JioHotstar has announced that it is expanding its footing to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The streamer has also announced that it will be partnering with Starzplay in its expansion.
Users in these regions will now have access to JioHotstar's original content alongside their release in India, available through two plans in Starzplay. The Plus plan will give users access to JioHotstar's original content, meanwhile the Max plan will give users access to the original content along with the sports portfolio, including cricket.
Speaking about the expansion, Amit Malhotra, Head- International Business, JioStar, said, "The strong early response to JioHotstar across the UK, Canada and Singapore has reinforced our belief in the global opportunity for Indian entertainment. As we build JioHotstar into a truly global streaming platform, MENA is a crucial next market, with one of the world’s largest South Asian diaspora communities and a deep appetite for entertainment across languages. Our partnership with Starzplay allows us to enter the region with scale and bring audiences the breadth of JioHotstar, from new originals and daily television to blockbuster films and iconic reality franchises. This is an important step in taking Indian stories, talent and cultural moments to audiences around the world.”
Meanwhile, Maaz Sheikh, CEO of Starzplay, said, “The next phase of streaming growth in MENA will be shaped by platforms that bring the right brands together and make the viewing experience more valuable. Audiences should not have to navigate an increasingly fragmented market to find the entertainment that matters to them. Bringing JioHotstar to Starzplayis a strategic investment in that future, combining the strength of India’s storytelling with our understanding of this region and the audiences we serve.”
