Sajith Sivanandan, the head of Disney’s Hotstar streaming app in India, has resigned as the company accelerates its business integration following the $8.5 billion merger with Reliance’s media assets. This significant leadership change comes as the merged entity prepares to streamline operations and compete more robustly in the Indian entertainment landscape.
Sivanandan’s departure coincides with a pivotal decision to stream all live sporting events, including the highly anticipated Indian Premier League (IPL), exclusively on Disney’s Hotstar app rather than on Reliance’s JioCinema. This marks the first major integration step following the merger.
Discussions are ongoing about whether JioCinema will remain a separate entity, with no conclusive decisions reported yet.
The merger between Disney and Reliance results in a substantial media portfolio, combining over 100 TV channels and two streaming apps. This positions the newly formed entity to compete directly with industry giants like Sony, Netflix, and Amazon Prime.
Sivanandan has been with Hotstar for over two years, prior to which he spent 15 years at Google. His experience has played a crucial role in shaping Hotstar’s strategy during a transformative period for the platform.
Currently, Kiran Mani, another former Google executive, heads JioCinema and has been associated with Reliance’s media division for about a year.
JioCinema holds the rights to stream IPL cricket, Winter Olympics, and Indian Super League football, making it a significant player in the sports streaming segment.
Conversely, Hotstar retains the rights to various International Cricket Council (ICC) tournaments and the English Premier League soccer, highlighting the competition for sports content in the streaming space.
Key Highlights:-
- Sajith Sivanandan resigns as head of Disney’s Hotstar in India amidst integration with Reliance’s media assets.
- The decision to stream IPL exclusively on Hotstar marks a key step in the merger process.
- Ongoing discussions are focused on the future of JioCinema as a separate entity.
- The merger results in a substantial media presence, setting the stage for competition with major streaming platforms.