Disney Prepares To Exit India Market

Walt Disney Co. is holding preliminary discussions with potential buyers for its India streaming and television business including billionaires Gautam Adani and Kalanithi Maran, according to people familiar with the matter, as per a report carried by Bloomberg.

Disney is considering a range of options for its India business, including selling part of its Indian operations or a combination of the unit’s assets, such as sports rights and regional streaming service Disney Hotstar. The company has also gauged the interest of private equity funds.

The move comes as Disney faces increasing competition from local rivals such as Jio Cinema, which is owned by Reliance Industries Ltd., and SonyLIV, which is backed by Sony Group Corp. Both Jio Cinema and SonyLIV have been aggressively investing in content and have seen their subscriber bases grow rapidly in recent years.