JioCinema
JioCinema is an Indian over-the-top media streaming service owned by Viacom18, a joint venture of Reliance Industries and Paramount Global. It offers free advertising- and subscription-based video on demand and live streaming content.
Screenshot Website screenshot | |
| Type of business | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
Type of site | |
| Available in | |
| Predecessor(s) | Voot |
| Headquarters | Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Area served | India |
| Owner | Viacom18 |
| Key people | |
| Industry | |
| Products | |
| Services | |
| URL | www |
| Commercial | Yes |
| Registration | Optional |
| Launched | 4 May 2016 |
| Current status | Active |
The service was initially launched on 4 May 2016 alongside the public launch of the Jio mobile carrier. In April 2022, the service was brought under Reliance's Viacom18 joint venture, backed by new funding from Uday Shankar and James Murdoch's Bodhi Tree Systems. JioCinema began to subsume Viacom18's existing streaming platform Voot later that year, beginning with sports programming in October, and Voot being officially discontinued in favour of JioCinema in August 2023.
History edit
Launch edit
JioCinema was launched on 5 September 2016 by Jio Platforms as part of a suite of apps and services exclusive to Jio mobile subscribers, with JioCinema app for Android and iOS. In December 2017, JioCinema added a web-based version for PCs.[1][2] A JioCinema app was also released for Jio's KaiOS-based Jio Phone.[3]
In 2019, Intex,[4] TCL,[5][6] and Xiaomi[7][8] announced that they would include JioCinema apps with their smart TVs.
Viacom18 era edit
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.[9] In September 2022, the Competition Commission of India approved the transaction, which was completed in April 2023.[10][11][9]
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.[12][13] 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.[14]
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.[15] JioCinema also announced a similar library agreement with NBCUniversal, including Universal Pictures, Universal Television, and Peacock productions.[16]
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, with JioCinema assuming its content library, and existing Voot Select subscribers being migrated to JioCinema Premium.[17][18]
Content edit
Sports broadcasting rights edit
- Indian Premier League (2023-2027)
- India national cricket team and BCCI media rights (September 2023 to March 2028)[19]
Current partners edit
- Balaji Telefilms[20]
- Eros Now
- Muse Communication
- NBCUniversal
- Paramount Global
- Shemaroo Entertainment
- Warner Bros. Discovery (HBO & Max)
History edit
In December 2018, JioCinema partnered with Disney India[21][22][23] 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[24][25][26][27] across four Indian languages: Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam. In May 2020, JioCinema partnered with Hoichoi to provide Hindi-dubbed Bengali content.[28]
In May 2022, Paramount Global announced that Paramount+ would launch in India through Viacom18 in 2023, however Paramount never launched its streaming platform in India and instead brought their content to JioCinema Premium.
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.[12][13] 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.[29][30][31] It also acquired the digital rights to the new Women's Premier League.[32] 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 unveiled a slate of 100 new titles that would eventually be available on JioCinema.[33] 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.[34][35] HBO content would premiere day-and-date with their U.S. broadcast.[15] HBO and Warner Bros. content would launch in May 2023 as part of the new JioCinema Premium tier.
In May 2023, 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.[16]
In June 2023, JioCinema acquired the streaming rights to India's 2023 tour of the West Indies and the United States.[36]
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 valued at ₹5,963 crore (US$750 million), a 13% increase over its previous contract with Disney.[37]
In November 2023, Viacom18 secured a deal to bring Pokémon shows and movies to JioCinema.[38]
Original programming edit
List of original shows edit
| Title | Premiere date | Original language(s) | Genre(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inside Story: A Season With Rajasthan Royals[39][40] | 2020 | English | Television documentary |
| Inspector Avinash | 18 May 2023 | Hindi | Crime drama |
| Crackdown | 30 May 2023 | Spy thriller | |
| Asur | 1 June 2023 | Crime thriller | |
| UP65 | 8 June 2023 | Comedy | |
| Rafuchakkar | 15 June 2023 | Heist Comedy | |
| Bigg Boss OTT 2 | 17 June 2023 | Reality television | |
| Ishq Next Door | 3 July 2023 | Romantic comedy | |
| The Magic of Shiri[41] | 13 July 2023 | Drama | |
| Do Gubbare[42] | 20 July 2023 | Drama Comedy | |
| Kaalkoot[43] | 27 July 2023 | Crime Drama | |
| Taali[44] | 15 August 2023 | Biography | |
| Lakhan Leela Bhargava ( LLB )[45] | 21 August 2023 | Legal drama Comedy | |
| Bajao[46] | 25 August 2023 | Musical Drama | |
| Temptation Island India: Pyaar Ki Pariksha[47] | 3 November 2023 | Dating Reality | |
| Good Old Days | 23 November 2023 | Telugu | Romantic Drama |
| Jab Mile Tu | 22 January 2024 | Hindi | Romantic Drama |
