Hotstar is an Indian streaming platform, owned by Disney. It is characterized by offering a wide variety of TV shows, movies, live sports and other original content.

Enter the Platform

To access Hotstar, you can do it through its official website, through its mobile app that is available for iOS and Android devices or through some platforms on smart TVs. But you should keep in mind that it is not available in all countries. It is mainly present in Asia and North America.

Start Streaming

To start using Hotstar, first you must have an account and, to do so, you must register with an email and password or log in using your Facebook or Google account.

To search for movies, TV shows, live sports and other content, you can use the search bar. Also, as in most of these platforms, it has sections to make it easier to discover something of interest. When it comes to playback, it is the same as any other platform, with the traditional commands and options.

Multiple Subscriptions

It depends on the region, as in some countries it offers free content such as TV shows, movies and some sporting events. And it also depends on the content you want to watch. There are different ways to enter the platform:

• Free version: Limited and ad-supported content. Access to selected Indian movies and Star series after their television broadcast.
• Disney+ VIP Subscription: It gives you access to national content (examples for India: shows in Indian TV channels) and to the Hotstar Specials section with coverage of cricket, Premier League soccer, Star TV shows prior to their TV premiere, as well as access to Marvel movies. It is usually less expensive than the Premium subscription and may have restrictions on certain content.
• Disney+ Hotstar Premium: It has international movies and series available, including original content from Disney+ and the Disney, Lucasfilm, Marvel Studios and National Geographic libraries, among others. It is a more expensive subscription, but its advantage is that it provides a more complete viewing experience.

The platform is available in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. It is also available throughout Southeast Asia, except in Singapore and Vietnam, Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom.

The prices change according to the country you are in, but remember that it is not available everywhere, so you should try to access the official website and see the prices. In some countries, you cannot even access the official website.

Comparing with Other Platforms

Nowadays, with so many other platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, etc., it is difficult to know which ones are better.

Hotstar excels in live coverage of sporting events, especially in countries like India where it broadcasts soccer, cricket, and other popular sports. If the platform is available in your country, it can be an attractive option, but you should compare it with other platforms of this style, such as ESPN+.

One advantage of Hotstar is that you can access the platform and watch some content for free. Its interface, depending on the device you use and the country you are in, is quite intuitive and easy to use.

In a Nutshell

To define whether it is worth downloading the app, the most important thing is to know if you have access to it in your region. Then, you should analise if the content is of interest to you and your language is among the options.

Personally I think for the Asian continent, it is worth a try, as it has the backing of Disney and several years in the market, and offers various subscriptions to suit different consumers.