India’s entertainment landscape shifted Thursday as Reliance Industries and Disney completed their long-awaited media merger, creating an Indian powerhouse valued at $8.5 billion. The deal combines Disney’s Star India with Reliance’s Viacom18 and streaming platforms JioCinema and Hotstar.

Reliance and Disney have completed their landmark Indian media merger, creating an $8.5 billion entertainment powerhouse that will dominate the streaming and television markets in the world's most populous nation.

Head of newly formed Jio Star says traditional linear format is still important in the country during streaming era