Winning Bizness Desk
Mumbai. Reliance’s Viacom18 and Disney Star India have merged to form the largest entertainment network in India. This merger includes Disney+ Hotstar and JioCinema, combining forces to reach over 75 crore viewers through 120 television channels and two streaming platforms. Reliance has invested ₹11,500 crore in this venture, which has been in development for about a year. The total deal value is reported to be Rs 70,352 crore, with Reliance owning 63.16% of the new venture and Disney holding a 36.84% share. Nita Ambani will serve as Chairperson, with Uday Shankar as Vice Chairperson, guiding the company’s strategic direction.
Three CEOs to Lead Key Segments
This new entertainment giant will be managed by three CEOs, each overseeing different divisions. Kevin Vaz will lead the entertainment division, Kiran Mani will head digital operations, and Sanjog Gupta will manage the sports division. Mukesh Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Industries, expressed optimism, noting that this partnership marks a transformative period for India’s media and entertainment sector.
Extensive Content Library and Exclusive Rights
As part of this merger, Disney Star’s 80 channels will combine with Viacom18’s 40 channels to create a total of 120 channels, though some may eventually close. Additionally, both platforms bring popular OTT apps to the table—Disney+ Hotstar and JioCinema. The joint venture holds significant broadcast rights, with Viacom18 having TV rights for cricket matches managed by BCCI, and Disney Star possessing rights to broadcast the Indian Premier League (IPL) on television until 2027. Meanwhile, JioCinema holds digital streaming rights for IPL. The new venture will also have exclusive rights to distribute Disney films and productions in India, including access to Disney’s extensive library of over 30,000 content assets. However, Reliance’s news channels, which are part of Network18, are not included in this deal.
Potential New OTT Platform: JioStar
In preparation for the merger, Reliance has registered the domain JioStar.com, indicating that JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar may be combined into a single app called JioStar in the future. While the company has not officially confirmed this, it could be a strategic move to consolidate streaming content under one platform.
Financial Highlights and Market Position
The joint venture generated a revenue of ₹26,000 crore in the 2024 fiscal year and produces over 30,000 hours of television content annually. JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar currently boast a combined subscriber base of 5 crore users. Reliance, one of India’s largest private sector companies, has a market cap of ₹17.15 lakh crore. With operations in various sectors, including hydrocarbon exploration, petroleum refining, digital services, and retail, this partnership further strengthens Reliance’s position in India’s booming digital and entertainment landscape. This merger between Disney and Reliance marks a new era for Indian entertainment, creating a massive platform that combines extensive viewership, exclusive content, and a diverse channel lineup to cater to millions across the country.
