After the news broke that HBO would be removing all its content from Disnet+Hotstar, most folks were left wondering how they’d get their weekly fix of shows like Succession and such. Well, wonder no longer as Warner Bros and HBO content will be exclusively available on Jio Cinema. A report from Retures states that Warner Bros and HBO have signed a deal with the broadcast arm of Reliance, Viacom18. Could this mean that all the Harry Potter films will be moved from Prime Video to Jio Cinema? Only time will tell.
The report also goes on to state that shares of both Network18 Media and Investments as well as Reliance Industries rose by about 13.5%. We all assume that the same deal applies here, as shows will premier at the same time in India as it does in the US. We could also get access to HBO’s worldwide content such as the acclaimed Spanish horror show 30 Coins. In a statement to the media, the companies stated, “HBO Original, Max Original and Warner Bros. Television series are set to premiere on JioCinema on the same day as the U.S.”.
It looks like Warner Bros and HBO are looking to gain a stronger foothold in the South Asian market and strengthen their regional content as well. What this merger hold for India will only be felt a few months after the service hits India. Reliance is looking at competing with powerhouses such as Netflix and Prime Video for streaming supremacy. Jio Cinema already has a heads-up over the competition since it acquired the rights to the IPL from 2023 to 2027. It also remains to be seen as to how much Reliance will price Jio Cinema now.
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