Flipkart to launch free video streaming service before Diwali 2019

After acquiring India’s biggest retailer, US retail giant Walmart Inc has decided to take on Amazon, Netflix in video streaming service. Yes, Flipkart is likely to launch its own free OTT platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and ZEE5 for its Flipkart Plus Premium subscribers. According to reports, Flipkart’s free video streaming platform will be launched by Diwali this year.

Yes, after picking up 77 percent stake of Flipkart for $16 billion last year, Walmart Inc is all set to expand its business in India by rolling out streaming for its Flipkart Plus members. The service is currently in beta stage but it will be launched by September 2019.

We all know how Flipkart does its marketing? So Flipkart is surely going to give a tough competition to Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, ZEE5 and other OTT platforms in India. Providing Movies, Web series or TV shows for free might attract millions of subscribers within a year as there is hardly OTT platform is currently offering contents for free in India.

If the report is to be believed, Flipkart would not initially produce its original contents like Netflix, Amazon Prime or ZEE5. But, later they are likely to produce Flipkart original films and web series. According to Money Control, Initially, Flipkart would offer contents from the likes of Walt Disney Co. and local studios such as Balaji Telefilms.

Flipkart video streaming service will be free for only those who have a fee loyalty program which was launched last year. You are required to have 300 super coins to watch Flipkart video streaming service for free. Achieving 300 super coins, you will have to make a purchase from Flipkart. Flipkart is offering 2 coins for every ₹100 spent on its platform.

Users can use those tokens for items from flight tickets and food delivery to car rentals and music streaming subscriptions. And, again unlike its rival, the Indian company doesn’t automatically offer deals on shipping, with free delivery limited to only very few products.

Flipkart Plus launched its rewards program in 2018 when Amazon Prime was already made its presence in India. The service of Amazon Prime costs ₹999 annually or ₹129 a month. The $500 million Indian video-streaming market is likely to grow 10 times that size by 2023, according to a report by the Boston Consulting Group last year.

Owned by Jeff Bezos, the world’s richest man, Amazon launched Prime Video has garnered more than 13 million users, according to research firm Redseer, which is more than 10 percent of Prime’s global user base.

Also Read: NCLAT Asks Walmart To Explain Business Model To India After Acquiring Flipkart