- Disney+ is all set to launch in India on 3rd April with Disney owned Hotstar and it will make it the second most expensive OTT platform after Netflix.
Walt Disney is all set to launch its Disney+ streaming service in India starting April 3 amid the coronavirus crisis. It will be a part of the most popular OTT platform in the world, Hotstar, which has more than 300 million active monthly users.
Disney+ and Hotstar are now a part of Walt Disney, the same parent company. And they make use of the power of their network.
But for many of its subscribers, this new addition to Hotstar won’t be fast. Hotstar will increase its monthly subscription price to $1,499 ($20) as it provides a new collection of the entire Disney library. That will make Disney+Hotstar, after Netflix, the second most expensive OTT service in India.
“As we unleash Disney+ Hotstar today, we are taking yet another important step in our dedication to delivering high-quality, impactful stories for India that have not only entertained but also made a difference in people’s lives, a pledge that is even more meaningful in difficult times like this, Uday Shankar-President, The Walt Disney Company APAC and Chairman, Star & Disney.
Disney+Hotstar subscription fee
| Old Plan | New Plan | Old subscription fee | New subscription fee |
| Hotstar VIP | Disney+Hotstar VIP | ₹365 a year | ₹399 a year |
| Hotstar Premium | Disney+Hotstar Premium | ₹999 a year | ₹1499 a year |
While Netflix charges ₹5,988 per annum for its basic plan, Amazon charges ₹999 yearly for its prime membership and comes jumbled with access to its music streaming and other shopping deals.
Premium plans of OTT platforms in India
| OTT Platform | Premium Plan |
| Disney+Hotstar | ₹1499 a year |
| Amazon Prime Video | ₹999 a year |
| Netflix | ₹9588 a year |
All existing Hotstar customers will be migrated to their respective new subscription plans automatically and will be paid the new rates upon renewal.
The OTT services also promise to allow users to access their free library of content which includes several movies such as Chhichhore, Mission Mangal, and soap operas such as Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai. The free content library won’t have any originals or shows from Disney+, however.
Disney+ was expected to launch earlier on 29 March. Disney has also rolled out a trial feature for choosing users to check the streaming service. Yet they postponed the launch after health authorities found coronavirus clusters in several parts of the world and terminated the IPL.
As people spend more time in solitary confinement, the use of OTT and others has increased and is projected to rise further. “We hope the power of the storytelling of Disney, delivered through the technology of Hotstar, will help our viewers find moments of comfort, joy, and inspiration in these challenging times,” Shakar added.
