JioStar, the Reliance Industries–Disney joint venture, has announced plans to merge its television distribution arm, Indiacast Media Distribution, into the parent company. The merger is proposed to take effect from April 1, 2025, or any other date approved by JioStar’s board, as per a regulatory filing.
The consolidation will be carried out through a fast-track process under Section 233 of the Companies Act. As part of the scheme, Indiacast’s entire business-including assets, liabilities, employees, contracts, and ongoing legal matters-will be transferred to JioStar India, subject to statutory and regulatory approvals. Since Indiacast is a wholly owned subsidiary, the merger will not involve any issuance of shares or cash consideration. Upon completion, Indiacast will be dissolved.
Indiacast is responsible for aggregating and distributing television channels across cable and direct-to-home (DTH) platforms. It was previously a joint venture between Viacom18 and TV18, both of which have since been absorbed into group entities following the formation of JioStar. The company also distributes channels for external broadcasters, including Eenadu Television and AETN18, which operates History TV18.
For the financial year 2025, Indiacast reported a total income of ₹240 crore, with a marginal net loss of ₹24 lakh. This marked an improvement compared to the previous fiscal year, when it recorded an income of ₹224 crore and a net loss of ₹2.63 crore.
The JioStar India board approved the merger in July 2025. Subsequently, in January 2026, the company filed a notice with the Registrar of Companies inviting objections or suggestions. As part of the merger, all intercompany balances between Indiacast and JioStar India will be cancelled.
