India's Tata Group and Bharti Group are close to merging their satellite TV businesses, creating a nearly $1.6 billion entity with the aim of tiding over the sustained migration of subscribers to digital streaming,

Airtel will access Tata Play’s 19 million households, supporting its plan to combine telecom, broadband, and DTH offerings. In April 2024, Tata Sons raised its Tata Play stake to 70%, buying Temasek’s 10% share for Rs. 835 crore ($100 million), setting the company’s value at $1 billion—down from $3 billion pre-pandemic.

Tata and Bharti groups are finalizing a merger of their DTH businesses, Tata Play and Airtel Digital TV, due to consumer shifts to digital platforms. The merger, structured through a share swap, will boost Airtel's revenues and is to be managed by Airtel's senior management.

Airtel is expected to hold 52-55 per cent of the combined entity, while Tata Play shareholders, including Walt Disney will hold 45-48 per cent.

India's satellite TV landscape is set for a major transformation as two leading players move towards a strategic consolidation. With the industry witnessing a steady shift towards digital streaming, traditional direct-to-home (DTH) operators are exploring new ways to stay competitive and sustain growth.

Tata Play and Airtel Digital TV are reportedly in advanced talks to merge their direct-to-home (DTH) businesses, according to an Economic Times report. The merger, which is expected to take place through a share swap,