JioCinema

JioCinema is an Indian over-the-top media streaming service owned by Viacom18, which provides livestreaming as well as video on demand (VOD) based on advertisement (AVOD) and subscription (SVOD) models. It was originally launched on 5 September 2016 for users of Reliance's mobile provider, Jio. In April 2023, Viacom18 completed the scheme of a merger involving Reliance Storage, Bodhi Tree Systems, and Paramount Global, and, by August 2023, Voot's programming was merged with JioCinema's content library. JioCinema's content library includes films, television shows, web series, music videos, documentaries, and sports.
History
Jio era
JioCinema was launched on 5 September 2016 with the public launch of Jio along with other apps (JioTV, JioSaavn, JioNews, JioMart, JioMeet, JioChat, and JioTalks) owned by Jio Platforms.
With its launch in 2016, JioCinema provided aggregated content exclusively for Jio users with the JioCinema app. It was available only on the Google Play Store and the iOS App Store. A web version was also launched a year after the official launch. It was later available on the JioPhone.
In August 2019, Xiaomi, TCL, and on November 2019, Intex announced JioCinema app integration for their smart TVs.
Viacom18 era
In April 2022, Viacom18—a joint venture between Paramount Global and Jio's parent company Reliance Industries—announced that Qatar-backed Bodhi Tree Systems (founded by former Disney Asia-Pacific president Uday Shankar and former 21st Century Fox CEO James Murdoch) would make a major investment in the company with a focus on bolstering its streaming businesses. As part of the deal, JioCinema would be brought under Viacom18. In September 2022, the Competition Commission of India approved the transaction, which was completed in April 2023.
In October 2022, ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, it was announced that Viacom18 sports content would move from their existing streaming platform Voot to JioCinema, with all World Cup matches streaming for free. The platform was made available to all users, including non-Jio users. Its coverage faced criticism from viewers on social media for initially having technical issues such as buffering; JioCinema stated that it would work to address these issues.
JioCinema launched a premium tier on 15 May 2023, anchored by a content agreement with Warner Bros. Discovery that saw rights to HBO and Max original productions move to JioCinema from its competitor, Disney+ Hotstar. JioCinema also announced an similar library agreement with NBCUniversal, including Universal Pictures, Universal Television, and Peacock productions.
Voot began to migrate its original productions to JioCinema in June 2023, including new seasons of Asur and Bigg Boss OTT. In August 2023, Voot was discontinued in favor of JioCinema, with JioCinema assuming its with existing Voot Select subscribers being migrated to JioCinema Premium.
Content
Current broadcasting rights
Indian Premier League (through 2027)
India national cricket team (September 2023 to March 2028)
Past broadcasting rights
2022 FIFA World Cup
Current partners
JioCinema's current content partners include the following:
Balaji Telefilms
Eros Now
NBCUniversal
Paramount Global
Shemaroo Entertainment
Warner Bros. Discovery
Past partners
Disney India
History
Since its launch, JioCinema has been a place with aggregated content from partners like ALTBalaji, Paramount Pictures, Zee Entertainment Enterprises, Viacom18, Shemaroo Entertainment, Balaji Motion Pictures, Sun NXT, SonyLIV, and others. The content was exclusively available for Jio subscribers.
In December 2018, JioCinema partnered with Disney India to offer Disney content on the JioCinema app. Disney has withdrawn from this deal after the introduction of Disney+ Hotstar in India.
In December 2019, JioCinema partnered with Sun NXT to host over 4,000 films available on the Sun NXT platform across four Indian languages: Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam. In May 2020, JioCinema partnered with Hoichoi to provide Hindi-dubbed Bengali content.
In May 2022, Paramount Global announced that Paramount+ would launch in India through Viacom18 in 2023.
In October 2022, ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, it was announced that Viacom18 sports content would move from their existing streaming platform Voot to JioCinema, with all World Cup matches streaming for free. The platform was made available to all users, including non-Jio users.
Beginning in 2023, JioCinema will hold the digital rights to the Indian Premier League as part of a multi-year deal through 2027, with all matches streaming for free in 12 languages and telecasts available in 4K. It also acquired the digital rights to the new Women's Premier League. Content from sister streaming service Voot, including TV shows, movies, and limited series, was also being made available on JioCinema.
In April 2023, Jio Studios, part of Reliance Industries Limited, unveiled a slate of 100 new titles that would eventually be available on JioCinema.
In the same month, Warner Bros. Discovery announced an agreement with JioCinema for it to carry HBO and Max original programming, as well as other Warner Bros. Television Studios content. The deal succeeds a previous agreement with Hotstar and Amazon Prime Video, respectively. HBO content would premiere day-and-date with their U.S. broadcast.
In May 2023, JioCinema launched a premium tier for watching HBO, Max, and Warner Bros. programming titles. In the same month, NBCUniversal announced a similar agreement, which will add a Peacock hub to JioCinema Premium featuring first-run and library content from Universal Television, Universal Pictures, Universal Content Productions, and Sky Studios, along with Peacock original programming.
In June 2023, JioCinema acquired the streaming rights to India's 2023 tour of the West Indies and the United States.
In September 2023, Viacom18 acquired the television and digital rights to India national cricket team matches from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in a five-year deal.
List of original titles
List of original films
Interface and features
Sports, Free and Premium content tabs are available as of August 2023.
Livestreaming
Live streaming of Viacom18's News channels is available on JioCinema. Sports-related events with acquired rights are also livestreamed.
Downloads
Device-specific apps also support offline downloading of VOD content titles.
Availability and access
Location
As of July 2023, JioCinema is not available outside India.
Subscription
As of August 2023, a subscription plan called 'JioCinema Premium' is required to access international content under the 'HBO' and 'Peacock' hubs. Some local content titles are available without subscription or registration and are accessible with ads.
As of October 2023, Ad-free access subscription is not available.
Devices and platforms supported
TV sets
Google-certified Android TVs
Samsung Smart TVs (Tizen 2.4 and above)
Media players
Amazon Fire TV devices
Chromecast devices
Smartphones
Android 4.3 and above
iOS 7.0 and above
Tablets
Android 4.3 and above
iOS 7.0 and above
Desktop website browsers
Chrome
Edge
Firefox
Safari
Mobile website browsers
Chrome
Edge
Firefox
Safari
Viewership
As per Statista's Q2 2020 report, JioCinema has a 7% market share among many competitors like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, which have a 20% market share each; Disney+ Hotstar, which has a 17% market share; ZEE5 with a 9% market share; ALTBalaji and SonyLIV, which have 4% market shares each; and other streaming platforms,are which have a 19% market share.
The 2023 Indian Premier League final set a new record for concurrent viewership of a streaming broadcast; JioCinema reported that the match peaked at 32 million concurrent viewers (beating a record set during the 2019 Cricket World Cup by Hotstar) and was seen by over 120 million unique viewers.
See also
List of Netflix India originals
List of Amazon India originals
List of Disney+ Hotstar original programming
List of SonyLIV original programming
List of ZEE5 original programming
Over-the-top media services in India
References
External links
Music streaming services
Reliance Industries subsidiaries
Indian entertainment websites
Internet television streaming services
Subscription video on demand services
Jio
Companies based in Mumbai
Indian companies established in 2016
2016 establishments in Maharashtra
2022 mergers and acquisitions