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JioStar launches JioHotstar platform, merging JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar
MUMBAI: It’s a giga merger. Two of India’s leading brands fusing into one.
Can the branding, the logo, and brand ident that emerge be any less?
The brands in question are; Jio and Disney+Hotstar, both very well-known of their own accord. One a leader in providing mobile telephony services which runs a streaming platform called JioCinema; the other a leader in streaming, the best in its class. Both have tremendous recall value and have customers running into hundreds of millions.
A tough ask for any one to find a solution that would do justice when they unite – where the sum of the united two will be greater than the sum of both as individuals .
One simple possibility was calling it JioHotstar. Quite simple right?
And that’s what JioStar, the joint venture formed by the merger of Viacom18 and Star India, decided upon. The birth of JioHotstar will see the demise of both JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar.
It will have a reach of 500 million users and will offer 300,000 hours of content including films and shows from major Hollywood studios including Disney, NBCUniversal Peacock, Warner Bros. Discovery HBO, and Paramount, alongside Indian entertainment across 10 languages.
“At the core of JioHotstar is a powerful vision—to make premium entertainment truly accessible to all Indians,” said Jiostar chief executive digital Kiran Mani. The platform will offer free content to all viewers, with premium subscription plans starting at Rs 149.
Jiostar chief executive entertainment Kevin Vaz emphasised the platform’s commitment to digital-first content, while sports chief executive Sanjog Gupta highlighted its enhanced sports viewing features, including ultra-HD 4K streaming and AI-powered insights. JioHotstar will also have a new segment called Sparks which India’s digital content creators can call their home.
There was some debate in media circles on what the back end of the new service will be. Would it be the JioCinema one or would it be Disney+ Hotstar’s? At the time of writing, folks within JioStar had confirmed to indiantelevision.com that it was indeed Hotstar’s tech stack that was being used to power the JioHotstar app as it proved to be more superior on several fronts. The main ones being: ability to handle high concurrency of users, serve high end, high quality 4K videos, even at low bandwidths, the tech innovations in terms of vertical video and interactivity that it supported. AI-powered insights, real-time stats overlays, multi-angle viewing and range of ‘culture’ and ‘special interest’ feeds — ensuring fans enjoy deeper, more immersive access to the sports they love.
The logo itself is a standout and can have several interpretations. Here’s two: a star doing a Swan Lake like dance; a heavenly body arms open wide ready to embrace one and all. Clearly, for those who have been so used to seeing the Disney Star and existing JioCinema logos, it will take some getting used to. The font for the brandname is sans serif, which fits well with the star burst.
JioHotstar’s new brand identity created and developed by venture3 embodies its vision for boundless entertainment. The Big Bang’ symbolises the dawn of a new era, while the Ripples radiate outward, representing energy, transformation, and innovation. The background colours are tetradic (psychedelic) with bright pinks, mauves , indigos and blues being thrown in for good measure and are eyecatching and hypnotic. Step one of the battle to attract viewers won! And the tagline carries with it a lot of promise: Infinite possibilities begin here! 
Existing JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar subscribers will be able to transition seamlessly to the new platform.
The service will stream major sporting events including ICC tournaments, IPL, WPL, Premier League and Wimbledon, alongside entertainment content in multiple Indian languages.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
