Yeahhh right... This is how the Settings page look like on Disney+ Hotstar.

Seriously, there's nothing else.

No parental control settings, no subtitle appearance and language settings,....?

And I notice the audio quality is very bad, like the audio bitrate used is very low (referring to Stereo audio track). Anyone notices this?

Once you "Reset Samsung Smart Hub" and then change region to USA, you'll have to go to APPS, and then download/install "Hotstar" app.
Once done, use this website to login Disney+ Hotstar to your TV: https://www.hotstar.com/my/subscribe/activate


And since I use this method to get Disney+ Hotstar to work on my Samsung UHD TV (2018 model), it seems that there's no 5.1 audio for me... Anyone here knows any workaround on this?

Relax. You're not the only one.
Because Disney+ Hotstar is made to be very "family friendly". Even some kissing/make out scenes are being cut completely for some of the movie/shows in Disney+ Hotstar.

So if you're expecting a totally original, uncensored content, then Disney+ or Disney+ Hotstar is definitely not your first choice already.
Or in other words, if you're going to use Disney+ service, please expect censorship. Not because of the government, but because of the Disney company themselves wants it that way.
Use this link: https://www.hotstar.com/my/subscribe/activate

This post has been edited by joshhd: Jun 4 2021, 12:24 AM

Take Netflix as an example. They have several plans ranges from RM17 till RM55 per month, difference among them is mostly on streaming quality and overall user experience.

I wonder why Disney don't take this approach? Instead, they seems to "duplicate" themselves by literally making 2 versions of Disney+ in the market, and then re-brand it into Disney+ Hotstar for third world countries countries like Malaysia, which has a below average grade of user experience compared to Disney+
Let's say Malaysia has Disney+ and if you can afford RM40-45 per month to have all the great features like Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, better UI, more device compatibility and so on, well... Why not?

Yet the "unique selling point" of Disney+ Hotstar is, it has local vernacular content where Disney+ doesn't have.. I was like, huh?

https://www.hotstar.com/my/subscribe/activate

It seems to me that they just take the existing video copy of movies that is meant to be shown on TV channels like Fox Movies?

As you mentioned playback speed sped up, it seems to me that the movie is being speed up from 24fps into 25fps from their end (There's nothing we can do about it).
fps = frames per second
You can Google more about "PAL speedup" if you interested to know why TV broadcasters do that to 24fps content. Do note that PAL speedup is only used for 24fps content.
It is where the 24fps content is being sped up by exactly 4% to matches the PAL TV standard frame rate of 25fps, and also you'll realise the audio pitch is slightly higher than the original as a result of the speedup.
That also explains part of the reason why the movie runtime is shorter than original. Another reason, may be due to some scenes have been cut/censored.

I don't know why didn't they use the original 24fps copy of the movie to put it on Disney+ Hotstar....
Instead, they use back the already sped-up 25fps version of the movie and let Disney+ Hotstar viewers watch that version instead

And as of why no English subtitles... Because Fox Movies channels don't even offer English subtitles to viewers?

Seems to me that getting the Singapore version of Disney+ is the best option among all countries?

How about censorship (cut or blurred scenes)? Does the same rule apply for Disney+ Singapore?

I believe you change the app store's country into US, and then download the Hotstar app, right?

Yeah, I experience the same thing too. If you realise, the Hotstar app on Samsung Smart TV app store, was last updated on June 2019 😓😓😓😓 It seems like the app is being "left unattended" although it is available on the TV app store.

Ohh... You're using LG TV...
For me I'm using Samsung UHD TV, and previously I tried change to India, but Hotstar app doesn't appear at the app store at all.
So I have to change to United States, then this Hotstar app is available to install.

Ouch. That's harsh...

Once I click this "Loki" on Disney+ Hotstar:


It shows this:

What the heck?

