Summary: JioStar, the newly formed joint venture between Reliance Industries’ Viacom18 and Disney’s Star India, is laying off over 1,100 employees as part of a restructuring exercise to streamline operations and eliminate overlapping roles. The job cuts, which started in February and will continue through June, primarily affect corporate functions like distribution, finance, legal, and commercial teams. However, JioStar’s sports division will remain largely unaffected, given its ongoing commitments to major sporting events like the IPL, WPL, and Champions Trophy. The layoffs are part of JioStar’s efforts to create a leaner, more efficient organization following the mega merger.
In a significant development following the merger between Reliance Industries’ Viacom18 and The Walt Disney Company’s Star India, the newly formed joint venture, JioStar, is reportedly laying off over 1,100 employees. According to a report by Mint, the workforce reduction is part of a broader restructuring exercise aimed at streamlining operations and removing overlapping roles across the combined entity.
JioStar to Lay Off Over 1,100 Employees as Part of Post-Merger Restructuring
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Consolidation Following Mega Merger
The merger between Viacom18 and Star India, finalized earlier this year, brought together two of India’s largest media and entertainment players. With both companies operating sizable teams across similar functions, the restructuring was seen as an inevitable step to eliminate duplication and enhance operational efficiency.
“Post any large-scale merger, especially in a competitive sector like media, there is always an overlap in roles across functions such as corporate operations, legal, and finance. Rationalizing such roles is critical to ensure a leaner and more agile organization,” a senior industry executive commented.
Sports Division Largely Unaffected
Interestingly, JioStar’s sports division is expected to remain largely untouched by the ongoing layoffs. The combined entity holds broadcasting rights for some of the biggest sporting properties in the country, including the Indian Premier League (IPL), the Women’s Premier League (WPL), and the upcoming Champions Trophy. With these high-profile events on the horizon, retaining talent in the sports segment is seen as a strategic necessity.
“Sports broadcasting is a critical revenue driver, and the group’s ongoing investments in premium sports rights reflect its long-term commitment to this segment. The focus will remain on delivering seamless coverage and enriching the viewer experience,” the executive added.
A Transformational Phase
The creation of JioStar marks a transformational shift in India’s media landscape, with the combined entity poised to become a dominant force in the entertainment, streaming, and sports broadcasting space. However, like most large-scale consolidations, the integration process is expected to bring operational challenges — including redundancies — as the group works to optimize costs and sharpen focus on growth areas.
As the restructuring progresses, the industry will be closely watching how JioStar navigates this transition while balancing content investments, advertiser relationships, and viewer engagement across its platforms.
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Last Updated on Friday, March 7, 2025 6:06 pm by Sai Jyothi
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