JioHotstar expands to UK, Canada and Singapore

MUMBAI: JioHotstar is taking its Indian entertainment passport global. The streaming platform has expanded into the UK, Canada and Singapore, marking its next step towards becoming a global entertainment service while putting Indian stories, languages and formats in front of wider audiences.

The international launch brings more than 160,000 hours of content across 12+ languages and multiple genres to the three markets. Alongside its existing library, JioHotstar is adding new originals, blockbuster movie premieres, interactive features and personalised recommendations, with more than 30,000 hours of fresh content planned to be added every year.

For the South Asian diaspora, the proposition is familiar territory with a global address. The catalogue spans television, films, regional programming, non-fiction, children’s content and anime, while the platform is also designed to attract audiences looking beyond their own languages and cultures.

One of the biggest changes comes to Bigg Boss. The reality franchise returns across six languages, but international viewers will now get a more direct say in the action. Audiences in the UK, Canada and Singapore can vote live across every edition, allowing them to influence the game in real time.

Viewers in the UK and Canada will also have access to the 24×7 live feed, while Canadian audiences will get Bigg Boss Hindi seven days ahead of its television broadcast.

JioHotstar is also introducing India Ka Top 1 Percent, with Anil Kapoor hosting the new game show format in Canada and Singapore. The show tests contestants on logic and reasoning, adding a fresh format to the platform’s international offering.

Television remains another major draw. Content from JioStar channels including Star Plus, Colors, Star Vijay, Asianet, Star Jalsha and Star Pravah will be available internationally. Audiences in Singapore and Canada will get Before-TV access to selected shows such as Anupama, Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, Seher Hone Ko Hai and Azhagae Azhagu. In the UK, popular shows will be available simultaneously with their television broadcasts.

The international library also includes originals such as Criminal Justice, Special Ops, Chiraiya, Pritam & Pedro, Asur, Aarya, Heartbeat, Vikram on Duty, Kerala Crime Files, Resort and Kaattaan, alongside reality franchises including Koffee with Karan, Bhojpuri Bawaal, Khatron Ke Khiladi, MTV Hustle, Splitsvilla, Laughter Chefs – Unlimited Entertainment, Roadies and Cooku with Comali.

On the film side, the offering includes titles such as Vaazha, Dhurandhar, Chhichhore, Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh, Kill, 12th Fail and Jab We Met.

The platform is also leaning heavily into personalisation. Its interface uses recommendation technology designed to adapt to individual viewing habits, while subtitles and dubs across 12+ Asian languages — including English, Hindi, Gujarati, Malayalam, Kannada and Marathi aim to make the service easier to navigate across multilingual households.

Amit Malhotra, head of international business at JioStar, said the company sees the opportunity as more than simply exporting an Indian streaming service overseas. According to him, the focus is on changing how audiences discover, engage with and participate in entertainment.

The expansion comes with updated pricing effective September 2 across the three markets, although the announcement shared does not specify the individual subscription prices.

With a library stretching beyond 160,000 hours, more than 30,000 new hours promised annually, six-language Bigg Boss editions and live audience participation, JioHotstar’s international play is looking to turn Indian entertainment from a diaspora staple into a broader global proposition.