Top 10 Popular OTT Platforms in India Based on Subscribers

Reliance Entertainment has first witnessed the opportunity for OTT industry in India and they have launched BIGFlix in 2008 but it was not popular now. However, BIGFlix was the first OTT platform lanched in India. After that, the nexGTv mobile app was launched by Digivive Services Private Limited in 2010, providing live TV shows and content on-demand. nexGTv was the first mobile live streaming app in India, where the IPL matches streamed through the smartphones during the 2013-2014 season.

OTT platforms attained vital impressions in India when the DittoTV by Zee Network and Sony Liv were launched in India in 2013. With the launch of Hotstar in 2015 and its success made many companies to realize that there is a growth for OTT platforms in the coming years. Subsequently, many companies have entered into OTT industry of India including Amazon Prime Video and Netflix.

Yes, 2020 was a game-changer for digital streaming platform in India. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown in India from March 2020, our country witnessed significant growth in digital streaming platforms. Before 2020 the popularity of OTT was limited to only binge watchers in Towns and Cities. Also, the increase in 4G speed of internet and low cost internet plans by Jio made everyone to download the OTT apps in smartphones.

Due to the national lockdown, people were restricted to their houses and didn’t have many entertainment options except the OTT apps. Also, the closure of Theatres in India helped OTT industry to gain more prominence. OTT platforms are the only legal way to watch movies. So, people began to watch movie and TV programs on OTT platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime. Many films and web series are releasing on various OTT platforms for movie lovers.

As of 2021, Amazon Prime Video and Netflix are leading the OTT industry with 20% share of each. While the Hotstar which was acquired by Disney stands at the 3rd place with 17% market share. ZEE5, which is having strong base in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam languages occupies fourth place with around 10% market share. On the other side, Jio Cinema, Alt Balaji, Sony Liv, SUN NXT, Aha Apps are leading in the top 10 places of OTT market share in India.

OTT platforms will continue to show it’s mark in entertainment industry of India. Even though the theaters will open in the coming days, there will be no downfall for OTT industry because of the direct releases, webseries, shows, foreign content and Originals.

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2. Netflix

Netflix is an OTT service that offers a wide variety of award-winning TV shows, movies, anime, documentaries, and more on thousands of internet-connected media contents to their subscribers. In Nextflix, HD (720p), Full HD (1080p), Ultra HD (4K), and HDR videos are available with your internet service package and device capabilities. Remember, not all content is available in all resolutions.

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3. Disney+ Hotstar

Disney+ Hotstar is an Indian OTT platform operated by Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution. Hotstar was first introduced in 2015 by Star India as a streaming service carrying content from its local networks, including films, live sports, TV series, and original programming, and featuring content licensed from third parties in India such as HBO and Showtime, among others. 

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4. Zee 5

ZEE 5 is an Indian OTT platform managed by Essel Group via its subsidiary Zee Entertainment Enterprises. It was started in India on 14 February 2018 with content in 12 languages. The ZEE 5 mobile app is available on Web, iOS, Android, Smart TVs, among other devices.

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5. SonyLIV

Sony LIV is an Indian general entertainment OTT platform owned by Sony Pictures Networks India Pvt. Ltd., based in Mumbai, India. Sony LIV is available on all platforms like iOS, Android devices, Smart TVs, and other devices.

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6. Voot

Voot is Viacom18’s Premium OTT platform, which brings your favourite shows, movies, and thousands of hours of content to your smartphone. Voot has a content library spanning 70,000+ hours of exciting content across genres, languages, and audiences as the ad-supported premium OTT app.

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7. Jio Cinema

JioCinema is an Indian subscription-based video-on-demand and OTT streaming platform owned by Jio, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited. JioCinema was launched on 5 September 2016. JioCinema’s content library includes the latest movies, television shows, music videos, web series, and documentaries.

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8. ALTBalaji

ALTBalaji, the creativity of Balaji Telefilms Limited, is a subscription-based OTT platform that offers never seen before online web series written by acclaimed writers, starring popular celebrities, & directed by award-winning directors. 

ALTBalaji Subscription Plans: ALTBalaji has three subscription plans, ₹100 for three months, ₹180 for six months & ₹300 for twelve months. If you have any of these subscriptions, you can watch all the episodes without any limits; you can download (on ALTBalaji App) and watch all shows anytime, anywhere, and you will get access on 5 devices at the same time.

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9. Sun NXT

Sun NXT is an Indian video-on-demand OTT service operated by Sun TV Network. Sun NXTwas launched in June 2017 with content in four languages – Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam and later in 2019, after Sun TV Network launch’s first GEC in West Bengal in Bengali was added, Marathi language is coming soon and expected in the middle of 2021.

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10. Erosnow

Eros Now is an Indian subscription-based OTT, video-on-demand entertainment and media platform, launched in 2012. It is managed by Eros Digital, the Indian digital media management arm of American multinational media company ErosSTX. The network offers media streaming and video-on-demand services.