JioCinema and Voot have been rumoured to merge to create a single unified streaming platform. The merger is reportedly reaching completion, and it’s expected to be announced soon after IPL 2023 ends which is on May 28th. In the meanwhile, JioCinema has already launched its premium subscription plan, and introduced HBO shows on the platform.
JioCinema x Voot
The merger finalisation between JioCinema and Voot was reported by Mint citing sources close to the matter.
“The back-end has already been unified and currently it is pushing content to two separate platforms. It’s only a matter of time before Voot folds up,” Mint quoted one of the sources as saying.
This report goes in line with previous speculation that the JioCinema-Voot merger will be announced by the end of IPL 2023 which is currently streaming for free on JioCinema. It was also reported that the unified platform will be called JioVoot but there’s no confirmation on this. But it looks like once the merger is finalised, Voot will phase out for JioCinema to become the unified streaming platform. For those unaware, Voot is a Viacom18 product which is under Network 18 that is a Reliance Industries subsidiary.
The merger will also bring Voot’s vast TV programming and Bollywood content. JioCinema has already signed an exclusive deal with Warner Bros. Discovery Inc that brings all the popular HBO shows such as Game of Thrones, The Last of Us and Succession to JioCinema. These shows were removed from Disney+ Hotstar earlier this year. Jio also bagged streaming rights for IPL for five years, making it another popular destination for Indians.
JioCinema Premium
JioCinema has so far been free for Jio users but with premium content on the platform, Reliance has started charging users. It has already launched the JioCinema Premium subscription plan price at Rs 999 annually that brings Hollywood content to the platform. There are more sachet-style packs planned for JioCinema’s subscriptions, the report added.
