JioStar Appoints Amit Malhotra as Head of International Business
JioStar has officially appointed Amit Malhotra as the Head of International Business, tasking him with the responsibility of developing and implementing the company's strategic plan for long-term international expansion.
Malhotra, a recent addition to the team, will be stationed in Singapore for his new role. In his new position, Malhotra will establish the international direction of JioStar and emphasize the significance of global markets in driving the company's growth.
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He will oversee market launches, cultivate significant partnerships, and enhance innovation in foreign markets.
According to the company, his duties encompass the exploration of white-labeling opportunities as well as direct entry into new markets.
Malhotra will collaborate with senior leadership to oversee the strategic coordination of product teams, international markets, and external ecosystems. In his role at JioStar, he will act as a strategic visionary and an active leader, guaranteeing that the company provides unique value to consumers in various regions.
Prior to his role at JioStar, Malhotra held the position of Managing Director for Warner Media's direct-to-consumer platforms across various regions, including India, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.
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His previous experience includes a long tenure at the Walt Disney Company, where he held various management positions for 17 years, including serving as the Regional Lead for Disney+ in Southeast Asia.
Malhotra serves as an advisor to both Affinity Equity and the Emtek Group. He holds a position on the Board of Governors at Nanyang Polytechnic in Singapore and serves as chair of the Advisory Committee for the School of Design and Media at the institution.
Recently, JioStar has significantly increased the quantity of channels offered outside of bundled packages. This expansion comes after the network initially tested this approach by moving two channels outside of the bouquets last year, particularly with the implementation of select South GECs surpassing bouquet eligibility requirements.
Last week, the latest release of the reference interconnect offer (RIO) included several prominent regional general entertainment channels that have been categorized into a higher MRP bracket.
According to the tariff framework, only pay channels priced at Rs 19 or below are eligible to be included in a package, while channels priced higher than Rs 19 cannot be grouped together and must be provided individually.
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In 2025, JioStar exceeded the Rs 19 limit by setting the price of the SD versions of Colors Kannada and Maa TV at Rs 25. This pricing strategy effectively transformed the two channels into exclusive a-la-carte options and revolutionized the way packages were curated in those regions.
Individual channels priced above Rs 19 are restricted from being included in any bouquet package according to legal regulations. Rather, these channels must be offered as standalone add-ons for purchase or cannot be sold at all.
In the year 2026, JioStar expanded its offerings with new channels at varying price points. Colors Kannada, Maa TV, Asianet, and Vijay Channel all now have a price of Rs 30, up from their previous price of Rs 19. Star Jalsha is now priced at Rs 25.
If the ceiling-breaking decision in 2025 had resulted in significant disruptions in distribution, the probable course of action would have involved a reconsideration of the eligibility criteria, with a potential pullback to Rs 19.
On the contrary, JioStar has broadened the range of choices and increased the price point from Rs 25 to Rs 30, indicating a sense of assurance that the exchange is proving successful in the marketplace.