Warner Bros. & HBO Titles Set To Leave JioHotstar

Warner Bros. Discovery and the HBO library have been the flag bearers of premium content in the industry. They have often been the selling point that makes people loosen their pockets. However, despite the strong appeal, their content has struggled to reach audiences worldwide, and India was no exception.

Warner Bros. Discovery was trying to maintain a global presence but was unable to do so due to contractual obligations with streaming partners. These agreements involved licensing their content to platforms in different countries. This began to change as, year after year, these contracts started expiring, allowing HBO Max to launch directly in respective countries.

The vision behind HBO Max was to emerge as a competitor to Netflix, something the company had been ambitious about. However, this narrative changed when Netflix began acquiring large divisions across the entertainment industry. HBO Max was also expected to be acquired by Netflix if such a deal came to a conclusion, but the platform would likely continue to exist regardless of ownership. Both streaming services, as separate entities, could drive sales from the same consumers—something that would not normally be possible—and Netflix reflects a similar stance.

HBO’s Long Association with Hotstar in India

In India, Hotstar has been the home for HBO content for nearly a decade. Initially, this partnership existed under Star India through a multi-year licensing deal. Later, when Hotstar was acquired by Disney, the agreement continued. However, in March 2023, Disney+ Hotstar decided not to pursue the deal further due to cost-cutting reasons.

This is where Reliance Jio saw an opportunity. As it sought to expand JioCinema as a rival to Disney+ Hotstar, it secured a three-year deal with Warner Bros. Discovery for its entire content library, reportedly valued at ₹1,000 crore.

The JioCinema–HBO deal proved fruitful for both companies. It gave Warner Bros. Discovery time to stabilize and secure consistent cash flow, while Reliance successfully disrupted Disney+ Hotstar’s dominance. Later, when JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar merged to form JioHotstar, the HBO deal remained intact, once again making Hotstar the home for HBO content in India.

Contract Expiry and Global Expansion Plans

The deal between Warner Bros. Discovery and Reliance Jio is set to expire in April 2026. Warner Bros. Discovery has shown a clear interest in expanding its global presence, continuously entering new markets. The company launched in Pakistan in October 2025, and on January 13, 2026, HBO Max launched in countries such as Austria, Germany, and Italy, where similar partnerships with local players previously existed—much like JioHotstar in India.

UK and Ireland as a Strategic Indicator

In the United Kingdom and Ireland, Sky currently holds the rights to HBO content, similar to JioHotstar’s role in India. This deal is set to expire in March 2026. Warner Bros. Discovery has already confirmed a standalone launch of HBO Max in the United Kingdom, clearly reflecting its strategy of direct presence rather than licensing.

The reason the deal in India was limited to just three years appears to be strategic, allowing Warner Bros. Discovery to expand into multiple markets within the same timeframe. From Reliance’s perspective, the company is focusing on sustainability and cost-cutting measures. Its earlier stance that ICC rights were too expensive suggests that this may be the end of Reliance bidding for such premium titles again, even if Warner Bros. Discovery decides to license its content in India.

Our conclusion is that people in India will pay for a premium service like HBO Max. Hence, an India launch appears likely, aligning closely with the company’s overall strategy.