JioHotstar is on a roll.
With subscriber numbers climbing and global charts finally putting the Indian OTT giant next to Netflix, the platform is clearly winning the numbers game. But for the people watching? The taste isn’t exactly sweet.
Let’s break it down.
A significant chunk of JioHotstar’s viewer base comes from West Bengal. Why? Because the platform streams a wide range of daily soaps, making it the go-to choice for audiences who religiously follow these shows and don’t want to miss a single episode.
So far, so good.
But here’s where it starts falling apart, JioHotstar doesn’t do nearly enough to cater to the very audience that’s helped build its numbers. Apart from offering IPL and other sports in Bengali commentary, the platform has done little else to acknowledge or serve the entertainment needs of its Bengali viewers.
That’s not just a missed opportunity, it’s a lack of vision.
If JioHotstar truly wants to lock in this loyal base, it’s time they go beyond dubbed commentary. They need to invest in original Bengali content. A strong regional original could bring in not just the regular soap watchers but also audiences who otherwise stick to Netflix or Prime Video for quality storytelling.
Right now, JioHotstar may still rule in terms of reach. But when it comes to content? It’s falling behind.
If it doesn’t fix that soon, the numbers might stay, but the love won’t.
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.
