Bharti Airtel, a major telecom provider in India, has confirmed talks with Tata Group for a potential merger of Tata Play’s DTH business with its subsidiary Bharti Telemedia. The deal, if finalized, could reshape India’s direct-to-home (DTH) market by combining Tata Play’s extensive user base with Airtel’s digital services.
Bharti Airtel, one of India’s leading telecom and digital service providers, has confirmed ongoing discussions with Tata Group regarding a potential merger of Tata Play’s direct-to-home (DTH) business with Bharti Telemedia, Airtel’s DTH subsidiary.
In an exchange filing, Airtel stated, “The above is at a discussion stage only,” following reports that Tata Play and Airtel Digital TV were moving toward a merger. The deal, if finalized, is expected to be structured as a merger swap, with Airtel holding a majority stake in the combined entity.
According to reports, the merger would provide Airtel access to nearly 20 million homes subscribed to Tata Play, significantly expanding its reach in the DTH segment. The move aligns with Airtel’s broader strategy to enhance its non-mobile business by integrating broadband, telecom, and DTH services into a unified subscription model.
The Economic Times reported that the merged entity would be valued at approximately ₹7,000 crore ($842 million USD) and is expected to be led by Airtel’s senior management, with Tata Group retaining two board seats. Walt Disney, which owns a stake in Tata Play, would continue to hold shares in the combined company.
Tata Play, originally launched as Tata Sky in 2004, was a joint venture between Tata Sons and 21st Century Fox. In 2019, following Disney’s acquisition of 21st Century Fox, the company’s ownership structure changed, and it was rebranded as Tata Play in 2022.
This potential deal marks one of the most significant consolidations in India’s DTH sector since the 2016 merger of Videocon d2h and Dish TV, and if completed, it could reshape India’s media and entertainment landscape by creating a more integrated digital ecosystem.
