iWorld
$23 bn Voda-Idea merger approved, 407 mn combined subs
MUMBAI: Consolidation in the telecom sector seems to be progressing well, especially in the backdrop of big leaps by the new entrant Reliance Jio.
The Competition Commission of India reportedly approved US$23 billion Vodafone-Idea merger unconditionally, with no additional scrutiny. Idea and Vodafone had, in March 2017, decided to join hands to take on intense competition, eventually creating India’s largest telecoms operator.
Vodafone India advisor Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas, in a statement, said the regulator had approved the merger. Idea advisor Trilegal stated that the merger would create significant efficiencies and synergies.
The combined entity would become the largest in terms of subscribers (over 407 million), revenue market share (41 per cent), subscriber market share (almost 34.50 per cent) and spectrum holdings (1850 Mhz). Market leader Bharti has over 278.60 million subscribers, around 35.6 per cent revenue market share (RMS), 23.59 per cent subscriber market share (SMS) and 1489 Mhz of spectrum holdings.
The regulator has sent the letters of approval to Idea and Vodafone. NCLT is the agency which will ensure the merger is in accordance with DoT and M&A guidelines.
Now, Idea and Vodafone will have to move to SEBI for required approvals. Other regulatory approvals for the merger are reportedly anticipated in six months. Idea and Vodafone have assured the government they would return spectrum in whichever circle mandated.
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iWorld
Shemaroo buys OHO Gujarati’s entire content library for ShemarooMe
The deal lands over 30 original web series and 450-plus actors on ShemarooMe, with Pratik Gandhi’s Vitthal Teedi leading the charge
MUMBAI: Shemaroo Entertainment has moved fast and moved big. The company has snapped up the entire content library of OHO Gujarati for its streaming platform ShemarooMe, a consolidation that has no precedent in the Gujarati OTT market.
The haul is considerable. More than 30 original Gujarati web series, featuring the work of upwards of 450 local actors, will now sit under ShemarooMe’s roof. For a platform that has spent years quietly building its Gujarati credentials, including originals, curated libraries, and culturally rooted narratives, this is the kind of bulk acquisition that changes the competitive arithmetic overnight.
Saurabh Srivastava, chief operating officer for digital business at Shemaroo Entertainment, made clear the company’s ambitions stretch well beyond the subcontinent. “As we bring the well-established catalogue of OHO Gujarati onto ShemarooMe, our focus remains on making high-quality Gujarati stories more accessible while continuing to invest in compelling content,” he said. “With our strong connection to Gujarati viewers across the world, we believe these stories from the OHO catalogue can travel far and create an exciting entertainment offering for viewers.”
The first title out of the traps will be Vitthal Teedi, which hits ShemarooMe on April 10th. The series stars Pratik Gandhi, a name that needs no introduction to Gujarati audiences, and has the distinction of being the only Gujarati web series he has appeared in to date. Set in the heartland of Saurashtra during the 1980s, it traces a small-time gambler torn between personal ideals and the brutal logic of his circumstances. Character-driven, culturally embedded, and backed by a soundtrack featuring folk artists Aditya Gadhvi, Jigardan Gadhavi, and Geeta Rabari, the show arrives with considerable pedigree.
For Shemaroo, the deal fits neatly into a digital growth playbook built on sustainable expansion and deeper regional engagement. The Gujarati diaspora is large, dispersed, and underserved by mainstream streaming giants. If the company can deliver the goods, the OHO library may prove to be the most valuable land-grab in regional OTT this year.
