BizAsia looks at the Indian streaming OTT services available in the UK
With the influx of streaming OTT services flashing beyond our very eyes, BizAsiaLive.com gives readers an insight into the Indian digital platforms already available to UK viewers.
Hotstar UK
Profile: The leading Indian digital streaming platform in India, owned by Star India. It boasts of shows from the Star TV library, including flagship Hindi programmes from Star Plus, on the same day as they are telecast. Hotstar also is the home exclusive content including memorable original titles like ‘Special Ops’, ‘Criminal Justice’, ‘Aarya’, ‘Hundred’, ‘Out Of Love’, ‘City of Dreams’ and ‘Hostages, under the brand Hotstar Specials.
Hotstar also streams live sport including cricket and kabaddi, plus blockbuster unreleased movies such as ‘Dil Bechara’, ‘Laxmmi Bomb’, ‘Sadak 2’, ‘Bhuj: The Pride of India’, ‘The Big Bull’, ‘Khuda Hafiz’ and ‘Lootcase’. It also has hundreds of other Bollywood blockbuster movies streaming in its library.
Hotstar also streams news channels Republic TV and NDTV 24×7, among others.
How to watch Hotstar in UK: In India, Hotstar is known as Disney+ Hotstar, however, in the UK, Hotstar is known as just that due to trademarking. Hotstar UK can be streamed via its app available on Apple and Android mobile devices. It is also available on desktop devices. Hotstar UK is also accessible on Amazon Firestick, Now TV, Google Chromecast and Android TV. It will also be available on Smart TV sets soon.
ZEE5 UK
Profile: ZEE5, the power-packed digital streaming platform, owned by ZEE Entertainment Enterprises Limited, is regularly updated with ZEE5 Originals, blockbuster films in various South Indian languages and shows from across the ZEE Network TV channels.
Over recent months, ZEE5 has streamed star-studded original web-series’ like ‘The Casino’, ‘Lalbazaar’, ‘Code M’, ‘Kehne Ko Humsafar Hain’, ‘Baarish’, Karrle Tu Bhi Mohabbat’, ‘State of Siege: 26/11’, ‘Never Kiss Your Best Friend’ and ‘Broken But Beautiful’, to name a few.
ZEE5 also streams some of the biggest Bollywood movies, with recent direct releases of ‘Ghoomketu’, ‘Unlock’, ‘Yaara’, ‘Pareeksha’ and ‘Omerta’. It also holds the rights to the biggest Bollywood movie library with new releases being added often.
ZEE5 also streams live transmission of channels from the UK and India, including ZEE TV UK, ZEE Cinema UK, Zing, ZEE News, ETC Bollywood, ZEE Punjabi and Urdu content via Zindagi channel.
How to watch ZEE5 in UK: ZEE5 UK can be streamed via its app available on Apple and Android mobile devices. It is also available to watch via the ZEE5 UK website on desktop devices. ZEE5 is also available widely on Smart TV sets including Samsung. The ZEE5 app can also be downloaded on Amazon Firestick, Google Chromecast and Android TV.
SonyLIV UK
Profile: SonyLIV is the newly relaunched streaming platform from Sony Pictures Networks. It recently added a number of original shows including ‘Your Honor’, ‘Avrodh’, ‘Undekhi’ and ‘Scam 1992’.
How to watch SonyLIV in UK: SonyLIV is yet to officially makes its launch in the UK. It is currently only available on mobile app in basic mode. Most of its content is restricted and geo-blocked to UK viewers.
VOOT Select UK
Profile: VOOT Select is the premium streaming service from Viacom18, which carries content from its various flagship entertainment TV brands like Colors, Colors Cineplex, MTV Beats and Comedy Central.
It also streams exclusive original content from the VOOT Select library, with recent additions ‘Illegal’, ‘Asur’ and ‘Marzi’. It also streams exclusive extra content from its big-ticket reality shows like ‘Bigg Boss’.
How to watch VOOT Select in UK: While the basic VOOT is available on Virgin Media customers, the premium service, VOOT Select is not available in the UK.
Keep it with BizAsiaLive.com for latest news updates on Indian streaming platforms available in the UK. BizAsiaLive.com is the exclusive source for regular updates on content and movie premieres on Hotstar UK, ZEE5 UK, SonyLIV and VOOT Select.
