Disney’s video on-demand streaming service Disney Plus (Disney+) has arrived in India weeks ahead of its scheduled launch date through an existing service Hotstar, which has rolled out an update that not only changes the app’s name to Disney+ Hotstar, but also adds Disney+ shows.
Robert Iger, then chairman and CEO of Disney, had given March 29 as the official launch date of Disney+ in India.
As per report, the Disney+ Hotstar is currently available at no additional charge to existing Hotstar subscribers — who pay `999 for a year and the premium tier carries a new yearly sticker price of `3,588.
Shows like The Mandalorian, Marvel’s Hero Project and The Imagineering Story: Limited Series are currently available. The list also includes Diary of a Future President, Disney Family Sundays, Encore, Forky Asks a Question, and High School Musical: The Musical.
The streaming service will launch in the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Austria, and Switzerland on March 24, while Western Europe markets, including Belgium, the Nordics, and Portugal, will follow in summer 2020.
Additionally, Disney+ generated $43.9 million during its second month, in addition to the $53.3 million it made during its first 30 days.
While competitors Netflix and Hulu predate Hotstar’s available data, in comparison, Disney rival HBO Now grossed $23.7 million during its first 60 days-even when launching alongside a new season of its top program, Game of Thrones-and Showtime grossed $1.2 million.