Disney to shut down Hotstar in US, Moves Content to Hulu & ESPN+

The Walt Disney company has decided to shut down its Hotstar operations in US by late 2022 as they are joining the Disney Streaming bundle. The giant Media & Entertainment company will divide its content to ESPN+ & HULU, starting September 1. Content related to sports like Indian Premier League (IPL), International Cricket Council (ICC) will move to ESPN+, and the non-sports content including movies and TV shows will move to Hulu.

Hotstar was launched by Star India and was acquired by Disney. The streaming company was focused on Bollywood and South Asian films and was rebranded as Diseny+Hotstar in India in 2020. 

“The move from Hotstar, a premium brand for South Asian content, to ESPN Plus and Hulu in the U.S. expands upon the rich and diverse catalog of live events and stories delivered across the Disney Bundle and provides a platform for South Asian content to reach broader audiences,” said the company in a press statement.

Hotstar subscription in the U.S. costs $49.99 per year and the Disney Bundle starts at $13.99 per month. The subscribers of Hotstar in US will receive the Disney Bundle through the end of their Hotstar annual subscription at no additional charge.