1 week Ago
Reliance-Star India Merger: Gurjeev Kapoor , Head of Distribution and International Markets at Disney Star, has likely decided to leave the company to pursue entrepreneurial ambitions in the entertainment sector. Kapoor's departure comes as the $8.5 billion merger between Reliance and Disney’s Indian assets nears finalization, sources close to the development informed ET Online.
"Gurjeev Kapoor has chosen not to accept a role in the Viacom18/Disney Star joint venture, opting instead to pursue an entrepreneurial career in the entertainment space," sources told ET Online. Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance had in February this year signed a binding agreement with Disney to merge the media operations in India, the world's most populous country with diverse demography that consumes high volume of media content. The merger between Reliance Industries Limited's (RIL) Viacom18 and Walt Disney's Star India is expected to be finalised in early November after receiving regulatory approvals in India, ET had reported citing sources familiar with the situation.
This merger will form the largest media and entertainment conglomerate in India, valued at $8.5 billion. As part of the deal, Viacom18 will transfer its assets to Star India, which will operate as the main company following the merger.
Kapoor spearheaded TV distribution for Disney Star across India and numerous international markets. Overseeing operations in more than 109 countries, he expanded the network's presence across key regions, including the UK, Europe, the U.S.
, Middle East, Africa, and APAC. Kapoor was instrumental in managing a revenue line exceeding $600 million, a feat he achieved despite the ongoing shift from linear Pay TV to digital platforms. Data Science SQL for Data Science along with Data Analytics and Data Visualization By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Pam Moore By - Pam Moore, Digital Transformation and Social Media Expert View Program Marketing Future of Marketing & Branding Masterclass By - Dr.
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One of Kapoor's notable accomplishments at Disney Star was his leadership of Disney+ Hotstar’s partnership business. He significantly broadened its reach by tripling partnerships with telecom operators, ISPs, and OTT aggregators. These efforts helped solidify Disney+ Hotstar as India's top OTT player with the most extensive partnership network, making the platform accessible in more homes nationwide.
During his tenure, Kapoor also played a pivotal role in increasing subscription revenue by 25% per consumer over five years, despite the industry-wide decline in Pay TV subscribers. His forward-thinking approach and collaboration with industry stakeholders have contributed to curbing piracy and establishing transparency within the sector. Kapoor also led distribution initiatives for major media companies like Sony, ESPN Star Sports, and Discovery.
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