Succession and The Last Of Us are all leaving Hotstar in India. Now what?
Having operated in collaboration with Disney+ Hotstar for over six years, HBO is planning on leaving its Indian operators. Abandon all hope, binge-watchers.
Trying to expand its reach to audiences around the world, the American cable and satellite television network entered into a partnership with the erstwhile Hotstar in 2016. This was a strategic move to tap into the rapidly growing streaming industry in India and increase their market share in the country.
A profitable enterprise
The partnership allowed HBO to feature their content on Hotstar, which has since boasted an extensive collection of TV shows, movies, and other original content. By adding HBO’s premium programming to this vast library, the platform catered to a wider range of audiences, from avid followers of popular HBO shows like Game of Thrones and Westworld to more casual viewers who were simply looking for fresh and engaging content.
For HBO, this collaboration helped them tap into the massive Indian market more effectively as Hotstar had a wide reach in the country. They leveraged Hotstar's existing network and marketing capabilities to build their brand and expand their subscriber base.
At the same time, Hotstar benefited from this partnership with the ability to offer premium content to their subscribers at a lower cost. As HBO brought in their popular shows and movies to the platform, it helped Hotstar to enhance their content portfolio, keeping them ahead of competitors in the Indian streaming market.
The partnership was a strategic move for both companies to tap into the rapidly growing streaming industry in the country. As the streaming industry continues to evolve in India, collaborations like this are expected to drive innovation, growth and change the way people consume content in the country.
End of an era
According to a report by Deadline, HBO content is likely to move from Disney+ Hotstar very soon. The decision comes in keeping with Disney CEO Bob Iger’s announcement for cost-cutting and restructuring the company.
Like 70% of shows I watch on Hotstar are HBO. Wtf.
— Desi Screenwriter (@ScriptCharcha) February 11, 2023
If HBO were to stop streaming its content on Disney+ Hotstar, it would have a significant impact on both companies. For HBO, it could potentially result in a loss of viewership and revenue, especially as the Indian market is a significant growth opportunity for them. It would also mean that they would have to find alternative ways to reach their audience in India and build their brand recognition, which could be challenging.
Time to leave Hotstar now 😔 https://t.co/HUcX9xD6g9 pic.twitter.com/M9I0qX9rxn
— Vijay (@Vijay_aamir) February 11, 2023
On the other hand, Disney+ Hotstar would also face significant consequences. It would lose a valuable content partner and could potentially lead to a loss of subscribers. HBO's premium programming is a significant draw for many viewers, and without it, Disney+ Hotstar's content portfolio would be weaker. As a result, they would need to find new ways to attract and retain their customers, which could be challenging given the intense competition in the Indian streaming market.
I literally have hotstar for HBO ffs https://t.co/PXGYN8LKZv
— Pedrismo_ (@Pedriprop1_) February 11, 2023
Furthermore, this scenario could also have broader implications for the streaming industry in India. It would indicate that even with strategic partnerships, companies cannot always guarantee a long-term partnership.
Alternatives
If HBO leaves, it is likely that they would look for alternative streaming services in India to continue reaching the country's growing streaming audience. The Indian streaming market is quite competitive, with several platforms vying for the attention of viewers, and each platform offers its unique value proposition. Therefore, HBO could potentially partner with one of these other services to offer their premium content to Indian viewers.
One potential streaming service HBO could turn towards is Amazon Prime Video. Amazon has a growing presence in the Indian market and offers a range of popular content, including its original series and movies. Moreover, Amazon's video streaming service is included as a part of its Prime membership, making it an attractive option for customers.
It is also possible that HBO could consider launching its own streaming service, HBO Max, in India, as it has done in the United States and other parts of the world. With HBO Max, HBO could have more control over its content and pricing, and potentially offer Indian viewers a more curated selection of programming tailored to their preferences.
Ultimately, it is challenging to predict which streaming service HBO would partner with in India if they were to leave Disney+ Hotstar. However, given the current state of the Indian streaming market, there are several potential partners for them to consider, should they not consider going solo.
In the meantime, to add fuel to the fire, here are some of the HBO series that are going off the radar if/when HBO leaves Hotstar:
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Chernobyl
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Game of Thrones
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House of the Dragon
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Watchmen
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Succession
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The Leftovers
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Big Little Lies
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True Detective
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Barry
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The Night Of
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I May Destroy You
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Euphoria
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Veep
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The Wire
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The Sopranos
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Silicon Valley
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Entourage
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Mare of Easttown
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The White Lotus
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The Last Of Us