HBO shows such as Game of Thrones, The Last of Us, and Euphoria will no longer be available on Disney+ Hotstar after March 2023. In response to a tweet, Hotstar’s support team confirmed that starting from March 31, HBO content will be removed from the streaming platform. Due to the discontinuation of HBO cable TV channels in India in 2020, Hotstar has been the primary source for Indians to access WarnerMedia content. However, Disney material, including Marvel and Star Wars content, will still be available on the platform.
“Starting from March 31, HBO content will be unavailable on Disney+ Hotstar. However, you can continue to enjoy Disney+ Hotstar’s extensive library of content, which includes over 100,000 hours of TV shows and movies in 10 languages, as well as coverage of major global sporting events,” the tweeted response reads. Last month, a report indicated that this change is part of the restructuring and cost-cutting plans announced by Disney CEO Bob Iger, which includes laying off 7,000 workers. The original licensing deal between HBO and Hotstar, signed in late 2015 when the platform was known as ‘Hotstar,’ brought HBO content to the streaming service. At that time, Game of Thrones was particularly popular and began streaming on Hotstar in India immediately after its US airing.
Starting from March 31, HBO content will be unavailable on Disney+ Hotstar. However, you can continue to enjoy Disney+ Hotstar’s extensive library of content, which includes over 100,000 hours of TV shows and movies in 10 languages, as well as coverage of major global sporting events.
Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) was also a significant source of traffic for Disney+ Hotstar but suffered a blow when Viacom18 acquired the digital streaming rights for the next five years. Disney Star still holds the TV broadcast rights for IPL, however.
In addition, Hotstar did not renew the streaming rights for Formula 1 in 2023, as the content has moved to F1 TV Pro. Nevertheless, other sports content such as the Premier League, the Indian Super League, and select international cricket matches are still available for streaming.
There were indications of internal changes happening before the initial report surfaced. Traditionally, all HBO shows were expected to appear on Disney+ Hotstar in India. However, when The Last of Us was nearing its premiere on January 15 worldwide, the company did not advertise or feature any banners for the series in India. Even the PR and support teams were unsure whether the series would be available in India. Surprisingly, on January 16, the pilot episode was released without any prior announcement, following a weekly schedule, except for episode 5, which was moved up by two days to avoid clashing with Super Bowl LVII.
With the fourth and final season of Succession set to premiere on Disney+ Hotstar on March 26, it will be interesting to see how the company handles it. They may choose to release episode 1 and then remove all HBO content, or they may avoid airing the pilot altogether. However, if you haven’t watched popular HBO shows like The Last of Us, The White Lotus, or any others, now would be a good time to catch up, as there is currently no solid confirmation on where the HBO content will be available next. Industry analysts speculate that Amazon Prime Video is a likely candidate, either offering it as part of their usual content or as a separate paid channel, similar to AMC+.
Denial of responsibility! SamacharCentrl is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
Basant Kasayap is an entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to Bollywood to regional cinema, she offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
