The Competition Commission of India (CCI) on Tuesday published a detailed 48-page order approving the mega media assets merger of Reliance Industries and Walt Disney, with conditions attached, including divestment of seven TV channels.
As part of commitments made to ensure the regulator’s approval, the parties have agreed that they will not bundle TV ad slots for IPL, ICC and BCCI cricketing rights till the end of existing rights cycle in 2027.
“The parties will not bundle together OTT ad slot sales for all three cricketing rights available with the parties i.e. IPL, ICC and BCCI (rights) for the balance tenure of the existing rights (the five-year rights cycle is from 2023-2027),” the 48-page order said.
The parties have given an undertaking that they will not increase the advertisement rates to an unreasonable level on their TV and streaming platforms for the ICC and IPL events till the current rights are held by them.
On August 28, CCI said it had approved the merger of media assets of Reliance Industries and The Walt Disney Co to create the country’s largest media empire worth over Rs 70,000 crore.
