Flipkart to roll out video streaming for members of Plus loyalty program

Flipkart to roll out video streaming for members of Plus loyalty program

The service is now in beta stage.

Flipkart

MUMBAI: Amid the fierce battle of existing players, the Indian over-the-top (OTT) market is going to see the entry of another player. Walmart Inc.’s Flipkart is planning to roll out video streaming for members of its Flipkart Plus loyalty program by September.

According to a report by Bloomberg Quint, the service is now in beta stage. Moreover, it will enter the market ahead of the Diwali season. It will help the e-commerce platform to catch up with its main rival Amazon which houses award-winning shows such as The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel for global audiences and popular shows in local languages like Mirzapur.

Initially, Flipkart will rely on licensed content from Walt Disney Co., local studios like Balaji Telefilms. It won’t take the route of burning cash for original content first. Rather, it would bring in-house content later.

Flipkart Plus video-streaming will come free just like its no-subscription fee loyalty program unlike Amazon where it has subscription for prime members. According to the report, Flipkart shoppers can become members by amassing 300 “super coins,” at a rate of 2 for every Rs 100 ($1.40) spent on its platform. Back in 2018,  Walmart paid $16 billion for control of Indian e-commerce platform Flipkart.