Disney-Reliance big merger: The media giant that can make India a content superpower
Industry leaders share their optimism about the transformative potential of the merger, highlighting its ability to redefine India’s media landscape
The media & entertainment industry is looking forward to the transformative change in media landscape as the tie-up between Disney’s Star India and Reliance Industries’ Viacom18, which kicks off tomorrow, is being hailed as a potential game-changer for both local and global audiences. The merger is poised to create a massive joint venture combining entertainment, sports and digital content.
The deal, which is set to close by mid-2025, will see Reliance Industries take a 56% controlling stake in the joint venture, with 37% held by Star India and 7% by Bodhi Tree Systems, a third-party investment company. The merger, valued at approximately $8.5 billion, aims to disrupt traditional media models, combining Disney’s extensive content library with Reliance’s Jio network, creating a behemoth in the OTT (over-the-top) and digital ad spaces.
Industry leaders are optimistic about the transformative potential of the Disney-Reliance merger, with
experts highlighting its ability to redefine India’s media landscape.
