Mukesh Ambani-owned JioCinema, HBO’s official streaming partner, did not air the latest episode of John Oliver’s 'Last Week Tonight,' which critiques Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to The News Minute.
JioCinema, operated by Viacom18 and controlled by Reliance Industries, recently secured a deal with Warner Bros to stream popular HBO shows and movies. Despite this agreement, the newest episode of John Oliver's show, which aired in the U.S. on June 2, remains conspicuously absent from the platform.
The episode is set to become publicly available on YouTube on June 6, following HBO’s revised policy aimed at boosting subscriptions by delaying the upload of full episodes.
JioCinema has faced criticism for similar actions in earlier as well. In 2020, an episode that covered sensitive topics such as the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, the Gujarat riots, and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh was also withheld from streaming. The previous streaming partner, Disney+ Hotstar, faced backlash from Oliver himself for not airing that episode.
This pattern of selective streaming raises questions about censorship, particularly given the content of Oliver’s latest episode. Social media clips show Oliver anticipating potential censorship and directing viewers to alternative websites to access the content.
Viacom18 and JioCinema have not yet responded to inquiries regarding the unavailability of the episode. As these platforms navigate the complex interplay between content rights and political sensitivities, viewers are left to seek out alternative means to access uncensored material.
The timing of this decision, just before the Lok Sabha election results, amplifies concerns about media freedom and the influence of powerful conglomerates in India’s digital media landscape. The delay in releasing the episode underscores ongoing tensions between political critique and corporate interests, as viewers wait to see if and when the episode will be made available on JioCinema.