| Ranneeti: Balakot & Beyond[48] | 25 April 2024 | Hindi | Action Drama |
| Murder In Mahim[49] | 10 May 2024 | Hindi | Crime drama |
List of original films edit
| Title | Premiere date | Original language(s) | Genre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mimi | 26 July 2021[50] | Hindi | Comedy-drama |
| Dasvi | 7 April 2022[51] | Social-comedy | |
| Kacchey Limbu | 19 May 2023[52] | Sports drama | |
| Boo | 27 May 2023[53] | Telugu Tamil | Horror |
| Mumbaikar | 2 June 2023[54] | Hindi | Crime thriller |
| Bloody Daddy | 9 June 2023[55] | Hindi | Action-thriller |
| Gulaam Chor | 11 June 2023 | Gujarati | Mystery thriller |
| I Love You | 16 June 2023[56] | Hindi | Romantic thriller |
| Aseq | 23 June 2023[57] | Horror thriller | |
| Sergeant | 30 June 2023[58] | Thriller | |
| Blind | 7 July 2023 | Thriller | |
| Unaad | 8 July 2023 | Marathi | Drama |
| Ishq-e-Nadaan | 14 July 2023 | Hindi | Romantic Drama |
| Trial Period | 21 July 2023 | Hindi | Comedy |
| Bachubhai | 21 July 2023 | Gujarati | Comedy |
| One Friday Night | 28 July 2023 | Hindi | Mystery thriller |
List of short films edit
| Title | Premiere date | Original language(s) | Genre |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Comedian | 29 September 2023[59] | Hindi | Comedy-drama |
| Birha : The Journey Back Home | 30 September 2023[60] | Punjabi | Drama |
| Bebaak | 1 October 2023[61] | Hindi | |
| Rat in the Kitchen | 2 October 2023 | Neo-noir thriller | |
| Mein Mehmood | 3 October 2023 | Drama | |
| Gangster Ganga | 4 October 2023 | ||
| Munna Ka Bachpan | 5 October 2023 | ||
| Ghuspaith | 6 October 2023 | ||
| The Daughter | 7 October 2023 | ||
| Laar | 8 October 2023 | ||
| Kofuku | 9 October 2023 | ||
| Armaand | 10 October 2023[62] | ||
| Coming Out With The Help Of A Time Machine | 11 October 2023 | ||
| The Last Envelope | 12 October 2023 | ||
| Murakh: The Idiot | 13 October 2023 | ||
| Maachis Ki Dibiya | 14 October 2023 | ||
| Ring Mili Kya | 15 October 2023 | Comedy | |
| Dammy | 16 October 2023 | Drama | |
| Before We Die | 17 October 2023 | ||
| Phone Call | 18 October 2023 |
Interface and features edit
Sports, Free and Premium content tabs are available as of November 2023.
Livestreaming edit
Live streaming of Viacom18's news channels is available on JioCinema. Sports-related events with acquired rights are also livestreamed.
GEC's like Colors TV etc are also available for streaming on JioCinema Premium.
Downloads edit
Device-specific apps also support offline downloading of VOD content titles.
Availability and access edit
Location edit
As of July 2023, JioCinema is not available outside India.
Subscription edit
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 April 2024, JioCinema has re-launched 'JioCinema Premium' subscrption, with pricing starting at Rs. 29 per month.[63] This service offers ad-free streaming, support for up to 4K video quality, and offline viewing capabilities. Additionally, a family plan available at Rs. 89 per month allows simultaneous access on four screens.[64][65]
Devices and platforms supported edit
- TV sets
- Google-certified Android TVs
- Samsung smart TVs
- Media players
- Amazon Fire TV devices
- Apple TV devices
- Chromecast devices
- Smartphones and tablets
- Desktop and mobile website browsers
Viewership edit
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 a 4% market share each; and other streaming platforms, which have a 19% market share.[66]
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.[67][68]
See also edit
References edit
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- ^ "After JioCinema, Reliance Jio Silently Introduces Web Version of JioTV for Millions of Live TV Viewers". Telecom Talk. from the original on 11 June 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
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- ^ "TCL TVs To Get JioCinema App: All You Need To Know". Gizbot. from the original on 16 June 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
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- ^ a b "Bodhi Tree-Viacom18 deal: Why the new deal points towards Reliance's aggressive push in broadcasting business". Business Today. 17 April 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
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- ^ Ramachandran, Naman (27 April 2022). "James Murdoch's Bodhi Tree, Reliance, Viacom18 Strike $2 Billion Deal to Create Giant Indian TV and Streaming Company". Variety. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
- ^ a b Laghate, Gaurav (6 October 2022). "Viacom18 to shift sports content to JioCinema". The Economic Times. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
- ^ a b "JioCinema to live stream the FIFA World Cup". Campaign India. from the original on 12 March 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
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- ^ a b Ramachandran, Naman; Frater, Patrick (15 May 2023). "India's JioCinema Premium Launches $12 Annual Plan for Warner Bros. Discovery Content". Variety. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
- ^ a b Shackleton, Liz (29 May 2023). "NBCUniversal Content Set To Stream On Viacom18's JioCinema In India". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
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- ^ "RIL buys 25% stake in Balaji Telefilms for Rs413 crore". 21 July 2017.
