Mukesh Ambani-controlled Reliance Jio’s over-the-top (OTT) service Jio TV has increased its total TV channel offering to 368, enabling it to match that of cable TV and direct-to-home (DTH) operators. The channels are spread across 10+ genres and 15+ languages. When Reliance Jio launched on 5 September 2016, it was offering 300 TV channels. Jio Play has 112 news channels, 90 entertainment channels, 32 movie channels, 31 music channels, 23 infotainment channels, 23 kids channels, 21 devotional channels, 18 sports channels, 11 lifestyle channels and 7 business news channels.
Reliance Jio , which has shaken up the telecom industry in India with its offer of free voice calls and mobile internet pricing at a fifth of current rates, has secured content deals with major broadcasters like Star India, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL), Sun TV Network, Sony Pictures Networks India, NDTV, TV Today Network, Raj TV, PTC Network, Turner India, and Discovery Communications India.
TV18, Viacom18, and Eenadu Television are, of course, part of Ambani’s media business. Jio TV is the only OTT service that offers virtually all the major channels in India. Even ZEEL’s OTT service dittoTV does not have channels from rival broadcasters like Star India and Sun TV Network. Star India, as a principle, has not been providing its content to any third-party OTT service.
IndiaCast Media, TV18 and Viacom18’s distribution arm, and Sony Pictures Networks are the only broadcasters that are providing their content to other OTT players despite having their own platforms. Even ZEEL has been choosy about providing its channels to other OTT platforms. The Jio TV app is accessible only to Reliance Jio users. It allows users to watch their favorite channels anytime and anywhere.
It also allows users to pause and play live TV channels from the point they left off. Jio TV allows users to enjoy missed episodes of prime shows, telecast in the past seven days. Users can also do quick content discovery using seven (past / future) days TV guide, language and genre filters, or channel / program-based search. The multilingual user interface in 10 languages allows users to explore the app in English, Hindi and other regional languages.
It also provides personalized TV viewing experience as users can mark channel / programs as favorites and plan TV viewing by setting a reminder on upcoming programs. Jio TV also provides share feature on social networks. The Jio Apps bouquet includes the JioPlay, which offers live TV channels. Setting the tone for how things are going to evolve, the Jio Apps bouquet is currently being made available complimentary for all active Jio customers until 31 December 2017.
