JioHotstar expands to MENA through Starzplay, bringing Indian entertainment to a wider global audience
JioHotstar is taking its next big step overseas with a new launch across the Middle East and North Africa through Starzplay, one of the region’s leading streaming platforms. The move gives the Reliance Industries-backed service a major foothold in MENA, a region with a large and highly engaged South Asian community.
The streaming platform, which has more than 500 million monthly active users, will now appear as a dedicated section inside the Starzplay app and website. Viewers in the region will be able to access a wide library of Indian movies, TV shows, original series, reality programs, and regional-language content.
This rollout follows JioHotstar’s earlier international expansion into the U.K., Canada, and Singapore. However, the MENA strategy is different. In those markets, JioHotstar launched as a stand-alone streaming service, replacing Hotstar. In the Middle East and North Africa, it will operate within Starzplay, allowing the platform to tap into an existing subscriber base and regional distribution network.
The expansion is part of Reliance’s broader plan to turn JioHotstar into a global Indian streaming brand. After building a massive audience in India, the company is now targeting international markets where demand for Indian entertainment is strong. MENA is a natural fit, especially because it is home to one of the world’s largest South Asian diaspora populations.
JioHotstar’s sports content from India will not be included in the MENA offering. Still, viewers will have access to a bundle that combines JioHotstar with Starzplay’s sports package, including cricket. That plan is priced at AED 49.99 per month, or about $13.60. JioHotstar will also be available through Starzplay’s Plus monthly plan, priced at AED 34.99, or around $9.50.
A key part of the launch is simultaneous access to new JioHotstar originals. Shows released in India will also premiere in MENA at the same time, helping overseas audiences stay connected with the latest Indian entertainment. The content will be available with audio options in up to 10 languages, making it accessible to a wide range of viewers.
The catalog will include programming in Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Bangla, and other Indian languages. Popular franchises such as Bigg Boss and Koffee with Karan will be part of the lineup, along with films, scripted series, unscripted shows, and original productions.
JioHotstar is placing special focus on Malayalam content for the MENA market. This is a strategic move, as the region has a large Malayali population, particularly in Gulf countries. By strengthening its Malayalam programming, the platform is aiming to serve a loyal audience that has long shown strong demand for regional Indian entertainment.
JioHotstar was formed after Reliance and Disney combined their Indian media operations in an $8.5 billion joint venture in 2024. The platform brought together JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar, creating one of India’s largest streaming services. Its India launch followed in February 2025, quickly positioning it as a major force in entertainment, sports, and digital video.
Hotstar had already been present in the MENA region before the arrival of JioHotstar. In 2024, Disney Star expanded a regional distribution agreement with evision, the media and entertainment division of e&, making it a home for Hotstar Specials. Evision is also a major shareholder in Starzplay, which now becomes the platform hosting JioHotstar’s dedicated presence in the region.
Starzplay has more than 2.3 million subscribers and has built a strong following among South Asian viewers, helped in part by its cricket coverage. By adding JioHotstar’s Indian entertainment library, the service is strengthening its position as a destination for regional and international content.
Financial terms of the partnership have not been disclosed. Starzplay CEO Maaz Sheikh described the addition of JioHotstar as a strategic investment, reflecting the growing importance of Indian content in the MENA streaming market.
With this expansion, JioHotstar is not only chasing new subscribers but also reinforcing the global appeal of Indian entertainment. For viewers across the Middle East and North Africa, the partnership means easier access to popular Indian shows, regional-language programming, major reality franchises, and fresh originals released alongside India.
