Star India’s video streaming platform Hotstar has begun its international expansion by entering the US, UK, Canada, South Africa, Germany, Malaysia and Singapore markets among others, reports Television Post. Earlier users outside India who visited Hotstar’s website were redirected to Star TV’s local websites.
However, Hotstar’s app is still not available outside India and is available only on web.
With the global launch, users can watch all of Hotstar’s original content, which includes ‘On Air with AIB’ and ‘Iss Pyar Ko Kya Naam Doon Ek Jashn’. They can also view content for which Hotstar has the digital rights to show in other countries.
Hotstar clarified in multiple tweets that many of its shows would not be available in multiple countries due to “digital rights restrictions”.
@BeingZKhan: hotstar app is available in India only. However you can access it on your mobile browser for similar experience. Enjoy!
— hotstar (@hotstartweets) November 26, 2015
@sweet_heena: Hi! The hotstar app is available only in India but you can access the web/ WAP browser for a similar experience.
— hotstar (@hotstartweets) November 26, 2015
@diwanshruti: Hi! We would like you to enjoy all shows but sadly, a few aren’t available due to digital rights restrictions in Australia.
— hotstar (@hotstartweets) November 26, 2015
Star India debuted its Hotstar service in January this year. In April, the company partnered with technology services giant Accenture to help develop, launch and deliver its on-the-air programming on its video streaming application. The video-on-demand application offered all of Star India’s television and sports offerings along with Bollywood & regional movies from other studios.
Other developments
– Earlier this month, Netflix said it would stream specially edited version of the Bollywood gangster hit Gangs of Wasseypur. Netflix CEO Reed Hastings had said that the company is planning to launch original Bollywood and animation programming aimed at non-US markets.
– Last month, Viacom18 Digital Ventures announced VOOT, a mobile video platform which would go live in the ‘coming months’ to broadcast Viacom18 content, and create original content programming.
– In August, video streaming service HOOQ signed a multi-year deal with Sun TV and added over 1,000 Shemaroo video titles.
– In the same month, Dish TV launched a new video-on-demand (VOD) service called DishFlix which would allow users to watch ad-free movies.
– Spuul started offering content from Multi Screen Media which owns and operates the Sony network of television channels to stream its popular TV shows, as well as more content from UTV.
– In July, Hungama launched HungamaPlay, with a catalog of 6,500 movies.
– In January, Vuclip partnered with Indosat to offer mobile Video-On-Demand services to Indosat’s 54 million plus subscribers.
– Likewise, The Viral Fever Media Labs, which runs the YouTube channels TVF-Qtiyapa& TVF-RecycleBin, launched a movie streaming service called TVF Inbox Office.
