JioHotstar has expanded its streaming service to the UK, Canada and Singapore on September 2, 2026, making it global. The international expansion heralds one of India’s largest streaming platforms into a new market, offering 160,000+ hours of entertainment in over 12 languages. The strategy is not just about catering to Indian diaspora abroad, writes JioStar, it is about reaching a larger audience globally who are keen to watch Indian stories and regional entertainment and multilingual content. The shift places JioHotstar global in head-to-head competition with the viewers in three well-developed streaming markets.
JioHotstar International Launch Targets Three Major Markets
The JioHotstar global launch represents an important shift for JioStar’s streaming strategy.
The company says that starting September 2, it will be replacing the existing Hotstar service with the new JioHotstar service in the U.K., Canada and Singapore markets. Current Hotstar subscribers will be moved to the Hotstar (Jio) plans, the login details will remain the same.
The app is offered in mobile devices via key application markets and also connected TVs.
The international platform opens with over 160,000 hours of content, including films, TV, original content, regional content, reality TV, non-fictions and children’s content/ anime. JioHotstar claims that it will release fresh content of 30,000+ hours annually.
That means that films like Criminal Justice, Special Ops, Asur, Aarya, Kerala Crime Files and Heartbeat, not to mention movies like 12th Fail, Chhichhore and Kill! are eligible for inclusion.
JioHotstar UK, Canada and Singapore Prices
Quarterly Plans Join Annual Subscriptions
A key aspect of the JioHotstar UK Canada Singapore launch is that there are quarterly subscriptions as well as an annual subscription.
The price of JioHotstar in the UK is £19.99 per quarter or £69.99 per year. In Canada, the plans cost CA$19.99 per month (CA$49.99 per year), and in Singapore, the plans cost SG$29.98 per month (SG$69.98 per year).
The option for quarterly could help make this platform more accessible for people to sample without having to sign up for a full year.
But, there’s a significant difference between JioHotstar India and its international edition.
No Live Sports at International Launch
The overseas service begins without any live sporting events, including cricket, which has made JioHotstar a hugely popular Indian service.
JioStar told TechCrunch that existing sports content-rights deals do not allow it to launch sports in the three markets, though the company noted it could potentially add sports content later on.
International subscribers should not expect an overseas JioHotstar subscription to include the Indian IPL and Indian cricket/sports offered via its Indian service.
Bigg Boss Gets Interactive for Global Viewers
Interactive entertainment is also a differentiator that JioHotstar is looking to bring, not just an on-demand library.
The UK, Canada and Singapore editions of Bigg Boss will be available in six languages, with the UK and Canada editions allowing live voting and the Singapore edition allowing non-live voting. There will also be a 24/7 live stream of Bigg Boss to be broadcast to viewers in Canada and the UK.
In addition, Canadian viewers will have one week’s head start on Bigg Boss Hindi, as it will be on air seven days prior to its television airing. The other Indian celebrities slated to visit Canada and Singapore include India Ka Top 1% which is a game show with Anil Kapoor.
Star Plus, Colors, Star Vijay, Asianet, Star Jalsha and Star Pravah programmes add to service’s value proposition for multilingual households in South Asia.
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Why JioHotstar’s Global Expansion Matters
The cross-border transfer follows the merger of Star India and Viacom18, which has unified the biggest television and digital entertainment companies in India, and the formation of JioStar. According to JioStar’s official corporate announcement, the merger was formed in November 2024.
JioHotstar already has an average monthly user base of about 500 million in India, providing a strong base to enter the global market.
South Asian communities in the UK and Canada are large and Singapore offers a highly connected Asian streaming market. Meanwhile, JioStar claims that its objective is more than just the diaspora viewing.
Amit Malhotra, JioStar’s Head of International Business, stated that there is a chance to create for a larger audience that is interested in stories and cultures that are beyond their own.
FAQs
Where has JioHotstar launched internationally?
JioHotstar is now available in the UK, Canada and Singapore, marking its first major international rollout under the JioHotstar brand.
How much content does international JioHotstar offer?
The service launches with more than 160,000 hours of content across over 12 languages and plans to add more than 30,000 hours annually.
Does JioHotstar international include live cricket?
No. Live sports are not included at launch in the UK, Canada and Singapore because of existing rights arrangements.
What happens to existing Hotstar subscribers?
Existing subscribers are being moved to equivalent JioHotstar plans, with current credentials continuing to work on the new service.
