Viacom18 Media Private Limited is a formerly independent Indianmedia conglomerate, currently part of JioStar. It is a Joint venture between Reliance Industries, Network18 and Bodhi Tree Systems. The joint-venture had various channels and content production studios in India. Following merger of its assets with Disney Star, it continues to be largest shareholder in the newly formed merged entity.[2]
History
Founding and early years 2007–2011
In January 2010, Viacom18 went international with the launch of Colors in United States. The channel is called Aapka Colors. In July 2010, it got into 50/50 distribution joint venture with Sun Network to form Sun 18.[3]
In December 2011, Viacom18 launched Nickelodeon Sonic, targeting young adults.[4]
ETV Network acquisition and rebranding 2014–2015
In January 2014, TV18 acquired the non-Telugu language TV assets of ETV Network for ₹2,053 crore, with a permission to use ETV brand name.[5]
The company also owns Viacom18 Studios. On 31 January 2018, TV18 announced its acquisition of Viacom's majority in the joint venture, taking operational control and leaving Viacom with minority interest.[7] On 1 October 2019, Viacom18 launched Colors HD in Malaysia on Astro Malaysia; every serial will be served with Malay and English subtitles.[citation needed]
More recently, the company had signed a deal with the National Basketball Association in order to deliver live NBA games to all of their own networks.[8]
Attempted mergers with Sony and Zee, partnership with Bodhi Tree Systems 2020–2023
In June 2020, Sony's Indian unit Sony Pictures Networks was in talks with Viacom18 about a merger, with the talks getting advanced much later. If the merger was successful, Sony would be 74% shareholder in the merged company.[9] However, in October 2020, Reliance Industries,[10] the majority share holder in Viacom18, called off the merger.[11][12]
In June 2021,[13] reports stated Viacom18 and Zee Entertainment Enterprises were reportedly in talks about a merger.[14] However, Zee denied any talks about a potential merger with Viacom18,[15] later entering talks with Sony Pictures Networks, which was also in talks about a merger with Viacom18 earlier.[16]
In January 2022, there were reports that Lupa India, an investment company set up by Uday Shankar and James Murdoch, were in the final stages of picking up a 39% stake in Viacom18.[17] thereby turning Paramount Global into a minority shareholder with a 10% share in the company.[18] In April 2022, Reliance announced that Bodhi Tree Systems, a company founded by Shankar and Murdoch with backing from the Qatar Investment Authority,[19] would make a US$1.8 billion investment in Viacom18 to "jointly build India’s leading entertainment platform and pioneer the Indian media landscape's transformation to a ‘streaming-first’ approach." As part of the venture, JioCinema—a streaming service owned by Reliance's mobile operator Jio—would be brought under Viacom18. Paramount would remain a stakeholder and content partner. The deal was approved by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) in September 2022.[20][21] The sale was completed on 17 April 2023, with Bodhi Tree acquiring a 13.08% stake in the venture, and diluting Paramount Global's stake to 13.01%.[22]
Merger with Disney Star 2023–present
In December 2023, it was announced that The Walt Disney Company India and Reliance had signed a non-binding term sheet for a merger. According to its terms, Reliance would hold a 51% in the merged company in cash and stock, while Disney would own the remaining 49%. For purposes of the merger, a subsidiary of Viacom18 was going to be created to absorb Disney Star through a stock swap,[23] pending ratification and regulatory approval.[24][25][26][27]
In February 2024, Disney and Reliance reached a deal to merge their streaming and television assets, with the joint venture valued at $8.5 billion including synergies. As part of the deal, Viacom18 would be merged into Disney Star with Disney holding a 36.84% stake in the combined entity, which would bring together assets such as linear television entertainment channels StarPlus, Colors TV and the Star Gold Network, sports channels Star Sports and Sports18 and the streaming services JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar with Nita Ambani serving as the chairperson of the joint venture, with Uday Shankar serving as vice chairperson with the deal giving 16.34% to Reliance and 46.82% to Viacom18[28] and is expected to close sometime in late 2024 or early 2025 pending regulatory approval.[29][30]
In March 2024, it was reported that Paramount Global was looking to sell its 13.01% stake in Viacom18 to Reliance, which already owned a 73.91% share via TV18.[31] Although Bloomberg News reported that the deal was unlikely to close, the deal was confirmed a week later for $517 million, its closure subject to regulatory approval and the completion of the joint venture between Viacom18 and Disney. Paramount would however continue to license its content to the company.[32]
On May 14, 2024, It was reported the deal between Disney and Reliance was approved by National Company Law Tribunal, with the JioCinema streaming service being moved to the Digital18 unit as part of the merger.[33][34]
On 28 August 2024, the CCI has approved the merger of Disney+ Hotstar with Viacom18.[35]
On 28 September 2024 The Central government gave nod to the transfer of the non-news and current affairs TV channels held by Viacom18 to Star India is subject to conditions laid by Competition commission of India.
On 14 November 2024, Reliance Industries Limited issued a media release stating that merger of Viacom18 with Star India has become effective.[36][2]
Owned Channels
On-air channels
Following are the channels that Viacom18 owned, prior to its merger with Star India:
