JioCinema to launch new plan on April 25. Will it go ad-free?

JioCinema has announced it will unveil a new plan on April 25, sparking the speculation that Reliance Jio’s video streaming platform will finally go ad-free. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), JioCinema said “change is constant, but your plan doesn’t have to be,” possibly hinting at an ad-free tier that is among the highly requested features on the Netflix and Prime Video rival.

JioCinema subscription plan

Launched some months back, JioCinema’s only subscription plan gives users access to English content available through partner platforms such as HBO and Peacock. The rest of the content, including Hindi shows on Viacom18 channels and Indian Premiere League cricket matches, is free to watch. That is part of the company’s strategy to increase the user base, which is adopting over-the-top (OTT) platforms increasingly. This plan also allows simultaneous streaming on up to four devices. However, the platform offers short and long-format advertisements during the streams, irking paying subscribers.

Change is constant, but your plan doesn't have to be 😉

A new plan. Coming April 25th.#JioCinema pic.twitter.com/aJ4FtsBl7J

— JioCinema (@JioCinema) April 21, 2024

Several JioCinema Premium members have expressed concerns about how frequent advertisements during a movie or a show ruin the experience. Subscription plans of other streaming platforms such as Amazon Prime Video and Netflix in India offer an ad-free experience. However, ad-supported plans are available on the US counterparts of international streamers. These plans are cheaper than regular plans and offer customers access to the entire library of content. JioCinema could launch a new plan based on a similar strategy where a higher-priced subscription will allow users to stream content without advertisements.

Reports are rife that JioCinema will also offer 4K streaming and downloading options in the upcoming plan. The existing free and paid plans also offer 4K streaming, although.

JioCinema Premium plan

The current JioCinema Premium plan costs Rs 999 for a year. No monthly tier is available, unlike Prime Video, Netflix, and ZEE5, which offer both options to customers. The price of the upcoming JioCinema Premium plan is currently unclear.