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With Star India, Disney emerges as India’s largest M&E firm
MUMBAI: Unlike the US, where the merger of The Walt Disney Co and 21st Century Fox’s entertainment assets is between two near equals, the scenario in India is totally different. 21st Century Fox’s India venture Star India is a $1.7 billion dollar media and entertainment behemoth while Disney India is a minnow with just about $150 or so million in sales, including its theatrical releases, TV businesses, and merchandising and licensing of the Disney characters and brands.
For long, the mouse house has struggled to attain scale in India, like it has done in China with its $100 million box office theatrical releases and successful Shanghai Disneyland but it has not attained the success it would have wanted.
Acquiring Ronnie Screwvala’s UTV half a decade ago gave Disney four channels—Bindaas, Hungama TV, UTV Action and UTV Movies, apart from a film production studio which it shuttered last year despite having
a huge hit in the Aamir Khan starrer Dangal. Other channels in its portfolio include Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Disney Channel HD, and Disney Junior HD.
The acquisition of Star India with its 61 channels, stakes in DTH operator Tata Sky, VOD service Hotstar, and in-film production and distribution has in one fell swoop catapulted it to the number one media and entertainment company status in India.
However, it’s most likely that Star India chairman & CEO Uday Shankar will be given the mandate to steer and drive the enthusiastic young and new management team in Disney India, in synergy with Star India. Shankar has been focused on regional language entertainment channel expansion, sports and Hotstar at the powerful media firm–a portfolio he has grown since he took over in 2007.
Disney India is run by Abhishek Maheshwari–who was elevated to that position recently–following the promotion of Mahesh Samat as executive VP & managing director for South Asia. How Shankar will manage the operations and whether he will restructure the management there will become clearer over the next few months.
Star India has lacked kids channels in its portfolio; the addition of the Disney channels will help complete that.
Its Hotstar service has the most complete international portfolio and has had exclusive access to fresh Disney content, shows from HBO, Fox, CBS, and Showtime. And with it, Disney India will get more than 70 odd million active users consuming a multiple billion minutes a month of content.
“It is going to be an unrivalled media and entertainment powerhouse,” says a media observer. “All other media companies pale in comparison in the country.”
The Tata Sky stake immediately brings into the Disney fold a satellite TV distribution platform making it a first for the company. UK satellite TV distributor Sky will most likely be the second one if the Murdochs’ bid for it in the UK gets the go-ahead from local authorities in time.
Of course, the arrangement in India will give Disney access to the world’s most valued cricket league, the IPL, for which Star India bid aggressively this year–some say too much. Then there are other sports activities that it automatically gets, like the leagues for kabaddi, football, hockey, and badminton. But being a part of Disney will aid its larger partner, too; it will have the facility to dip into the former’s massive cash trove to aid Shankar’s aggressive growth and entrepreneurial urge whether on video-streaming expansion or in sports.
Interesting times are clearly on hand for the media and entertainment business in India.
Also read:
Comment: The rise and rise of Uday Shankar
Disney to buy 21st Century Fox assets for $52.4 billion
Disney expected to announce 21 CF buyout tomorrow: media reports
Now, Comcast in talks to buy 21st Century Fox
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
