Key Highlights
- JioCinema, to charge for content, including IPL matches, from next year.
- JioCinema adding 100+ films/TV series to attract viewers with diverse content options.
- JioCinema to release original movies produced by Jio Studios, like Shah Rukh Khan’s Dunki and Amitabh Bachchan’s Section 84.
Reliance Industries, one of India’s largest conglomerates, is set to launch a paid subscription service for its streaming platform JioCinema. The move comes as the company seeks to expand its offerings, adding more than 100 films and TV series to its platform.
The expansion will coincide with JioCinema starting to charge for content, though the exact pricing strategy is still being finalized, according to media and content business President Jyoti Deshpande.
Also Read: How To Create And Manage Multiple Netflix Profiles: Step-By-Step Guide
Paid Subscriptions for IPL Starting Next Year
JioCinema’s expansion plans coincide with the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket tournament, which has been a key driver of the platform’s popularity. Last year, Viacom18 Media, a joint venture between Paramount Global and Reliance Industries, outbid Disney and Sony Group to clinch the digital rights to the IPL, one of the world’s fastest-growing sports events.
However, starting next year, viewers will have to pay for the IPL matches they watch on JioCinema, as the platform moves to a paid subscription model.
Also Read: Want To Install Jio TV On Your Smartphone? Here’s The Step-By-Step Guide
Localized Content as a Key Strategy
With the expanding internet connectivity, the potential audience in India is growing exponentially, especially among the middle-class population. JioCinema drew more than 1.47 billion video views during the opening weekend of the IPL in April and had 22 million viewers for a match on Wednesday.
However, the market for streaming services in India has been hard to crack for global giants like Netflix, who have had to cut their fees to attract price-conscious users. Additionally, Indian viewers can be picky in what they watch online, with a robust local cinema-going culture.
To compete in this market, JioCinema is focusing on offering localized content, which Deshpande stated is currently dominated by Westernized content. Jio Studios wants to become a catalyst for the cross-pollination of talent, and its goal is to get as Indian as it can. The platform’s new offerings will include films and series in Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, and Gujarati, covering genres from thrillers and romance to biopics. Jio Studios will also release new and original movies produced by Jio Studios like Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan’s Dunki and Amitabh Bachchan’s Section 84. Jio Studios has recently announced a multi-year, multi-film collaboration with SVF Entertainment for the Bengali market.
