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Disney Star Reviews

Mumbai, Maharashtra

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JioStar India Private Limited, widely known by its trade name Disney Star and formerly operated as Star India, is a premier Indian media and entertainment conglomerate. Tracing its origins back to 1990 when it was established as Star TV (Satellite Television Asian Region) by Li Ka-shing and Hutchison Whampoa, the company initially served as a pan-Asian satellite broadcaster. It was later acquired by Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation in 1993 and subsequently integrated into 21st Century Fox in 2013. In 2019, The Walt Disney Company assumed full ownership of Star India as part of its massive $71 billion acquisition of 21st Century Fox assets, rebranding the domestic business to Disney Star in April 2022. The corporate landscape transitioned significantly on November 14, 2024, when Viacom18 successfully merged its media assets with Disney India's subsidiary to form an $8.5 billion joint venture under the JioStar brand. This landmark consolidation brought together Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), Viacom18, and The Walt Disney Company. Under this structure, Reliance Industries controls the joint venture, with a 16.34% direct equity stake and an additional 46.82% held through its subsidiary Viacom18, while Disney India retains the remaining 36.84% ownership. Headquartered at Star House, Urmi Estate in Lower Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra, the conglomerate acts as a critical player in India's broadcasting ecosystem. JioStar manages an extensive linear television portfolio featuring more than 70 channels broadcasting in nine distinct languages. Its dominant programming footprint spans general entertainment networks like Star Plus and Colors TV, localized regional networks such as Star Maa and Star Jalsha, the Star Gold movie network, and a variety of specialized kids and news channels. In addition to traditional broadcasting, JioStar holds a commanding presence in digital streaming and sports media. The company operates two of India's major over-the-top (OTT) platforms, Disney+ Hotstar and JioCinema, catering to more than 750 million viewers nationwide and across the global Indian diaspora. Through its dedicated Star Sports Network and Sports18 verticals, the joint venture commands valuable athletic broadcasting properties. This includes multi-platform rights for premier tournaments such as the Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket matches, domestic Pro Kabaddi League events, and major international cricket tournaments organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC). For the fiscal year 2024, the enterprise reported a consolidated revenue of ₹260 billion (approximately US$2.7 billion), solidifying its position as one of the country's most prominent and financially robust media networks under a leadership structure led by Chairperson Nita Ambani and Vice Chairperson Uday Shankar.