New Delhi: Bharti Airtel is reportedly in advanced talks to acquire Tata Play, India’s largest DTH service provider, as the sector struggles with changing viewer habits. This potential deal could help Airtel expand its digital TV offerings and diversify its revenue streams beyond mobile services.
The DTH market has seen a major shift as more people in cities turn to streaming services, while rural users move to cheaper options like Doordarshan’s Free Dish. Traditional DTH operators, like Tata Play, have been feeling the pressure to adapt or find new growth paths.
Tata Sons, which owns 70% of Tata Play, has been looking at its options, especially after buying back a 10% stake from Temasek Holdings in April. That deal valued Tata Play at around $1 billion, far less than its $3 billion valuation before the pandemic. Walt Disney, which holds the remaining 30%, is also reportedly interested in an exit as it refocuses its business.
The deal is expected to be similar in valuation to the recent stake sale, according to sources, but both Tata and Airtel have yet to make any official comments. An announcement could come soon, as talks have been ongoing for weeks.
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