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- ^ "JioCinema, Sun NXT partner to bring south Indian movies to subscribers". Mathrbhumi. from the original on 11 June 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
- ^ "JioCinema, Sun NXT Partner to Offer South Indian Movies to Jio Subscribers". NDTV. from the original on 4 December 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
- ^ "JioCinema partners with Sun NXT to offer south Indian movies to users". The New Indian Express. from the original on 4 December 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
- ^ "Hoichoi content now available on Jio Cinema". Only Tech. 25 May 2020. from the original on 2 July 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
- ^ Kar, Ayushi (2 February 2023). "We want to eliminate all barriers for IPL consumption: Viacom18 Sports CEO". www.thehindubusinessline.com. from the original on 10 February 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
- ^ Jha, Lata (3 February 2023). "Viacom18's free IPL streaming queers pitch for rivals". mint. from the original on 10 February 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
- ^ "IPL 2023 to stream in 4K resolution for free with JioCinema: Here's everything you need to know". The Economic Times. 22 February 2023. ISSN 0013-0389. from the original on 11 March 2023. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
- ^ Ramachandran, Naman (16 January 2023). "Viacom18 Wins Rights for Women's Indian Premier League Cricket for $116 Million". Variety. from the original on 12 March 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
- ^ Frater, Patrick (13 April 2023). "India's Jio Studios Unveils Content Slate of 100-Titles". Variety. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
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- ^ Ramachandran, Naman; Frater, Patrick (27 April 2023). "Viacom18-JioCinema Secures HBO, Max Original and Warner Bros. Content for India". Variety. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
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- ^ "BCCI's bilateral rights value grows at a modest 13 percent, Viacom 18 winners". Hindustan Times. 31 August 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
- ^ Bureau, BL Mumbai (16 November 2023). "Viacom18 to stream Pokemon shows, movies on JioCinema". BusinessLine. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
- ^ "Jio Cinema releases 'Inside Story: A season with Rajasthan Royals' showcasing their 2019 IPL campaign". technosports. 1 August 2020. from the original on 3 August 2020. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
- ^ "Rajasthan Royals Documentary". from the original on 27 September 2020. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
- ^ "Divyanka Tripathi, Jaaved Jaaferi to star in 'The Magic of Shiri'". The Print. 3 July 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
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- ^ "Mimi: Kriti Sanon's film releases four days early after online leak". Hindustan Times. 26 July 2021. from the original on 26 July 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
- ^ "EXCLUSIVE: Abhishek Bachchan-starrer Dasvi to skip theatrical release; to release on Jio Cinema and Netflix on April 7". Bollywood Hungama. 14 March 2022. from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
- ^ "Kacchey Limbu Movie Review: Radhika Madan, Rajat Barmecha, Ayush Mehra's film on gully cricket thoda kaccha reh gaya". India Today. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
- ^ "Director Vijay's horror thriller 'Boo' to premiere directly on OTT". The Times of India. 26 May 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
- ^ "Vikrant Massey and Vijay Sethupathi's thriller drama 'Mumbaikar' to release on this date". The Times of India. 25 May 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
- ^ PTI (25 May 2023). "Shahid Kapoor Says His Action Entertainer Bloody Daddy 'Is A Big Screen Experience On OTT'". ABP Live. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
- ^ "'I Love You' movie review: Rakul Preet Singh is trapped in an inane thriller". The Hindu. 18 June 2023. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
- ^ "Aseq Trailer: Sonnalli Seygall And Vardhan Puri Starrer Aseq Official Trailer". The Times of India. 21 June 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
- ^ "Jio Cinema Announces Randeep Hooda's 'Sergeant' Release Date". Binged. 21 June 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
- ^ "Satish Kaushik's last film 'The Comedian' to premiere on JioCinema Film Fest". India Todoy. 26 September 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
- ^ "Birha (The Journey Back Home) (2022) Hindi Movie". JioCinema. 26 September 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
- ^ "JioCinema Film Fest: An Opportunity To Enjoy Cinematic Gems At Home". Social Nation. 6 October 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
- ^ "JioCinema Film Fest to commence on September 29, featuring 20 premieres across 20 days". Media Brief. 22 September 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
- ^ "Reliance Jio takes on Netflix and Amazon Prime with JioCinema Premium plan starting at Rs 29: Benefits and other details". The Times of India. 25 April 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
- ^ "JioCinema Premium subscription plans announced, price starts at Rs 29". India Today. 25 April 2024. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
- ^ Jha, Lata (25 April 2024). "JioCinema announces new ad-free premium plan for ₹29 a month". mint. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
- ^ "International Brands Rise to the Top of Indian Streaming Market". Statista. 23 September 2020. from the original on 29 September 2020. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
- ^ Singh, Manish (29 May 2023). "Reliance's JioCinema breaks world record with free cricket streaming". TechCrunch. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
- ^ "Hotstar sets global streaming record during India-New Zealand semi-final". SportsPro Media. 17 July 2019. from the original on 18 July 2019. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
External links edit
- Official website