As part of ATF 2025, Kevin Vaz, CEO of JioStar, presented a compelling picture of the present and future of entertainment in India, a market that (as he emphasized) is not only diverse, but “a nation united by great passions: cricket and entertainment.” With an average age of just 29 and GDP growth of 6.5%, Vaz defined the country as “the future of global media”.
The executive reviewed the magnitude of the ecosystem: 900 TV channels, 10.000 movie screens, 1.800 films per year, 400 web series, and more than 200.000 hours of programming per year. All supported by 900 million TV and Internet consumers and 1.2 billion mobile connections. ‘We are operating at just a fraction of our potential’, he said, noting that television penetration is still at 70% and will continue to expand.
In this context, JioStar (the result of the merger between JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar) emerged as an unprecedented giant. Less than a year after integration, the platform already surpassed 300 million subscribers, 400 million monthly active users, and a record 61 million concurrent live viewers. ‘JioStar is practically a country’, he summarized.
Vaz highlighted the commitment to local content in 10 languages, IPs adapted to each region, and franchises such as Big Boss in six versions. At the same time, he emphasized a unique differentiator: agreements with all the major global studios to bring their catalogs together on a single platform.
Sports are another pillar: JioStar holds 85% of cricket rights, with innovations that allow viewers to choose camera angles or follow a player throughout the game. ‘It’s not just about having it all. It’s about changing how the game is experienced’, concluded Vaz.
