Sony Pictures Entertainment eyes Disney+ Hotstar acquisition

Aarya

Sony Pictures Entertainment is reportedly in early discussions with the Walt Disney Company to acquire its Indian business.

The firm, which is the global entertainment arm of Japan’s Sony Group, is eyeing Disney India as a potential contingency plan if its merger deal with Zee Entertainment does not go ahead or faces further delays, according to a report by The Mint.

Reports suggest that Sony is growing frustrated with delays slowing down the Zee merger and is looking at other opportunities to expand in the Indian market.

Disney owns the Indian streaming platform Disney+ Hotstar and TV and production outfit Disney Star, inherited from its acquisition of the media assets of 21st Century Fox.

Disney+ Hotstar has been behind a growing number of originals such as Aarya, Hundred and Out Of Love, which sit alongside its library content.

Reports in July revealed that Disney is exploring the future of its Indian TV and streaming business, with a sale or the addition of a joint-venture partner among options being considered.

Disney has been under increasing competitive pressure in India since Reliance Industries-owned Viacom18 deprived it of the rights to Indian Premier League cricket, the biggest sporting tournament in the sub-continent, and decided to make the latter free to view on its JioCinema streaming platform.