This post has been edited by joshhd: Jun 9 2021, 03:23 PM

Not for everyone though... Some are just so happen to be existing Astro Movies Pack customer, and they're entitled for the Disney+ Hotstar subscription.
For those who've subscribed to the RM54.90/3 months subscription, I don't think many of them would still continue later on.

Btw it is possible to just straightaway create Disney+ SG account and pay in SGD, right? About RM40 a month?
I think that would be easier and lesser steps?

Maybe, a 2-hours-early privilege to Disney+ subscribers overseas?
Now can stream already:

They do this, so that for those who is eager to watch this series as soon as new episode releases, will continue subscribing to Disney+
This is call business strategy Otherwise, people would just subscribe the service for the sake of one particular show, and then cancel it after finish watching.
Same issue here, on my Samsung UHD TV. TV series will appear like this, but for movies is fine.

Reset Smart Hub, change app region to "United States of America", and then search/install "Hotstar" app.

Use this link to login your Disney+ Hotstar to your TV: https://www.hotstar.com/my/activate

But you'll be disappointed la... The overall UI looks half-baked, can't watch TV series, and far more inferior compared to the ones you see on current Android TV.
The Hotstar app on Samsung Smart TV app store, was last updated on June 2019 😓😓😓😓 It seems like the app is being "left unattended" although it is available on the TV app store.

If you want a "better than nothing" workaround, then you'll have to go through troublesome steps by changing app region to USA, and then install Hotstar app. https://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopi...ost&p=101240549
But there's many functionalities/features are not available in the Hotstar app, such as no Dolby 5.1 audio, no 4K UHD, cheap-looking UI design, can only watch movies and no TV series, and more.
If you personally don't demand much, then you may consider this quite troublesome workaround.

As of when would Samsung officially launches Disney+ Hotstar app in Malaysia, they did comment about this previously:
With no estimation timeframe given, you'll just have to expect for the worst, like might have to wait till end of this year, or next year, or never.

This post has been edited by joshhd: Jun 9 2021, 09:38 PM

You login using the Disney+ US account, or Singapore account?

Haih, that Disney+ watermark at the top right corner of the screen is so irritating...

Both Astro and Disney+ Hotstar actually are mutually agreed to have some revenue sharing clauses.
Meaning, a certain percent or portion of the total subscription fees you guys pay for Disney+ Hotstar subscription, would be shared with Astro as well.
So in other words, even if you don't subscribe to Astro and you just subscribe to the standalone Disney+ Hotstar (RM54.90 for 3 months), Astro will also gain some profit from it.
As in how many "percent" they sharing revenue with each other, that one nobody knows, cuz it is kept confidential to the general public.
Wait, I thought you guys aware of it?

Source: https://themalaysianreserve.com/2021/05/05/...disney-hotstar/

For those who got Astro, didn't you guys realise that Astro been keep promoting Disney+ Hotstar advertisements across TV channels, radio, and other online mediums?
For Astro subscribers, they keep telling you to use Astro ID and then activate Disney+ Hotstar account, this and there....
Same goes to Media Prima also. You think all those are just "drop down from the sky"?

Now I believe you know part of the reason why Disney+ Hotstar Malaysia subscription is slightly more expensive compared to other countries.

Yes you are not alone.
Only can stream movies, but TV series can't.

As previously mentioned, the Hotstar app on Samsung Smart TV app store, was last updated on June 2019 😓😓😓😓 It seems like the app is being "left unattended" although it is available on the TV app store. So don't be surprised if you experience software bugs or "missing features" here and there.

As of when would Samsung officially launches Disney+ Hotstar app in Malaysia, they did comment about this previously:
So in the mean time, just use whatever we can then...

This post has been edited by joshhd: Jun 15 2021, 11:53 PM

You guys seriously don't think that Cloudflare or Disney+ is on close watch on this thread?
Or maybe, someone report to them?

It's a matter of time only...

This post has been edited by joshhd: Jun 19 2021, 01:30 PM