Reliance Industries and Walt Disney Merge India TV and Streaming Assets, Creating $8.5 Billion Entertainment Juggernaut 📺

Reliance Industries, led by Mukesh Ambani, and Walt Disney announced the merger of their India TV and streaming media assets, forming an $8.5 billion entertainment powerhouse in India. Reliance will inject $1.4 billion into the merged entity, holding over 63% stake, while Disney will own the rest. The merger addresses Disney’s challenges in India’s streaming business and financial strain caused by large payments for Indian cricket rights. The combined entity will feature 120 TV channels, two streaming platforms, and TV/streaming cricket rights for major tournaments. The deal values the merged venture at around $8.5 billion, positioning Reliance ahead of rivals like Sony, Zee Entertainment, and Netflix in India’s $28 billion media and entertainment sector. Nita Ambani, Mukesh Ambani’s wife, will chair the board, with former Disney executive Uday Shankar serving as vice-chair.