In a significant development for the direct-to-home (DTH) television industry, Bharti Airtel and Tata Group have officially called off discussions regarding the proposed merger of their respective DTH operations.
The disclosure was made through a regulatory filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) on Saturday, confirming that no consensus could be reached between the two entities.
“This is in reference to our intimation dated February 26, 2025, wherein the company informed that it is in bilateral discussions with TATA Group to explore a potential combination of TATA Group’s Direct To Home (‘DTH’) business housed under Tata Play Limited with Bharti Telemedia Limited, a subsidiary of the company,” Airtel said in the filing.
It further stated, “In this regard, we wish to inform you that after not being able to find a satisfactory resolution, the parties have mutually decided to terminate the discussions,” reported PTI.
Merger Talks That Didn’t Materialise
The talks had initially sparked interest across the telecom and broadcast sectors. Back in February, Bharti Airtel, led by Sunil Mittal, confirmed it was exploring a merger with the Tata Group, aiming to consolidate its loss-making DTH arm, Bharti Telemedia, with Tata Play, Tata Group’s own DTH platform.
Airtel’s earlier statement to the BSE on February 26  noted: “We wish to submit that Bharti Airtel and Tata Group are in bilateral discussions to explore a potential transaction to achieve a combination of Tata Group’s DTH business housed under Tata Play Ltd, with Bharti Telemedia, a subsidiary of Airtel, in a structure acceptable to all parties.”
However, the two companies did not disclose further information at the time, keeping the structure and nature of the potential transaction under wraps. The failure to finalise a deal means the Indian DTH market will not see what would have been the second major consolidation after the merger between Dish TV and Videocon d2h in 2016.
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Implications for the DTH Industry
Had the merger moved forward, it could have significantly altered the competitive landscape of the DTH sector in India, bringing together two major players under a unified platform. The termination of talks also highlights the complexities involved in merging operations in highly regulated and capital-intensive sectors like broadcasting. With discussions now officially concluded, both Bharti Airtel and Tata Group will continue to operate their DTH services independently.Â
