Mumbai: The Indian Subscription Video On Demand (SVOD) landscape witnessed a notable reshuffle in Q1 2025, as per data released by JustWatch, a leading streaming guide and analytics platform. Covering the period from 01 January to 31 March 2025, the report places JioHotstar—the newly formed platform born out of the merger between Disney+ Hotstar and JioCinema—at the top of the streaming charts with a 26% market share.
This marks a significant milestone, as JioHotstar edges past Amazon Prime Video, which secured 24%, and Netflix, which came in third with 17%. Apple TV+ maintained a respectable 12%, while regional favorites like ZEE5 (11%) and Sony LIV (3%) held their ground in a highly competitive space. Smaller platforms accounted for the remaining 7% of market interest.
Q4 2024 vs Q1 2025: Market Dynamics Shift
A comparative analysis with the previous quarter (Q4 2024: 01 October – 31 December 2024) highlights some intriguing changes:
-
In Q4 2024, Disney+ Hotstar (23%) and JioCinema (8%) held a combined share of 31%—a full 5 percentage points higher than the newly merged JioHotstar’s current standing at 26%.
-
Prime Video retained its 23% share in Q4, rising slightly in Q1 2025.
-
Netflix also improved modestly, going from 16% to 17%.
-
Apple TV+ and ZEE5 remained consistent with 12% and 11% respectively across both quarters.
JustWatch Clarifies Market Share Discrepancy Post-Merger
In response to a query from MediaNews4U regarding the drop from the previously combined 31% share of Disney+ Hotstar and JioCinema to the current 26% for JioHotstar, JustWatch offered the following explanation:
“Our data now shows unified JioHotstar users. Unlike before, when users could have a separate Hotstar account and/or a JioCinema account, they would only show as JioHotstar in our data. Our market shares are also based on our own users, so we base our reports on our internal data.”
This clarification suggests that some overlap in user accounts in the previous quarter may have contributed to an inflated combined share, which is now consolidated into a single user entity under JioHotstar. Consequently, the measured market share in Q1 2025 more accurately reflects unique user interest on the merged platform.
The Q1 2025 data confirms that JioHotstar has taken the lead, but also reveals a competitive landscape where Prime Video and Netflix are closing in. With market preferences evolving and the effects of platform mergers becoming more transparent, the coming quarters will be pivotal in determining whether JioHotstar can maintain its lead—or if rivals will reclaim ground.
