Netflix Announces Rs 149 Mobile-Only Plan for India to Counter Jio Cinema

Streaming giant Netflix on Monday announced a new Rs 149 per month mobile-only plan for the Indian market, slashing its cheapest offering by 40% in a bid to counter the rapidly growing Jio Cinema and Disney+ Hotstar. The plan allows streaming in 720p HD on a single mobile device with full access to Netflix's content library including original series and films.

Strategic Shift for India

The pricing move represents Netflix's most aggressive India strategy yet. The company, which has 12 million subscribers in India compared to Jio Cinema's estimated 40 million paid users, has acknowledged that its premium pricing has been a barrier to mass adoption. The Rs 149 plan undercuts Jio Cinema's Rs 189 family plan and matches Disney+ Hotstar's mobile tier.

Netflix has also announced a slate of 25 new Indian original productions for 2026, including a cricket-themed series, two Tamil originals, and a collaboration with acclaimed director SS Rajamouli for an animated series based on Indian mythology. The investment in local content is estimated at $400 million for the year.

"India is not just our largest market by user count potential — it's also the most creatively vibrant. We're committed to making Netflix accessible to every Indian who loves great stories," said Netflix's VP for India, Monika Shergill.

The streaming wars in India have intensified significantly, with Amazon Prime Video recently launching its Rs 99 plan and Apple TV+ offering a Rs 49 introductory price. Industry analysts estimate the total streaming market in India will grow to $5 billion by 2027, but profitability remains elusive for most players due to intense price competition.