging the established set-up of Prime Video India to launch HBO Max makes the best sense in present circumstances.
So HBO fans, take heart and have patience. As per our analysis, HBO Max should launch soon on Prime Video Channels in India. And who knows – maybe as soon as April 2023!
Stay tuned to Binged.com, for be rest assured that we’ll be one of first to inform you about where HBO’s shows will land in India!
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