Tata Group is mulling over the purchase of Walt Disney Co.’s share in Tata Play. This deal would hand Tata full ownership of the subscription TV broadcaster, signalling another major shift in the country’s media sector.

What Happened: While these discussions are still in the early stages, insiders tell Bloomberg that Disney’s stake could peg Tata Play’s value at around $1 billion (₹8,286 crore). However, it’s worth noting that Tata might opt to walk away from this potential deal, highlighting the uncertainty that still looms over this transaction.

Reliance Industries is also reportedly in talks to acquire Walt Disney’s 29.8% stake in Tata Play, aiming to enrich Tata Play’s offerings by integrating its JioCinema content catalogue, a strategic move to bolster Tata Play’s position against rivals such as Netflix, Hotstar, JioCinema, and Amazon Prime.

Why it matters: This development unfolds as Disney seeks to merge its Indian operations with Mukesh Ambani’s Viacom 18 Media, in a landmark agreement announced in late February.

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This merger will forge an $8.5 billion (₹70,435 crore) behemoth, capturing the attention of 750 million viewers and setting the stage for dominance in India’s crowded entertainment sphere.

Moreover, the merger has sparked a trend of divestments among other media giants. Paramount Global, for instance, has decided to offload its 13% stake in its Indian TV venture to Ambani’s Reliance Industries for $517 million.

These strategic moves by Disney and Paramount, alongside Tata’s potential buyback, underscore a broader pattern of global media powerhouses scaling back or exiting the Indian market, as local entities continue solidifying their dominance.

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