Disney might sell Hotstar and Star Sports to Reliance: Reports

Reports indicate that Disney is still in the initial stages of discussions regarding the potential sale of Hotstar and Star Sports to Reliance

Ever since Disney lost the broadcasting rights for the Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket tournament to Viacom18, Disney+ Hotstar has been witnessing a steady decline in its subscriber base. Numerous sources have indicated that Disney is actively exploring the possibility of selling Hotstar to potential buyers, with Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries emerging as a prominent candidate.

Despite offering a diverse array of content, Disney+ Hotstar has seen a significant loss of over 20 million subscribers. This subscriber withdrawal can be attributed, at least in part, to the loss of IPL and Indian cricket matches.

However, it’s worth noting that Disney+ Hotstar continues to provide an extensive range of entertainment options on its platform. In addition to covering ICC events, the platform offers viewers the opportunity to enjoy the Big Bash League and all of Australia’s cricket matches played on home soil.

Reports indicate that Disney is still in the initial stages of discussions regarding the potential sale of Hotstar and Star Sports to Reliance. While Disney has initiated talks with Reliance about a potential stake sale, it remains uncertain whether they will ultimately decide to part with these assets.

As a component of their long-term plan, Disney Star, despite experiencing a decline in subscriber numbers following the loss of IPL streaming rights, has managed to secure television broadcasting rights through 2027, as reported. This suggests that Disney is actively working on retaining a presence in the sports broadcasting arena, even as it explores various options for its streaming platform.

In contrast, a Reliance spokesperson responded to the Economic Times about the inquiries by stating, “As a policy, we do not comment on media speculation and rumors. Our company evaluates various opportunities on an ongoing basis.” Intriguingly, Reliance’s JioCinema garnered an impressive 32 million simultaneous viewers during the May IPL final, a match that was offered for free on their platform.