JioStar Revenue Hits $710 Million

JioStar, the media division of Reliance Industries, reported revenue from operations of INR68.1 billion, or $710 million, for the July to September quarter. This figure represents a 10.1% year-on-year increase. The company achieved this growth during a period of weak advertising markets. Profit after tax decreased by 13.2% to INR11.5 billion, or $120 million.

The revenue climb was attributed to subscription growth and digital entertainment advertising. Gross revenue rose 9.8% to INR79.4 billion, or $829 million. Margins faced pressure during the period. EBITDA from operations dropped 10.5% to INR13.7 billion, or $143 million. The operating margin fell to 22.1%, down from 28.1% in the same quarter last year. A 36.6% drop in investment income contributed to a 13.6% decline in total EBITDA, which stood at INR15 billion, or $157 million. These figures lagged behind the April to June quarter, when the company recorded INR109.5 billion, or $1.1 billion, in operating revenue.

Streaming service JioHotstar maintained an average of 440 million monthly active users over the three months, a 10% increase from the prior year. The platform relaunched under the JioHotstar name in the U.K., Canada, and Singapore in September. Reliance reported that active subscribers in these three regions grew by approximately 30% following the relaunch. A new feature called "Pay Kisi Aur Se" allows users to request payment from friends or relatives for subscriptions. Reliance stated that this tool increased payment initiations by 10%.

Entertainment watch time grew by more than 15%. Reliance cited strong performance in Hindi and regional markets. Titles such as "India Ke Top 1%", "Khatron Ke Khiladi", "Hustle" Season 5, and "Bhojpuri Bawaal" supported the company's position as India's top entertainment network. The series "Resort" became the most-watched title in the streamer's history. Rajkumar Hirani's "Pritam & Pedro" set a record for short-running series. "Heart Beat" Season 3 and the new series "Court" also opened to strong audiences. The Tadka catalog expanded with nearly 100 new titles.

In the sports sector, the England-India cricket series generated the largest audience for a bilateral series played abroad on JioHotstar. The platform also broadcast Wimbledon, the U.S. Open, and the start of the 2026-27 Premier League season. Reliance noted that these events were monetized more effectively than before. Commerce integrations, previously limited to cricket, were expanded to include all three events. Former cricket captain Sourav Ganguly hosted the first "Bigg Boss Bangla" launch on the platform. The reality franchise rolled out in six languages and attracted over 90 million viewers in its first three weeks.

The quarterly results were released two days after Jio Platforms, Reliance's separate telecom and digital arm, listed on Indian stock exchanges. The company's IPO raised INR301.9 billion, or $3.15 billion, making it the largest in India to date. Mukesh Ambani, Reliance's chairman and managing director, stated that the issue was subscribed more than 22 times.