The Reliance-Disney merger is expected to dominate 50% of India’s streaming market.

Reliance-Disney Merger: Transforming India’s Streaming Landscape

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A Strategic Merger for Streaming Dominance

Half of India’s Internet Users Already Engaged with Reliance and Disney Platforms Pre-Merger.
In a groundbreaking development set to reshape India’s streaming landscape, nearly half of the
country’s internet users were already immersed in movies, TV shows, news, and sports on
streaming platforms owned by Reliance and Walt Disney before the announcement of their
merger to form a media giant. The Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries and Disney
collaboration is poised to command nearly 50% of India’s streaming market, presenting
formidable challenges to competitors such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. The merger
symbolizes a strategic move toward dominating the rapidly expanding digital streaming market.
As this colossal union unfolds, it promises to reshape content consumption in India, marking a
significant milestone in the evolution of entertainment.

The Reliance-Disney merger, expected to create an $8.5 billion media giant, involves Reliance
acquiring Disney’s India business. This strategic move aims to offer a comprehensive range of
content, including films, shows, news, and sports, to the vast audience already engaged with
both conglomerates’ platforms. The merger is not only a business venture but a significant step
towards dominating the rapidly expanding digital streaming market in India.

Comscore Data Reveals Massive User Engagement

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Bloomberg, citing Comscore data, reveals that 46.6% of the Indian market share, equivalent to
a staggering 243.5 million users, were actively using three major platforms: Disney’s Hotstar,
Reliance’s JioCinema, and JioTV, before the merger was announced. Hotstar alone boasted
over 144 million unique visitors, while JioCinema and JioTV collectively received visits from over
129 million users. This massive pre-existing user engagement lays a solid foundation for the
success of the newly merged entity.

Cricket Streaming: The Catalyst for Success

Comscore data highlights that streaming cricket played a pivotal role in the success of these
platforms. The Men’s Cricket World Cup alone attracted 191 million visitors in November for
Hotstar, showcasing the immense popularity of live sports events. Additionally, the coverage of
the Indian Premier League proved to be a major draw for Reliance’s platforms, demonstrating
the power of sports content in retaining and expanding user bases.

Strategic Investments and Future Ventures

The merger involves Reliance and Walt Disney signing binding definitive agreements to form a
joint venture combining the businesses of Viacom18 and Star India. Mukesh Ambani’s
commitment to the venture is demonstrated by his investment of Rs 11,500 crore (approximately
$1.4 billion) for its growth strategy. The joint venture, valued at Rs 70,352 crore (approximately
$8.5 billion) on a post-money basis, excluding synergies, positions itself as a formidable force in
the Indian media and streaming industry.
As the Reliance-Disney merger unfolds, it not only consolidates the strengths of two industry
giants but also promises a new era in India’s digital streaming landscape, leaving a lasting
impact on how content is consumed in the country.
The collaboration not only poses formidable competition but establishes itself as a
transformative force. The strategic move to acquire Disney’s India business, combined with a
massive pre-existing user base, positions the merged entity to lead in the rapidly expanding
digital streaming market. The impact of this evolution extends beyond business, marking a
pivotal shift in how audiences engage with and experience content in India.