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JioStar: A New Media Giant on the Horizon

With the much-awaited merger between Reliance’s Viacom18 and Disney Star nearing completion, a new media powerhouse called JioStar is set to launch by November 13. This merger, valued at ₹70,350 crore, marks a significant move in the Indian media landscape, combining resources from two of the biggest names in entertainment. The ownership structure of JioStar will see Reliance Industries holding a 16.34% stake, Viacom18 controlling 46.82%, and Disney holding 36.84%. The entity will be led by Nita Ambani, wife of Mukesh Ambani, as chairperson, with Uday Shankar serving as vice-chairperson. The two co-CEOs, Kevin Vaz and Kiran Mani, will manage broadcast and digital operations, respectively, while Piyush Goyal, from IndiaCast Media, will take charge of distribution.

Bringing Together Massive Media Assets

JioStar’s launch will integrate significant streaming platforms, JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar, and unite over 120 television channels under one umbrella, making it India’s largest media 33. Once live, the platform will offer a variety of content from both OTT services, ensuring a diverse media experience for viewers. The merger also consolidates key sports broadcasting rights, including the IPL, ICC, and major cricket board bilateral rights from India, Australia, and South Africa. Additionally, JioStar will feature sports assets such as Wimbledon, Pro Kabaddi League, MotoGP, and the EPL, making it a major player in live sports broadcasting. The entity’s launch announcement, “Coming Soon,” on November 12, further heightened anticipation for what’s expected to be a transformative service in India’s entertainment sector.

Regulatory Compliance and Strategic Decisions

As part of the merger agreement, the new entity has agreed not to bundle TV and OTT ad slots for its cricketing rights until the current rights period concludes, addressing regulatory concerns over its dominance in cricket broadcasting. Moreover, the parties involved will divest seven television channels, including Hungama and Super Hungama, to comply with Competition Commission of India (CCI) guidelines aimed at ensuring fair competition. The CCI approved the merger in August with these voluntary modifications in place. Other approvals, such as those from the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), have been secured, paving the way for JioStar to reshape the Indian media landscape as it goes live.

 

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