BIG RTL, the joint venture between Reliance Broadcast Network Ltd and European entertainment network RTL Group, is planning to launch its first channel, BIG-RTL Thrill, on November 5.
RTL is part of Europe's largest media firm, Bertelsmann AG, and has a market cap of $15.5 billion (Rs 69,900 crore).
Anil Ambani-led Reliance Broadcast Network Ltd (RBNL) today announced its foray into the regional television space with the launch of its Hindi entertainment channel - Big Magic. The channel, which will be targeted at the core Hindi heartland, will be launched on April 4.
Both signed a non-binding deal on Sunday.
This deal will make Music Broadcast, which currently operates 39 channels, the largest private FM Channel operator.
Billionaire Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries has completed the merger of its media assets with the India business of global media house Walt Disney and formed a joint venture with a valuation of over Rs 70,000 crore. The JV will be one of the largest media and entertainment companies in India with a combined revenue of approximately Rs 26,000 crore and will be led by Nita Ambani as its chairperson, according to a joint statement.
Among other scrips, which would be shifted to the trade-to-trade segment include 3i Infotech, Bartronics India, Ramky Infrastructure and Zenith Birla (India) Ltd.
Raghav Bahl's control diluted by resolution in Nov 2012; net cash outflow for RIL group entities about Rs 1,341 crore.
With Mukesh Ambani taking over Network 18, the space for disseminating a diverse range of views could shrink, feels Paranjoy Guha Thakurta.
RIL has also appointed McKinsey senior advisor Adil Zainulbhai as independent director and Network 18 Media & Investments (NW18) former promoter Raghav Bhel as a non-executive director on the NW18 Board.
Competition Commission of India on Wednesday said it has approved the merger of the media assets of Reliance Industries and Walt Disney Co to create the country's largest media empire. The deal, announced six months ago, has been cleared by the CCI with certain modifications proposed by the two parties.
Paramount Global has agreed to sell its 13 per cent stake in its Indian TV business to Reliance Industries for Rs 4,286 crore, the Indian firm said on Thursday. In a stock exchange filing, Reliance said it has signed a binding agreement with two subsidiaries of Paramount Global to acquire 13.01 per cent equity stake of Viacom 18 Media Private Limited held by Paramount Global. Similarly, in a filing on the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Paramount Global said the closing of the transaction is subject to the satisfaction of certain customary conditions, including receipt of applicable regulatory approvals, as well as the completion of a previously announced joint venture involving Reliance, Viacom18 and Star Disney.
Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group firm Reliance Capital said on Monday it has acquired a 5 per cent stake in Network 18, the group holding company of broadcasters TV18 and GBN.
Adani group opened a $1.2 billion copper plant, bought a port in Odisha, raised stakes in a cement company and stitched an alliance with rival Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries, all in a matter of one week in signs that the apples-to-airport conglomerate has shrugged off the Hindenburg effect and is back to rapid expansion spree. In the last one week, Adani group has through regulatory filings and press statements announced expansions and investments in its mainstay ports business, diversification into metal refining, fund infusion into a two-year-old cement foray and continuing progress in the commissioning of its mega solar project.
Could it be about clout? Given its size and influence, RIL doesn't need the media for that, notes Vanita Kohli-Khandekhar.
Culver Max Entertainment, formerly known as Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI), has terminated merger agreements with Zee Entertainment, which could have otherwise created a USD 10 billion media enterprise in the country.
"Independence means if government has done something wrong, you say it's wrong. But at the same time, you should have courage when the government is doing the right thing every day. You have to also say that," he Gautam Adani was quoted as saying by FT.
In the biggest ever deal in the Indian media sector, RIL will acquire control in Network 18 Media & Investments Ltd, including its subsidiary TV18 Broadcast Ltd.
If the deal is indeed being considered, this will be the first time that Ambani will be putting his money in a print media venture since he and his younger brother, Anil Ambani, split businesses to form their own groups
NDTV founders Prannoy Roy and his wife Radhika Roy on Friday said they will sell all but 5 per cent of their remaining shareholding in the news broadcaster to Adani Group for up to Rs 647.6 crore. Roys, who founded New Delhi Television Ltd (NDTV) as India's first and largest private producer of news current affairs and entertainment television, lost their status of being the company's largest shareholder in recent weeks. This follows Adani Group becoming the majority shareholding of NDTV after first buying out a company backed by the founders and then acquiring more shares from the open market.
The rights on offer are Indian Sub-continent Television Rights from 2018 to 2027 (10 IPL seasons), Indian sub-continent Digital Rights from 2018 to 2022 (5 IPL seasons) and Rest of the World Media Rights from 2018 to 2022 (5 IPL seasons).
Star India successfully bagged the global media rights for the next five seasons of Indian Premier League -- including broadcast and digital -- for a massive Rs. 16,347.50 crores ($2.55 billion), in Mumbai, on Monday.
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Looking to monetise assets not in Reliance Capital's core area of business.
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Justice Rajiv Shakdher, who was hearing a plea by Bollywood producers seeking to restrain them from making irresponsible remarks, listed the matter before the Joint registrar for January 18 for completion of pleadings and admission/denial of documents.
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The e-auction of television and digital rights, a first in cricket, was not concluded but the Indian board (BCCI) received a bid of 44.4 billion Indian rupees ($683 million) for consolidated global rights from an unidentified bidder.
Over a third of Ambani's speech was focussed on RIL's plans.
Ajit Mishra, vice president, Research, Religare Broking, answers your queries.
After the second day, BCCI's media rights value has already gone up by 56 percent with the per match value touching nearly Rs 60 crore (Rs 59.16 crore) for 102 international games across three formats.
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Network18 founder Raghav Bahl is all set to launch his new venture.