YouTube’s Ishan Chatterjee appointed as JioCinema's chief business officer

Previously serving as managing director at YouTube India, Ishan Chatterjee is now tasked with leading JioCinema’s monetization efforts.

His appointment reflects the platform’s ambition to expand its presence in India’s competitive streaming market, where it seeks to offer advanced experiences to its growing subscriber base, according to a statement released by JioCinema on Friday (Oct. 4).

With over 20 years of industry experience, including 13 years at Google where he helped foster YouTube's growth in India, Chatterjee also brings experience from McKinsey and Hindustan Unilever.

He is a graduate of The Wharton School and St. Stephen’s College.

In his new role, Chatterjee will focus on expanding revenue streams, particularly in the areas of sports and entertainment, while also targeting small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs).

Chatterjee will report to Kiran Mani, CEO of Viacom18 Media Pvt Ltd, and join the leadership team at JioCinema.

Reliance announced at its 47th annual general meeting in August that JioCinema had surpassed 15 million paying subscribers.

In April, the platform rolled out new subscription plans to attract more users.

The JioCinema Premium plan, available for Rs 29 per month, offers ad-free content across multiple languages, including original series, movies, children’s programming, and TV shows, accessible on various devices including smart TVs.

This move challenges major global platforms like Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar, and Amazon Prime Video, as well as local OTT competitors in India.

Additionally, JioCinema offers a family plan priced at Rs 89 per month, allowing streaming on up to four devices simultaneously.

Last year, the platform introduced a Rs 999 annual plan, providing ad-free Hollywood content alongside ad-supported regional programming and sports, further solidifying its standing in the OTT market.

Reliance’s media arm, which includes JioCinema, generated over Rs 10,000 crore ($1.2 billion) in revenue last year, reflecting a 49 percent increase.

Viacom18, Reliance’s entertainment division, posted 62 percent growth, driven largely by sports content, positioning the company as a significant player in India’s OTT landscape.