Reliance Viacom18, owned by Mukesh Ambani, has entered into a significant multiyear agreement with Warner Bros Discovery Inc. to provide popular Hollywood content on their streaming platform, Jio Cinema.
According to two sources with direct knowledge quoted by Reuters, the deal will feature HBO shows such as Succession and Game of Thrones. The joint statement by the companies reveals that the deal would enable users to access popular movies and shows such as Succession, Game of Thrones, The Lord of the Rings, and the Harry Potter series. Ferzad Palia, the head of SVOD & International Business at Viacom18, believes that this strategic partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery is a significant milestone in the company’s journey to offer the best Hollywood content to its elite consumers.
Recently, Viacom18 completed the proposed merger of Reliance Industries Ltd, Bodhi Tree Systems, and the American media conglomerate Paramount Global. As a result of the merger, Jio Cinema’s integration into Viacom18 has also been completed. The platform is actively pursuing a large share of the Indian OTT market, and in addition to licensed content, it is also expanding its original content. Jio Cinema plans to release as many as 100 movies and shows, produced at a cost of INR 2,000 Cr, over the next 18-24 months.
Jio Cinema has already won over customers by broadcasting the Indian Premier League (IPL) for free. During the opening weekend of the cricket tournament, JioCinema reported 5 Cr new app downloads, clocked over 147 Cr video views, and attracted 10 Cr, new viewers.