Mumbai Welcomes Tiger TV: A New OTT Destination for Punjabi and Hindi Entertainment
On October 15, Tiger TV was officially launched on the Lionsgate Play streaming app, catering to Punjabi and Hindi audiences. Since its inception in 2025, Lionsgate Play has been providing Hollywood content to millions across various Asian markets, and with Tiger TV, it plans to invest ₹500 crores into developing Punjabi and Hindi content over the next three years. Tiger TV will be available on Lionsgate Play throughout Asia and will also have its own app for viewers in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
In the recent months, Indian streaming service JioHotstar has also been making strides internationally by debuting in markets such as the UK, Canada, and Singapore, with plans to extend its reach into the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and soon, Nepal.
While Indian OTT platforms expanding globally is not a new phenomenon, JioHotstar’s latest efforts are noteworthy. For instance, the Bengali platform Hoichoi successfully entered the Bangladeshi market and has since built a solid international audience in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and the Middle East. SonyLIV has made its entry into select African and Caribbean countries in 2023 as well.
Recently, JioHotstar teamed up with Starzplay, a streaming service based in Abu Dhabi, to share its entertainment offerings across the MENA region. With over 2.3 million subscribers, Starzplay offers a variety of content, including originals and live sports. This partnership allows audiences in Gulf countries to access new JioHotstar originals simultaneously with their Indian releases, featuring audio options in up to ten different languages.
Amit Malhotra, the head of International Business for JioStar, explained that targeting the Indian diaspora was essential, particularly in regions like the UK, Canada, Singapore, and MENA, which hosts a significant South Asian population. He mentioned that the service aims to provide a more coherent viewing experience as past content availability was often fragmented across different platforms.
According to a private report from Ormax Media, streaming platform users in India have increased by 15% over the past year, and paid subscribers grew by 16%. Shailesh Kapoor, the CEO of Ormax Media, noted that while India’s growth does not directly affect international expansion of OTT platforms, broadcasters are well aware of the demand for Indian content abroad. The potential for higher revenue from overseas audiences makes this a lucrative market for platforms.
The Indian diaspora alone consists of about 60 million people, and including neighboring countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka increases that number to over 225 million. MENA is home to around 19 million South Asians, particularly in the Gulf region, making it an important market for streaming services.
Lionsgate Play’s Tiger TV is specifically looking to reach the 7.5 million Punjabi and Hindi-speaking households abroad. Soumya Mukherjee, Chief Operating Officer of Hoichoi, emphasized that international markets present excellent business opportunities due to generally higher subscription prices compared to India, leading to better revenue per user.
Amit Malhotra added that while the Indian diaspora is a strong focus, JioHotstar’s offerings are for anyone who appreciates Indian entertainment, regardless of language or culture. Enhanced subtitle and dubbing options have made it easier for non-Hindi speakers to enjoy Indian stories.
With an impressive production of around 30,000 hours of content annually across multiple languages, JioStar is well-equipped to cater to diverse audiences. They are also exploring original content tailored for markets where there is significant demand. Notably, audiences in the UK, Canada, and Singapore can now participate in live voting for shows like Bigg Boss, showcasing the platform’s innovative approach to viewer engagement.
