iWorld
JioHotstar SvoD has unmatched local and global content – Ampere Analysis research
MUMBAI: Now, it’s got an endorsement from leading research and data anslysis firm Ampere Analysis. JioHotstar formed through the merger of Disney+ Hotstar and JioCinema, has been given the stamp of the largest subscription video-on-demand (SVoD) services in the market, boasting over 14,000 movies and TV seasons at launch.
JioHotstar has a significant advantage in the Indian SVoD market by combining extensive local content with premium Hollywood titles, says the research and data analysis firm in an insight post released on its portal yesterday. Over 60 per cent of its library consists of locally-produced content, including hit TV shows from Star and Colors TV networks.
This aligns with Indian viewers’ strong preference for domestic entertainment, with 62 per cent of surveyed audiences reporting they watch locally-produced movies “very often.” Notable titles in its library include Hanu-Man, the Baahubali films, and reality TV favorite Bigg Boss.
However, JioHotstar also addresses India’s growing demand for Hollywood movies, a key battleground against Netflix, says Ampere.
While 41 per cent of surveyed Indian viewers watch Hollywood films “very often,” JioHotstar delivers a vast selection, leveraging Disney’s franchises such as Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars, alongside exclusive content from Universal (Oppenheimer, Despicable Me 4), Warner Bros. (Harry Potter, The Dark Knight), and Paramount (Mission: Impossible, Transformers). Additionally, the platform offers popular US TV shows from HBO, Showtime, and Nickelodeon.
Beyond movies and TV, JioHotstar is set to dominate India’s sports streaming space. The platform holds exclusive rights to three of the country’s most-followed sports events: the Indian Premier League (IPL), Premier League soccer, and Wimbledon.
Cricket, India’s most popular sport, is a crucial driver for subscriptions—43 per cent of surveyed respondents follow it avidly. The IPL, in particular, was pivotal to Disney+ Hotstar’s previous subscriber growth, and its loss in 2023 led to a significant decline in subscriptions.
With a well-balanced mix of local productions, Hollywood blockbusters, and top-tier sports content, JioHotstar emerges as a formidable force in India’s competitive SVoD market.
iWorld
Subedaar puts Indian original cinema on the global map with record-breaking Prime Video debut
MUMBAI: Prime Video has a runaway hit on its hands. Subedaar, the gritty action drama starring Anil Kapoor, has stormed to become the most-watched Indian original movie on the platform in its opening weekend, cracking the Top 10 across 31 countries and landing in 91 per cent of India’s pin codes within days of its March 5 premiere.
The film, a visceral, emotionally-charged story of a retired soldier, Subedaar Arjun Maurya, wrestling with civilian life amid crime and corruption, has struck a nerve. Directed by Suresh Triveni and co-starring Radhikka Madan, Mona Singh, Saurabh Shukla, Aditya Rawal, Faisal Malik, and Khushboo Sundar, the film is already being hailed as a showcase for what Indian original storytelling can achieve on the world stage.
“Subedaar’s success is a reflection of the growing scale and global resonance of Indian storytelling,” said Nikhil Madhok, director and head of originals at Prime Video India. “The film’s emotional narrative, its rooted portrayal of a soldier confronting his toughest battles beyond the battlefield, has struck a chord. Anil Kapoor delivers an acting masterclass, while Suresh Triveni’s solid direction and great performances from the ensemble cast have resulted in love and appreciation from customers across the world.”
Kapoor, 62, has been here before, but rarely at this altitude. Written by Triveni and Prajwal Chandrashekar, with dialogues by Triveni, Saurabh Dwivedi, and Chandrashekar, the film is a production by Opening Image Films in association with Anil Kapoor Film & Communication Network (AKFCN), produced by Vikram Malhotra, Kapoor, and Triveni.
Subedaar streams exclusively on Prime Video in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu across India, and in over 240 countries and territories worldwide.
For Prime Video, the numbers tell the real story: one weekend, one film, a global footprint, and a very loud signal that Indian original cinema is no longer just travelling well. It’s arriving.
