India's Tata Group and Bharti Group are close to merging their satellite TV businesses, creating a nearly $1.6 billion entity with the aim of tiding over the sustained migration of subscribers to digital streaming,

Tata Play, previously known as Tata Sky, was initially launched as a joint venture with News Corp. In 2019, Walt Disney took over the company’s stakes following its acquisition of 21st Century Fox. The merger is expected to give Airtel access to Tata Play’s vast subscriber base, which currently serves nearly 20 million homes.

Tata Group and Bharti Group are close to merging their satellite TV businesses, creating a nearly $1.6 billion entity with the aim of tiding over the sustained migration of subscribers to digital streaming,

As India shifts from pay-TV to digital streaming, reports suggest Tata Play and Airtel Digital TV are set to merge through a share swap, with Airtel acquiring a majority stake (52-55%). The deal, valued at Rs 6,

While Airtel will reportedly hold more than a 50% stake, Tata Play’s shareholders including Walt Disney, will own between 45% to 48% stake in the joint entity

It is estimated that the combined entity will serve approximately 35 million paid subscribers, drawn from Tata Play’s 19 million and Airtel Digital TV’s roughly 16 million, as of September 2024

Tata and Bharti groups are finalizing a merger of their DTH businesses, Tata Play and Airtel Digital TV, due to consumer shifts to digital platforms. The merger, structured through a share swap, will boost Airtel's revenues and is to be managed by Airtel's senior management.

The merger will see Airtel holding a majority stake of 52-55% in the combined entity, while Tata Play shareholders, including Walt Disney, will own 45-48%.

Airtel will access Tata Play’s 19 million households, supporting its plan to combine telecom, broadband, and DTH offerings. In April 2024, Tata Sons raised its Tata Play stake to 70%, buying Temasek’s 10% share for Rs. 835 crore ($100 million), setting the company’s value at $1 billion—down from $3 billion pre-pandemic.

India’s satellite TV industry is on the brink of a major transformation, as Tata Group and Bharti Group are reportedly close to merging their DTH (Direct-to-Home) services, Tata Play and Airtel Digital TV.

The Tata Play, Airtel Digital TV merger is likely to take place via a share swap, the ET report says. Tata Play and Airtel Digital TV are heading towards a merger, an Economic Times report said on Tuesday.