Reliance Industries, India’s most valuable company, and Walt Disney signed a non-binding term sheet to merge their Indian media operations, the Economic Times reported on Monday, citing sources it did not name.
Under the merger Reliance would own 51 percent through a combination of shares and cash, with Disney holding the remaining 49 percent, giving more control to Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance group, the newspaper said, according to a Reuters report.
The deal is likely to be completed by February, with Reliance aiming to finish the process by the end of January, subject to regulatory approvals, it said.
Reliance and Disney did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.
Reuters reported two weeks ago that company executives were meeting in London to discuss the next stage of the media merger.
A merger would create one of India’s biggest entertainment empires, competing with television interests such as Zee Entertainment and Sony, and streaming giants including Netflix and Amazon Prime.
Reliance runs many TV channels and the JioCinema streaming app through its media and entertainment unit Viacom18. Ambani has been locked in a fierce battle with Disney, offering free streaming of the Indian Premier League cricket tournament, whose digital rights were once with Disney in India.
Economic Times said the parties are working on a plan to invest $1 billion to $1.5 billion in the business, without specifying whether this was the total or the amount each would invest.
The board is expected to include an equal number of directors from Reliance and Disney, with at least two representatives each, the newspaper said. They are also in consideration of having at least two independent directors, but this might change in the coming weeks, the report said.
Madras HC halts release of ‘Akhanda 2’ in major relief for Eros International
Kevin Vaz highlights India’s content surge at Asia TV Forum 2025
Gaurav Gandhi honored as M&E visionary at CII Summit 2025
Ministry of Tourism signs MoU with Netflix to showcase India’s destinations globally
GTPL Hathway unveils ‘GTPL Infinity’, new satellite-based HITS platform
Prime Video drops new posters for ‘Spider-Noir’ series
ShemarooMe rolls out 10-day ‘Gujju Film Fest’
Gracenote unveils new CTV ad platform to enable precise program-level targeting
TPL signs multi-year streaming deal with JioHotstar to boost digital reach
Govt proposes spectrum-sharing rule for telco monetisation 


