Disney+ Hotstar - All You Need to Know

Disney+ Hotstar is an over-the-top (OTT) streaming service from Disney in partnership with Novi Digital Entertainment of Star India and operated by Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution, both divisions of The Walt Disney Company. Disney+ Hotstar offers the most popular entertainment channels, especially kids and family channels, sports channels, and movie premieres in HD quality at Rs. 199 per month or Rs.

Who is Disney and what are they doing in India?

Disney and its affiliates are engaged in various businesses worldwide. The Company operates in four business segments: Media Networks, Parks and Resorts, Studio Entertainment, and Consumer Products & Interactive Media. Disney's leading media networks and broadcasting brands include ESPN, a portfolio of domestic television networks (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNEWS), including multiple owned or licensed TV stations; ABC Television Network; Disney Channels Worldwide; Radio Disney Group; and ESPN International.

What does this mean for you?

Disney+ Hotstar is going to be a tough competitor, as it provides all of its content at no additional cost for Star India customers, as long as they remain their subscribers. However, there are some features you may want to consider subscribing for, such as ad-free viewing.

Why pay for a streaming service when there are so many free options?

Many streaming services seem like good options, but after you sign up for one, you end up paying more than expected. But Disney+ and Hotstar are quite different. For starters, they both include online stores with merchandise that can help save you a bunch of money. One of Disney’s biggest strengths is merchandising—so it makes sense that its streaming service would take advantage of that strength by allowing customers to order everything from t-shirts and mugs to toys and tech accessories without leaving their seats.

Is it easy to cancel if I don’t like it?

Disney + Hotstar is a paid subscription service and canceling after your free trial means that you’ll be charged automatically each month. While Disney has efficient support, there are many complaints about having been charged after canceling their subscriptions. If you like what you see in your free trial and decide to keep going, it’s imperative that you don’t forget to cancel before your trial period ends.

How much will it cost?

Disney hasn’t revealed how much Disney+ will cost, but we do know that it will cost less than Netflix. We can also expect it to be on par with Hulu and Amazon Prime Video, which is $5.99/month in India. The price of a subscription will vary depending on what country you live in.

When will it be available?

Disney+ Hotstar is expected to be made available in late 2019. The app will first be released on Apple TV, iPhone and iPad, Google’s Chromecast streaming adapter, Roku players and Roku TVs, and Amazon Fire TV devices.

What will be on the service?

The service will feature original content from Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Marvel Studios, and Lucasfilm. The service will also include 4K HDR versions of all Disney theatrical releases. On-demand content from local providers and other Hollywood studios will be available in some countries.