Disney+ Will Open in India on April 3rd

• Disney+ will open in India in early April.
• Disney+ Hotstar will offer multiple subscription tiers, the topmost one getting a price hike.
• The free Hotstar option will continue to be available.

After opening up in several markets in Europe, Disney+ will next launch in India on April 3rd.

The service has expanded quickly after its November launch, and it will continue to keep the pace up as it seeks to reach most countries of the world. In India, Disney+ will launch on Hotstar, which is also owned by Disney and is one of the most popular on-demand streaming services in the country, with about 300 million monthly active users.

The yearly subscription for Disney+ Hostar will run at Rs 1,499, which is about $20. Previously, Hotstar alone cost Rs 999, which is roughly $13. This tier will offer over 100 series and some 250 titles featuring animations and superheroes. The list will include Disney+ Originals, as well as shows from HBO, Fox, and Showtime.

They will also offer a more affordable yearly tier, where the monthly subscription will be far lower at about Rs 399 ($5), but the content will be limited to Marvel movies, live sports events, movies, shows, and original Hotstar-produced shows, but no Disney+ Originals. Hostar will also continue to run its ad-supported service, which it offers for free.

"With the success of Hotstar, we ushered in a new era for premium video streaming in India. Today, as we unveil Disney+ Hotstar, we take yet another momentous step in staying committed to our promise of delivering high-quality, impactful stories for India that have not only entertained but also made a difference in people's lives, a promise that is even more meaningful in challenging times such as this," said Uday Shankar, President of The Walt Disney Company APAC and Chairman, Star & Disney India. "We hope the power of Disney's storytelling, delivered through Hotstar's technology, will help our viewers find moments of comfort, happiness, and inspiration during these difficult times."

Disney+ has been in tests in India for a few weeks now, and it was originally scheduled for launch on March 29th, but decided to push the date due to the coronavirus outbreak.