The merger, however, could be an opportunity for advertisers as the sheer reach and diversity of the new entity mean they can now connect with audiences on a larger scale, across multiple platforms
Speaking at Reliance Industries AGM, Mukesh Ambani said the new entity will combine content creation with digital streaming to cater to every consumer's taste
While the CCI's conditional approval is a major milestone, the merger may still encounter further legal and regulatory hurdles over concerns of harming competition, say experts
The green light from the CCI comes with a caveat: the companies must comply with certain voluntary modifications to address potential competition concerns
The CCI might require the sale of some cricketing rights as a condition for approving the $8.5 billion media merger, experts from legal fraternity told e4m
A detailed dialogue with CCI is crucial to move ahead say legal experts who believe that the antitrust regulator may ask for more meaningful divestiture if it allows the combination to go ahead
According to a media report, the main concern for the CCI appears to be the control over cricket broadcasting rights, which could potentially lead to issues with pricing and market dominance
During the earnings call, Walt Disney’s Chief Financial Officer Hugh Johnston said the company would lay out positive earnings from the India business consolidation once the merger deal is closed
Lotte Wellfood announced the move as part of its strategic initiative, One India, that aims to enhance its brand presence and secure growth momentum in the Indian confectionery & ice cream market
According to experts, the Disney-Reliance merger could drive up ad rates for major properties like IPL and the World Cup, but its impact on general entertainment content may be limited
Even if the NCLT grants its approval, the Scheme cannot be implemented unless all regulatory clearances, including those from the CCI, MIB, and others, are secured
As per legal experts, the clearance was vital to assess if the merger would create an appreciable adverse effect on competition in areas like cricket broadcasting
As per reports, Tony Vinciquerra, Chairman & CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment, has said during a meeting that the company was considering several candidates as NP Singh’s replacement
A news report citing Zee's regulatory filing stated that in 2022-23, Zee incurred Rs 176 crore in merger-related costs and in 2023-24, it shelled out Rs 256 crore
The next step is to secure over 75% votes from stakeholders in favour of the merger; more approvals needed from NCLT, regulatory bodies and stock exchanges, say experts
In a regulatory filing, the Walt Disney Company shared that if the merger is not finalized by February 28, 2026, Star India or RIL may terminate the deal
The decision will enable the company to continue to aggressively pursue all its claims against Sony in the ongoing arbitration proceedings at the SIAC and in other forums
An estimated 5% of employees have been offered retention bonus if they remain with the company until the merger is complete. Additionally, Disney Star is expediting pending promotions
Guest Column: Anup Chandrasekharan, COO - Regional Content · IN10 Media Network, looks back at the eventful last quarter of the media & entertainment industry
As per a media report, Viacom18’s restructuring, which comes close to the RIL-Disney merger announcement, will see Anil Jairaj, Viacom18 Sports CEO, reporting to Kiran Mani
In the aftermath of the Zee-Sony merger fallout and the subsequent crashing of its shares, Punit Goenka may have to soon find a partner for ZEEL to tide over the tough times, say industry experts
In an interview with a media house, Punit Goenka, ZEEL's Managing Director, said several investors were keen in coming on board but the focus was on delivering value to the company shareholders
The hearing was earlier moved to February 21 after IPRS informed NCLT that its plea against the tribunal's February 9 order is pending judgment by the NCLAT
Post the merger of Viacom18 and Disney Star, the new company is expected to command more than 40% of TV market share and 34% of the digital OTT market share
Negotiating for IPL ad rates is likely to be challenging as the merged entity is at an elevated position in terms of sports programming, share marketers
Reliance Industries and The Walt Disney Company said the media undertaking of Viacom18 will be merged into Star India Private Limited through a court-approved scheme of arrangement
BSE had sought clarifications from ZEEL on news report claiming that its stock gained 4% following reports of an attempt to revive the merger deal with Sony
Punit Goenka, ZEEL’s Managing Director, said during the Q3 earnings call that he has chalked out a plan to bring back the company’s margins and drive growth
Experts say BCCI may suffer from lack of options for cricket rights. However, due to the market being less competitive, the industry may see tech and OTT giants enter the fray aggressively
The media company also said that it will vigorously fight for its right to terminate the merger agreement and seek a termination fee among other remedies at the SIAC