Reliance-Disney media giant may be born in November

The merger between Reliance Industries Limited’s (RIL) Viacom18 and Walt Disney’s Star India is set to be officially concluded in early November after securing regulatory approvals in India, according to sources familiar with the matter.The merger will create India’s biggest and the most powerful media and entertainment conglomerate valued at $8.5 billion. As part of the merger deal, Viacom18 will transfer its assets to Star India, which will be the operating company post the merger.The proposed company will encompass over 100 TV channels and two streaming platforms. The merged entity will retain one streaming platform, Disney+ Hotstar, which is also expected to stream the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025.”Most of the formalities for the merger have been finalised, and the combined entity under Star India is set to take effect on November 7,” said a source, who requested anonymity, adding that the date might shift slightly.In a recent regulatory filing, RIL said that the Viacom18…