HBO MAX ARRIVES IN INDIA VIA JIOHOTSTAR

INDUSTRY DESK■ 1 MIN READ

THU, APR 16, 2026

■ AI-SUMMARIZED FROM 1 SOURCE ▸ TIMELINE

HBO Max will launch in India as an add-on to JioHotstar subscriptions, priced at ₹49 ($0.50) monthly. The service brings HBO, Max Originals, Warner Bros. content, and DC Studios programming to Indian viewers.

HBO Max is expanding into India through an exclusive partnership with JioHotstar, the streaming platform operated by Reliance Industries. Existing JioHotstar subscribers can access HBO Max content for an additional ₹49 per month—approximately $0.50 USD. The add-on tier will include programming from HBO, Max Originals, Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros. Television, and DC Studios. This pricing structure allows JioHotstar to offer premium content without requiring a standalone subscription. The move marks HBO Max's entry into India's competitive streaming market, where it competes against Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ Hotstar, and other regional players. JioHotstar, backed by India's largest telecom operator, has established a significant subscriber base through bundled offerings and aggressive pricing. Warner Bros. Discovery has been working to expand HBO Max's international footprint following its merger. The India partnership leverages JioHotstar's infrastructure and existing user base rather than launching independently.

■ SOURCES

► TechCrunch

■ SUMMARY WRITTEN BY AI FROM THE LINKS ABOVE

■ MORE FROM THE BUSINESS DESK

P674CHILE'S DATACENTRE BOOM DRAINS WETLANDS

Chile is positioning itself as Latin America's tech hub, but rapid datacentre expansion is accelerating the country's drought crisis and threatening vital wetlands like Quilicura, which has dried significantly in recent years.

1H AGO— Industry Desk

P646NEWSOM PROPOSES AI EQUITY STAKES FOR AMERICANS

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is blending tech-friendly policies with economic populism by proposing that Americans receive equity shares in AI companies. The proposal signals a strategic shift as he prepares for a likely presidential run.

7H AGO— AI Desk

P640MASSACHUSETTS RIDE-SHARE DRIVERS FORM FIRST US UNION

Uber and Lyft drivers in Massachusetts have established the first unionized ride-share workforce in the United States, marking a significant shift in labor organizing within the gig economy sector.

7H AGO— Industry Desk

P632INDIA PLEDGES $13.3B FOR DOMESTIC CHIP MANUFACTURING

India announced 1.28 trillion rupees ($13.3 billion) in additional funding to expand its semiconductor production capacity. The investment builds on a $10 billion incentive program launched in 2021 that successfully attracted major manufacturers including Micron.

9H AGO— Industry Desk

◄ BACK TO NEWS

HBO MAX ARRIVES IN INDIA VIA JIOHOTSTAR

■ MORE FROM THE BUSINESS DESK

■ SUBSCRIBE TO THE DAILY BRIEF