Jio Star: Will the New Platform Outshine Netflix and Amazon Prime?

With the merger of Walt Disney's Disney Star and Reliance Industries' Viacom 18 to form a joint venture called JioStar.com, the Indian digital streaming market is poised for a revolution. The eagerly anticipated revelation is anticipated on or before 18 November, and a website and Wikipedia page by the same name have gone live.

On 14 November 2024, JioStar.com will formally launch, combining the content libraries of JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar. Using the advantages of both platforms, this calculated action seeks to provide users with a wide range of information. JioStar will offer material from both services under their subdomains when it launches, giving viewers access to a sizable library that contains well-known series and films from both platforms. This connection is anticipated to provide a more complete viewing experience by fusing JioCinema's local content with Disney's global hits. The new platform will host over 125,000 hours of entertainment, sports, and Hollywood content. Key assets include cricket rights for the Indian Premier League (IPL) and popular series like Game of Thrones and The Bear. The merger aims to enhance the overall content variety available to subscribers.

Disney-Reliance merger into JioStar.com: Valued at approximately Rs.70,000 crore

The merger will combine RIL's Viacom18 with Disney's Star India, creating a media powerhouse valued at approximately Rs.70,000 crore (around $8.5 billion). This new entity will control over 100 television channels and two major streaming platforms: Disney+ Hotstar and JioCinema. The merger has received necessary approvals from the Competition Commission of India (CCI) and the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). The CCI approved the merger with certain modifications, while the NCLT sanctioned the scheme on 30 August 2024. Reliance will hold a controlling stake of approximately 63.16% post-merger, while Disney will retain about 36.84% in the combined entity. Nita Ambani is set to chair this joint venture, with Uday Shankar as vice-chairperson. Reliance has committed to investing around Rs.11,500 crore into this joint venture to bolster its competitive position against rivals like Sony and Netflix.

The JioStar.com launch

The official website, JioStar.com, went live on 13 November 2024. It shows a "coming soon" notice, signifying that features and content are being developed for a later release. Disney+ Hotstar and JioCinema content are anticipated to be combined on the platform; however, sports material, especially that related to the Indian Premier League (IPL), is probably going to stay exclusive to Disney+ Hotstar.

When JioStar.com launches, will any TV or OTT channels shut down?

Probably. Viacom18 and Star Network offer TV channels and over-the-top (OTT) programming that appeal to the same audience, language, or genre. Seven television stations, including Star Jalsha Movies, Star Jalsha Movies HD, Colors Marathi, Colors Marathi HD, Colors Super, Hungama, and Super Hungama, were proposed to be divested in a 48-page comprehensive order from the Competition Commission of India (CCI). The forthcoming project will wait for a viewership trial for the next few months before deciding what to keep airing and remove off-air. In contrast, the present merger will include all of the content from JioCinema and JioHotstar in one location.

Is JioStar.com going to offer Disney-exclusive content?

Don't fear; you'll be able to witness the finest of both worlds in one location as the new platform will become a one-stop shop for some essential international content. Get ready to enjoy JioCinema's HBO and Paramount material in a single scroll and Disney+ Hotstar premium favourites like Grey's Anatomy and Modern Family. Who doesn't enjoy having a single subscription for all of their favourite shows?

Who is leaving the company and will be in charge of the Disney-Reliance merger?

The leading executives in Viacom18 and Disney+ Hotstar have undergone a significant reorganisation. Top executives like Ferzad Palia, Gurjeev Singh Kapoor, Sajith Sivanandan, Mihir Rale, and K Madhavan have left ahead of the merger. As co-CEOs, Kevin Vaz and Kiran Mani will probably lead JioStar. They are both the CEOs of Viacom18's digital and broadcast clusters, respectively. According to several sources, Anil Lale, the general counsel at Viacom18, will serve as the general counsel for the combined company. At the same time, Piyush Goyal, the chief operating officer at IndiaCast Media, will assume the role of distribution head.

Will JioStar.com be a threat to Netflix and Prime Video?

Obviously! The Indian content space so far had two of the most prominent players, Amazon Prime Video and Netflix, running neck-to-neck under all categories, with other streaming platforms just struggling to be at par with them. With the launch of JioStar.com, the streaming industry will surely shake up, and the competition to be home to some quality content will get more challenging every day for all three.

JioStar.com: Next Steps in the Merger Process

Reliance is in the process of obtaining any remaining approvals necessary to complete the transaction. Integrating two large organisations with distinct corporate cultures will be a priority as they work towards effectively merging operations. A key focus will be on improving user experience across both platforms. JioCinema aims to enhance its technology stack to address past criticisms regarding performance during live events. Reliance plans to be cautious with content spending while leveraging existing assets from both platforms to create a diverse content library that appeals to a broad audience.