Subscription video on-demand streaming service Disney+ Hotstar is ready to compete with Netflix in grabbing Indonesian viewers’ attention starting on Sept. 5.

Collaborating with cellular operator Telkomsel, it boasts more than 500 movies and 7,000 episodes of global and Disney+ original contents. Among them are Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast, Marvel Studios films, all 12 Star Wars films, Pixar Animation Studios films, Disney Channel and Disney Junior series, popular series like The Simpsons, Criminal Minds and Lost as well as Disney+ original content, such as The Mandalorian, Lady and The Tramp (2019), Muppets Now and The World According to Jeff Goldblum.

Disney+ Hotstar will also feature more than 300 Indonesian movies, including Sabar Ini Ujian, Malik dan Elsa, Rentang Kisah, Bidadari Mencari Sayap, Pelukis Hantu, Benyamin Biang Kerok 2, Warkop DKI Reborn 4 and films made by PT Screenplay Bumilangit Produksi, PT Falcon, PT Frontera Inter Media, PT Kharisma Starvision Plus, PT MD Pictures, PT Rapi Film and PT Tiga Belas Entertainment.

According to Walt Disney Company Asia Pacific president Uday Shankar, Indonesia is the company’s first market in Southeast Asia.

“Indonesia’s dynamic, tech-savvy population has a huge appetite for quality local entertainment content, and [the country] is also home to some of the biggest Disney fans in the region,” he said in a statement.

Details about the subscription plans have not been announced; however, it is said to offer ad-free viewing, download and child-friendly features and will be able for streaming via the website, Android and iOS smartphones, Android TV and Fire TV Stick. 

The news comes shortly after Netflix announced on Aug. 1 a new monthly subscription pricing for Indonesian users in accordance with the government’s new value-added tax (VAT). Its cheapest subscription plan, called the Mobile package, which previously cost Rp 49,000 (US$3.35), is now priced at Rp 54,000. Meanwhile, its Basic, Standard and Premium packages now cost Rp 120,000, Rp 153,000 and Rp 186,000, respectively.

In early July, cellular and internet service providers belonging to the Telkom Group lifted their ban on Netflix, allowing the former’s users to conveniently stream the latter’s content. Telkom’s spokesman Arif Prabowo said the company had come to the decision after witnessing Netflix’s serious commitment to comply with the requirement of “not airing prohibited content including child pornography and terrorism”, among other things. (wir/kes)

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