Disney and Reliance Industries Plan Next-Stage Merger Talks

The proposed merger could create one of India's largest entertainment empires, intensifying competition with other major players.

Disney and Reliance Industries are planning to hold next-stage talks about their India media business merger in London next week.
The proposed merger would create one of India's biggest entertainment empires, setting it in competition with other major TV players and streaming giants.
Reliance Industries, led by billionaire Mukesh Ambani, already runs many TV channels and the JioCinema streaming app through its media and entertainment unit Viacom18.
Reliance outbid Disney for the right to stream Indian Premier League cricket matches, paying $2.7 billion in June 2022, sparking a user exodus from Disney's streaming app Hotstar.
Disney acquired media company Star India in 2019 as part of its purchase of 21st Century Fox for $71 billion, allowing it to provide popular Indian Premier League cricket matches and dozens of TV channels to viewers.