Disney to Launch New Star-Branded Streaming Service in 2021

It’s likely to be part of Disney+ Hotstar in India, as Disney CEO Bob Chapek said it will be “fully integrated” into Disney+ in many markets.

By Akhil Arora | Updated: 5 August 2020 12:39 IST

Photo Credit: Akhil Arora/Gadgets 360

Highlights

Will pull in content from ABC, Fox, FX, Freeform, more
Won’t have any third-party content, unlike Hulu in the US
Unclear if it will be called “Hotstar” outside India or not

Disney will launch a new general entertainment streaming service with the Star brand name in 2021 across the world, Disney CEO Bob Chapek announced on the company's quarterly earnings call on Tuesday. It will bring in content from ABC Studios, Fox Television, FX, Freeform, Searchlight, and 20th Century Studios — all owned by Disney. Star already has a general entertainment service called Hotstar — available in India as Disney+ Hotstar — but Chapek didn't refer to it as that, which suggests that this will be a new service.

Disney Star India told Gadgets 360 it had no further comment on the matter.

Chapek said the new Star-branded general entertainment offering will be “fully integrated” into Disney+ in many markets. That means it could be part of Disney+ Hotstar in India. Select TV shows and movies from ABC Studios, Fox Television, FX, Searchlight, and 20th Century Studios are already available on Disney+ Hotstar, and it simply doesn't make sense to have two platforms carrying the Star brand name in the country.

Asked why Disney was launching a new Star-branded service rather than expand Hulu (a general entertainment service available in the US and Japan) worldwide, Chapek said that this new platform won't license any third-party content, unlike Hulu. That means all the content will be Disney-owned. Additionally, Chapek admitted that Hulu has “no brand awareness” nor any international licenses outside the US.

“We want to mirror the successful Disney+ strategy by using our Disney+ technical platform, rooting it in content that we already own, and distributing it under a successful international brand that we also already own, which is, of course, Star, and then bringing it to market in a very close association to Disney,” Chapek added on the quarterly earnings call.

The new Star-branded general entertainment service will launch in 2021 globally, not including the US. More information will be revealed at an upcoming Disney investors day.

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Further reading: Star India, Disney, Bob Chapek, Hotstar, Disney Plus Hotstar, Hulu, ABC Studios, Fox, FX, Searchlight, 20th Century Studios, Freeform