Under the agreement, Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) will have a controlling interest in the newly formed entity, holding a 56% stake. Disney will possess 37% ownership.
Under the agreement, Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) will have a controlling interest in the newly formed entity, holding a 56% stake. Disney will possess 37% ownership.

Following the merger of Star India and Viacom18, Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) has chosen Disney+ Hotstar as its principal streaming platform, with JioCinema to be incorporated, according to The Economic Times. The move aims to boost Reliance’s position in the Indian streaming market. While Reliance has not confirmed the move, sources said employees at JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar were informed earlier this week.

Following the merger, Disney+ Hotstar will become the United entity’s major streaming platform, with the platform expected to dominate India’s fast-rising online entertainment market. “Reliance’s leadership ultimately chose Disney+ Hotstar for its superior technology infrastructure,” according to a source familiar with the matter.

Reliance announced in February a $8.5 billion merger with Walt Disney of Star India and Viacom18. The merger has previously been approved by the National Company Law Tribunal, the Competition Commission of India, and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

Why Disney+ Hotstar Came Out On Top

Despite both platforms’ enormous content libraries and strong positions in live sports streaming, three significant criteria led to Disney+ Hotstar becoming the platform of choice:

1. Superior Tech Infrastructure: According to insiders, Disney+ Hotstar was chosen for its dependable and scalable technology, which surpassed JioCinema.

2. Larger User Base: According to reports, Disney+ Hotstar had 333 million monthly active users in Q4 2023, exceeding JioCinema’s 225 million during the same period.

3. More paying customers: As of June, Disney+ Hotstar had 35.5 million paying customers, whereas JioCinema had slightly more than 16 million by September.

Reliance has been streaming the Indian Premier League (IPL) on JioCinema for the last two years. However, with the merger almost complete, IPL 2025 matches are scheduled to be streamed on Disney+ Hotstar. RIL allegedly considered several methods, including running distinct platforms for sports and entertainment, but finally decided on consolidation.

According to the article, once the merger is completed, Star India will handle the new entity’s activities. Viacom18’s TV and streaming assets will be transferred to Star. Reliance will own 56%, Walt Disney will keep 37%, and Bodhi Tree Systems, owned by Uday Shankar and James Murdoch, will have 7%.