Hotstar’s honeymoon period is ending

Caught between a global media merger and executives jumping ship, the Indian video-streaming giant seems a little lost

Everyone gets the same message. Executives, mid-management and junior employees across departments. If it isn’t mentioned during the interviews, the HR folks make sure that the fresh hires know: “It’s a company that is unlike other consumer tech firms.”

“‘We are challenging and taxing. Work is a priority especially when important projects like the IPL are on,” a former Hotstar employee recalls his days at the video streaming company.

It doesn’t take more than a week to find out that “unlike other consumer tech firms” was the harsh truth and then some—a fact that the company keeps reminding you. At …

Author

Harveen Ahluwalia

Harveen is a co-founder at The Morning Context, and leads our Internet coverage, overseeing a team of reporters writing on startups and tech. She has previously worked as a media, consumer and tech reporter at The Ken and Mint. At The Morning Context, she writes on startups, venture capital, consumer and media businesses—from e-commerce to healthtech to streaming.

Editor, Internet

harveen@mailtmc.com

Mumbai