Reliance Industries / Disney Completes $8.5B Merger of Viacom18 and Star India (incl. IPL rights)

Disney and Reliance Industries completed a transformative merger of their Indian media operations in August 2024, combining Disney's Star India with Reliance's Viacom18 into a single entity valued at $8.5 billion. The consolidated business consolidates critical cricket broadcasting rights, including the Indian Premier League, under unified ownership while reducing operational redundancy in a highly competitive market. Disney's decision to merge rather than divest reflects the strategic importance of India's media market while acknowledging the capital intensity required to compete against entrenched local players.