Disney+Hotstar rejigs pricing strategy, will offer entire content library to all paid subscribers

Taking a leaf out of its biggest global competitor Netflix’ book, Disney+Hotstar, the video streaming service from Star & Disney India, has reworked its pricing strategy in the country with the introduction of three new subscription plans which will allow all the paying users access to its entire library, starting September 1st.

As of now, Disney+Hotstar used to offer two annual plans – VIP at Rs 399 and Premium at Rs 1,499. While the VIP users had access to all Indian originals and live sports, only Premium users could watch the English films and shows.


The new plans are screen-access based, but at a much cheaper cost than those of Netflix.

The mobile plan will be available for Rs 499 per year, where users can access content on a single device. Super plan, at Rs 899 will give access to two devices and high-definition (HD) quality, while the Premium plan at Rs 1499, will give users simultaneous access on four devices and content in ultra-high definition (UHD or 4K) format.

“Our mission is to provide top quality entertainment to as many people as possible. So we have been dubbing all the specials across multiple regional languages,” Sunil Rayan, President and Head, Disney+ Hotstar. “Now, we have rejigged our subscription tiers, allowing access of all content to every subscriber. This is part of the learning… We have realised that people want access to English content. For example, Marvel content has really taken off. That’s what has helped us in shifting these tiers.”

Netflix, in comparison, has only monthly plans – Mobile (Rs 199), Basic (Rs 499 (standard definition, one screen), Standard (Rs 649, HD and two simultaneous devices) and premium (Rs 799, ultra HD, four simultaneous devices).

Rayan added that the OTT service will continue to have the advertising-led freemium service, where users can access catch up TV and first episodes of India originals.

“There are 550 million smartphone devices and we would love to get to every single person as much as possible and across free and paid, I think we can get there,” Rayan said. “We feel very confident with the user trends shaping up so far. More users are spending more time watching content on our service and we hope that continues to grow.”

Disney+Hotstar also unveiled its new content line up, which will include new and returning seasons of Hotstar Specials, direct-to-digital movies and live sports.

“Star has been known for its great storytelling and bringing the biggest names of the industry. We were the first one who brought Amitabh Bachchan on TV in KBC, and also brought international formats like ‘Prisoners of War’. Even on Disney+Hotstar, we are doing the same,” said Gaurav Banerjee, President and Head, Hindi and English Entertainment, Star India.

The platform has also signed stars including Ajay Devgn, Sushmita Sen, Saif Ali Khan, Kunal Kapoor, Pratik Gandhi, Kirti Kulhari, Shabana Azmi, Shefali Shah, Richa Chadha, Sathyaraj, Sarath Kumar, Siddharth as well as award-winning directors and showrunners including Nikkhil Advani, Neeraj Pandey, Ram Madhvani, Vipul Shah, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Habib Faisal, Nagesh Kukonoor, Rajesh Mapuskar, Siddharth Kumar Tewary, Mitakshara Kumar and Vikrant Pawar for the new slate.

“We are creating big-scale entertainment properties for the masses. Unlike other platforms, who are targeting just the top socio-economic class (SEC A) audience in the big cities, we will target all of India,” Banerjee added. “We will also create content in multiple languages including Hindi, Tamil and Telugu to start with.”

The new line-up includes big-budget period-action drama ‘The Empire’ helmed by Nikkhil Advani and starring Kunal Kapoor, Dino Morea and Shabana Azmi, and crime-drama series ‘Rudra – The Edge of Darkness’, which marks the digital debut of Ajay Devgn, and Esha Deol.

The OTT service will also premier ‘Bhuj: The Pride of India’ and horror-comedy ‘Bhoot Police’ later this year.

Other shows include second season of ‘Aarya’ featuring Sushmita Sen, ‘Fear’ - a supernatural thriller starring Tisca Chopra, and medical drama ‘Human’ starring Shefali Shah and Kirti Kulhari.

Following the success of espionage thriller ‘Special Ops’, the OTT service will also launch ‘Special Ops Universe’ where multiple characters, stories and seasons will co-exist within a universe in a multi-series format.

‘Scam 1992’ fame Pratik Gandhi will feature in murder mystery ‘Six Suspects’ along with Richa Chadha. Other shows include tech-thriller ‘Escaype Live’, political dramas ‘City of Dreams’ (Season 2) and ‘Gharshana’, bestselling novel adaptation ‘Those Pricey Thakur Girls’, dance reality series ‘Dance+’, and third season of popular franchise ‘Criminal Justice’ starring Pankaj Tripathi.