Reliance, Disney complete India media merger valued at $8.5 billion

Group 1: Merger Overview - Reliance and Disney have completed a significant merger in the Indian media sector, creating an entertainment entity valued at $8.5 billion that will dominate streaming and television markets in India [1][2] - The joint venture will control approximately 85% of India's streaming market and about 50% of television viewership [1] Group 2: Financial and Operational Details - Reliance has invested $1.4 billion in the venture, holding a 63.16% stake, while Disney retains 36.84% [2] - The merger results in the largest media group in India, generating annual revenues of $3.1 billion, combining JioCinema, Hotstar, and over 100 television channels [3] Group 3: Leadership and Management - Nita Ambani will chair the joint venture, with Uday Shankar as vice-chair and Kevin Vaz, Kiran Mani, and Sanjog Gupta overseeing various operational aspects [5] Group 4: Strategic Implications - The joint venture consolidates control over valuable media rights, including major cricket properties and global sports content [4] - Disney's CEO Robert Iger emphasized the expansion of their presence in the Indian media market through this partnership [7]