After snatching the lucrative IPL streaming rights from under the nose of Disney Plus Hotstar, Jio Cinema has now landed the ultimate blow on the streaming giant. Just this afternoon came the news that Jio Cinema has struck a new deal with Warner Bros. Discovery. By dint of the deal, the extremely popular HBO content and Warner Bros content will stream exclusively on Jio Cinema. Or more specifically, on the newly revamped combined streaming platform of Jio Cinema and Voot Select, likely named JioVoot.
As expected, the world of streaming, and its power players Netflix, Prime Video India, Disney Plus Hotstar, SonyLIV, et al, have gone into a tizzy, from which they’re not recovering soon. With this stunning move from Jio Cinema, it is game, set, match, for the fast-rising Indian platform. Or better still, it’s check and mate for all the other streaming platforms vying for the largest slice of the Indian streaming pie.
The deal also shows off Jio Cinema’s increasingly aggressive strategy to corner the cluttered Indian streaming market, with as many high profile acquisitions as possible. With this move, Jio Cinema has sounded the bugle of competition for Netflix, Prime Video, ZEE5, Hotstar and SonyLIV. Any laxity shown by them, and you can be sure that Jio Cinema will be waiting in the wings to grab every opportunity that comes up.
Jio Cinema has shown that it is ready to move in for the kill, and isn’t afraid to go the extra mile. Giving wind to Jio Cinema’s flight of expansion is the deep pockets of Reliance Industries, the parent company of Jio Cinema. Money is flowing like water from Mukesh Ambani’s bottomless reservoir of finances. And the other OTT platforms can only gape in open-mouthed stupor.
There’s no doubt that the new content deal between Warner Bros. Discovery and Jio Cinema will shake up the streaming industry like none other. To top it all, Jio Cinema’s new revamped OTT platform will offer considerably cheap subscription plans, as compared to other top OTT platforms in India.
As reported by us earlier, Jio Cinema plans to offer subscriptions in three tiers. A ₹2 Daily plan, ₹99 three-month plan, and a ₹599 annual plan, with 4K resolution in all three tiers. These are by far the cheapest subscription plans of any premier OTT platform in India.
In addition to Warner Bros and HBO content, Jio Cinema will also be the Indian host of content from Paramount Plus and Paramount Pictures. There’s buzz that Paramount Plus will be offered as a paid add-on on Jio Cinema, but still, it does offer diversity.
In keeping with all of the above, let’s see how Jio Cinema’s acquiring of HBO content will affect the top 3 platforms in India –
Netflix –
The global streaming leader has steadily been losing subscribers in India, on the back of its woke and lackluster Indian content. Netflix is sure to lose even more subscribers to Jio Cinema now, as viewers look to consolidate their OTT spends and put money where they get most bang for their buck.
Disney Plus Hotstar –
Already reeling from the loss of the IPL, Formula One and HBO, Disney Plus Hotstar is banking on Indian Original shows and movies in multiple Indian languages to retain its dwindling subscriber base. Unfortunately, SonyLIV and Prime Video are giving it tough competition in that area too. The streaming giant has been left licking its wounds from Jio Cinema’s multiple strikes. Hotstar must gear up to lose even more subscribers to Jio Cinema soon.
Prime Video India –
Prime Video India has the most to lose with Jio Cinema’s acquisition of Warner Bros and HBO content. Most Warner Bros movies land on Prime Video in India at present, along with a lot of HBO Max content. Jio Cinema’s exclusive deal with Warner Bros. Discovery forbids the latter from sharing any of its content with any other Indian OTT platform. So it is a considerable loss for Prime Video India.
Stay tuned to Binged.com for more updates on Jio Cinema’s acquisition of HBO and Warner Bros content.